Joining Durham Constabulary as a PCSO

As a PCSO, you will perform one of the most demanding roles in the modern police force. You will be given the opportunity to inspire confidence in the community by undertaking a combination of the following:

1. Attending incidents involving harassment, disorder, abandoned vehicles, public nuisance and anti-social behaviour with a problem-solving approach. Providing high visibility patrols and reassurance to the public.
2. Working with people from all ages and backgrounds to support, guide and assist in their day to day lives reducing fear of crime.
3. Speaking to vulnerable people, who might be drunk or under the influence of substances, confiscating items such as alcohol and tobacco and making every contact with the public count.
4. Contributing towards the management of some of the higher risk members living within our communities such as registered sex offenders, potentially dangerous people and repeat offenders gathering intelligence, updating systems and providing written reports where required
5. Dealing with bespoke community issues that affect people within your assigned Neighbourhood.
6. Leading, influencing, and supporting wider neighbourhood teams, partners and communities as the single point of contact around areas of high harm such as rural crime, county lines and autism
7. Work as part of a local Neighbourhood team alongside police, specialists and partners to support the wider police demand.
8. Providing advice around crime prevention, engaging with partners and the community in the response to safer neighbourhoods, with an emphasis on harder to reach vulnerable groups
9. Offering education to reduce the risks and inform the communities around current threats such as drugs and alcohol, child sexual exploitation, county lines and terrorism to enable them to reduce their own vulnerabilities but to also play a part in your response to such issues.

You will be required to complete the new police community support officer training programme. The programme is designed to allow you to gain knowledge and understanding around your new role and putting this into an operational context. It will also provide you the opportunity to develop and enhance your professional as well as your personal skills to give you confidence to provide an effective and professional service to the public.

The PCSO curriculum has been set by the College of Policing forms the basis of a qualification - Level 4 HE Certificate in Community Policing Practice which is accredited by Northumbria University. 

We will expect you to complete the programme and achieve the award before being confirmed in your role as a PCSO. You will be supported, by experienced police trainers and staff throughout the programme to ensure you be given opportunities to achieve the qualification.

The programme is delivered by qualified trainers and subject knowledge experts from the Durham Learning and Development team.

You will not need to attend university for lectures.

Length of training

The programme is 12 months in duration and involves classroom-based learning, some self-study, workplace portfolio, and a community problem solving activity.

Training for conflict situations

Although most of your time will be spend dealing with minor disputes you will also face more volatile situations, with agitated individuals or groups. We expect for you to be able to risk assess the situation and take the most appropriate action. In order to equip you for such eventualities we will teach you personal safety techniques and communication skills that can help manage the situation.

If you leave before the end of your probationary period

If you have successfully completed 60 credits of the programme you will be awarded a Certificate in Community Policing Support even if you leave before the end of your probation.

Salary

You will be paid throughout the period that you are training and studying for a Level 4 HE Certificate in Community Policing Practice. The starting salary is Scale 3 (£23,984), including allowances. However, after successful completion of the Level 4 HE qualification & your 12-month probationary period you will move to the Scale 4 salary band, starting £26,059 (including allowances). This will rise incrementally

Tuition fees

The Level 4 HE Certificate in Community Policing Practice is fully funded by Durham Constabulary.

How you'll be assessed during the programme

You will be assessed by the means of knowledge checks, completing a knowledge workbook and demonstrating your skills on the job in an occupational competency portfolio as well as presenting on problem solving activity you will be involved in. This will lead to you obtaining the Level 4 qualification.

Practical training

As well as classroom study there will be lots of practical training and ‘on the job’ development too. We will also provide as much support as you need to achieve the required outcomes.

A PCSO is expected to maintain and demonstrate a high standard of ethical behaviour, both while at work and off duty. They are guided by a code of ethics which the force will expect any candidate to understand and adhere to.

The Code of Ethics is a supportive, positive, everyday decision-making framework and is a constant reinforcement of the values and standards policing is proud of.  It is intended to encourage personal responsibility and the exercise of professional judgement; empowering everyone in policing to ensure they always do the right thing.

If the public doesn't have the confidence to trust the police to be fair, act ethically and in their best interests, they are less likely to assist the police in upholding the law.

PCSO work on a rota system which includes both day and late shifts, including weekends and public/bank holidays.

You will not be able to book any time off during the initial training course which is approximately 4 weeks, except public and bank holidays and weekly rest days.  

You are entitled to 26 days paid annual holiday, rising to a maximum of 31 days after 5 years continuous service.

You will have to work full time during the first seven months of your year long probation, but you can apply for part-time working once this is completed.

It should be noted there is no guarantee of part-time working being granted in particular roles. Requests are considered on an individual basis.

We welcome applicants from all religions and alterations can be made to the uniform to accommodate some religious requirements – for example it is possible to wear a hijab; or the headgear may be replaced with a Sikh turban. We also consider the needs of individuals with regards to time off and public holidays.

You will need to be prepared to work across the Durham Constabulary area including Barnard Castle, Bishop Auckland, Consett, Crook, Durham, Darlington, Ferryhill, Newton Aycliffe, Peterlee, Seaham, Stanley (not all locations/posts will be available on appointment).

We welcome applications from outside the force area. However, please consider that you will need to be prepared to work across all locations within Durham Constabulary.

Although there is no rank structure for police community support officers, you will be fully supported to develop throughout your career.

