110 new jobs as force changes its recruitment process
STAFFORDSHIRE Police are looking to recruit more than 100 new officers – as the way people can enter the force changes.
Training for new officers is being overhauled nationally, as policing looks to follow similar patterns to nursing and other public service careers where new recruits learn while on the job.
This will enable rookie constables to study for a degree in policing while serving their community.
The force has now launched a recruitment drive, for the first time under the new student programme, in the hope of recruiting around 110 new officers over the next year.
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.”
All applicants will join the force’s new scheme and will have one of two routes of entry depending on their circumstances.
Candidates already with a degree will be able to make the transition to a Graduate Diploma in Policing, while those without can join and study towards the police constable degree apprenticeship (PCDA).
Student officers will train and study during a two or three-year period, depending in which entry route they have taken, with training for the first intake set to start in May/june 2019.
A university will provide the accompanying degree, delivering learning for student officers at the Staffordshire, West Midlands, Warwickshire and West Mercia police forces.
New officers can expect a starting salary of between £18,000 and £23,000 depending on their entry route, previous qualifications and/or recognised prior learning.
Student officers completing the PCDA will complete their initial training before being shown the ropes on the practical side of the job as part of a police team.
Alongside this, they will complete formal university study, with flexible learning based in the classroom, locally and online.
■ To apply go to staffordshire.police. uk/current_vacancies and click Police Constable Application. Unfortunately not, there will only be academic routes of entry, however we do have other roles available such as PCSO and other police staff roles where an academic route is not yet in place.
Unfortunately not, the old scheme will close down after our April course, and will be replaced by the PC Degree Apprenticeship and the Graduate diploma in policing.
Your degree will be funded by Staffordshire Police using funding from the newly introduced Apprenticeship Levy.
The salary is set nationally based on the average pay levels for apprenticeships which are still to be confirmed, however, Staffordshire Police will be funding your degree meaning that you will not have to pay back a student loan.
The degree has been introduced nationally to recognise the enormously high level of skills, learning and professionalism required to become a police officer and to carry out the role.