Entry into the police service is changing – and Staffordshire Police is one of the first to recruit student officers to study for a degree while they serve.
Training for new officers is being overhauled nationally, with policing following a similar pattern to nursing and other public service careers, where recruits will learn the job, splitting their time between practical learning and study, earning a degree in policing at the end of their training.
For the first time under the new student programme, Staffordshire Police is now open for PC recruitment, meaning all recruits will join the new scheme. Applicants will be able to apply via one of two separate entry routes: As a candidate with an existing degree, making the transition to a Graduate Diploma in Policing
Joining and studying towards the police constable degree apprenticeship (PCDA)
Chief Constable Gareth Morgan, said: “This is an important development to police recruitment and one that recognises policing as the highly-skilled profession that it is. I am looking for applicants from all corners of the county and from diverse backgrounds to join us so the force can be truly reflective of the communities it serves.”
The student officers will train and study over either a two or three-year period, depending on which entry route applies, with the degree being delivered in partnership with a university. The university will deliver learning for student officers in Staffordshire Police, West Midlands Police, Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police under a regional programme currently being tendered for.
Some of the benefits of joining Staffordshire Police are:
- New officers will receive a starting salary of between £18k and £23k depending on entry route, previous qualifications and/or recognised prior learning
- Minimum 22 days annual leave
- Three-year apprenticeship to achieve a funded degree in policing or two-year transition programme (if they already hold a degree) to achieve a Graduate Diploma in Policing.
- Excellent range of employee benefits, including police social clubs, offers with major leisure and retail outlets, a free, confidential assistance programme for colleague wellbeing and support, a range of union and staff associations
- Police pension, based on average career earnings
- A range of career opportunities from fast-paced response to neighbourhood policing, as well as various specialist teams like Traffic, Firearms, Investigations, amongst others
- Access to continuous professional development and learning support
Student officers completing the PCDA will complete initial training to help them learn the basics of policing before being allocated to a police team where they will learn the practical side of the job while completing formal university study. Learning will be flexible, with some classroom-based study as well as local delivery and online lectures.
Over the next year, the force is looking to recruit around 110 new officers, with training for the first intake set to start in May/June 2019. Prospective PCs can start to complete their application forms from 13 September, with the selection process, vetting and medicals set to take place through the following months. Current vacancies can be found at https://www.staffordshire.police.uk/Current_Vacancies