Working for Durham Constabulary offers a number of benefits. You will: 

• obtain a Level 4 qualification
• receive extensive training and development throughout your career
• have access to a generous pension scheme
• work with a wide range of policing departments
• recieve a minimum of 26 days paid annual holiday, rising to a maximum of 31days after 5 years continuous service.
• have access to additional schemes such as childcare vouchers, employee assistance programme and lifestyle discounts

In order to pass the initial sift you must be:

• aged 18 years or older at the point of confirmation
• have no tattoos on your face, neck or hands
• have no County Court Judgements (CCJs)
• eligible to work in the UK
• not a member of the British National Party, Combat 18, National Front or similar organisation
• have a full driving licence for motor car, at the point of application
• have four ‘O’ levels/ GCSEs including English Language or Literature (Grade A, B, or C), or a recognised equivalent qualification
• have indefinite leave to work and live in the UK and be free from any restriction. Any successful candidate will be asked to provide evidence of this.

Additional information on restrictions and qualifications

English and Maths qualifications

You do not need to have a Level 2 Maths qualification to become a PCSO, but you are required to have English, GCSE A – C, 4 – 9, or equivalent. If you do not have the necessary English qualification, you will not pass the initial sift and your application will not progress any further.

You will need to evidence your qualifications on your application, and we require you to send a copy of your certificates. If you are unable to locate your certificates please visit gov.uk for information on how to request duplicates or an accepted ‘certified statement of results’. 

These certificates must be provided at application stage. If you are having to apply for copies, we will make allowances and they must be provided if you are invited to assessment centre / interview.

Note: Durham Constabulary doe not accept predicted grades and would require evidence of you passing your course.

Age

You will need to be at least 18 to be a PCSO and the normal pension age applies. You can apply if you are nearly 18, but must have reached this age at the point of joining.

Height

There are no minimum or maximum height restrictions.

Driving licence

As you will be expected to respond to incidents across Durham Constabulary force area, you will need to hold a full driving licence at the point of application. You cannot be waiting for your driving test. You will also be required to pass a basic Driving Assessment prior to any offer of appointment being confirmed.

However, if you have a disability and you can drive an automatic vehicle, reasonable adjustments will be made where appropriate.

You may still be able to work for the police if you have a previous criminal conviction or caution. This will depend on the nature of the offence. You will need to provide full details to assist our vetting department in making a decision, via the applications process.

PLEASE NOTE: applicants must declare all convictions and cautions. Failure to declare certain details will seriously undermine an individual’s integrity and credibility and is likely to prevent them from appointment, regardless of the nature and seriousness of the incident.

If you have been arrested but not charged you must declare if you have ever been subject of a criminal investigation whether this led to a prosecution or not. Failure to make such declarations will lead to your application being rejected.

If your friends or family members have convictions, this must be disclosed when you apply. Your application will not be automatically rejected; consideration will be given as to how close the association is and the level of criminality involved etc.

Applying after bankruptcy

You can apply but only if it is three years after the bankruptcy debts have been discharged.

County Court Judgements (CCJs) and Independent Voluntary Agreements (IVAs)

You can apply if you have a CCJ or IVA. However, each application is assessed individually and you could be refused vetting.

You must declare any other employment for hire or gain, or any other business interests that you intend to maintain, when you apply to become a police constable. A decision on your eligibility will be made based on all the information provided during the recruitment and selection process, and whether your business interests are compatible with performing the role of a police officer.

This also includes if you, or one of your close relatives, holds a license or permit relating to alcohol licensing, refreshment houses or betting and gaming or regulating places of entertainment in the force area.

Police staff are not permitted to take an active part in politics.

When you begin your training you will be required to adhere to nationally set appearance standards. Hair should be worn so that it is cut or secured above the collar and ears and is neat and tidy. Extreme and vivid hair colour in unnatural colours is not permitted.

We know some people like to express themselves with body art. However, anyone who has a tattoo or piercing which could be reasonably interpreted as offensive to any religion or belief, or is in any way discriminatory, violent or intimidating, will not be accepted.

In line with the College of Policing’s national guidance we will carefully consider the size, nature and prominence of visible tattoos and piercings to determine if they are acceptable.

If you have a tattoo on your arms, face, neck or hands you will be required to submit photos with your application. We will assess all photos to ascertain if they are acceptable.

If you have dyslexia adjustments such as more time to complete assessment centre exercises, ICT provision/aides to complete studies, and workplace adaptations can be made to ensure you are not put at a disadvantage.

Adjustments will depend on the degree of your dyslexia which should be confirmed in a report by educational psychologist. We ask any successful candidates that would like adjustments to be considered to provide this report at their own cost.

You can have other live applications with Durham Constabulary, or another force. However, as the applications progress you will need to decide on which you would like to take further.

International students are not able to apply to be a PCSO.

Even if you are already a member of police staff you will go through the same recruitment and selection process.

If you are successful at the application form stage, you'll be invited to attend an assessment along with other successful candidates, where you will be asked to undertake a series of assessment exercises followed by an individual interview. These will be held at Durham Police Headquarters, Aykley Heads, Durham.

We are not able to reimburse you for any expenses incurred as part of the recruitment process.

Biometric vetting checks will be undertaken on those candidates who have reached the stage of being considered suitable and are undergoing pre-employment checks. A fingerprint and DNA sample will be taken, and checks made against the appropriate databases. The purpose of the searches is to determine whether:

• the individual has come to police attention
• if so, whether that was under the identity being used for the application; and
• if the individual is linked to any outstanding crime scene marks or stains

Only one set of fingerprints and DNA sample will be required. If subsequently appointed, these samples will be retained on the respective police database for elimination purposes. For those not appointed, their fingerprints, DNA sample and DNA profile and all copies and records will be destroyed.

Applications will not be acknowledged, and if you do not hear from us within six weeks you can assume that you have been unsuccessful. Should this be the case we would like to thank you for your interest in this post.

However, if are successful we will generally contact you via e-mail. If we need to reach you quickly, we may give you a call. Invitations to assessment will be sent via email. It’s important that you provide us with your correct details and update us if anything changes. It is important that you regularly check your spam or junk folder also.