The Police Application Thread

Got my fitting for PCSO uniform a week on tue, all seems to be finally taking shape! Got second medical with doc on friday :)
 
I can't really offer any advice, sorry :(. Warwickshire don't have the assessment centre for Specials.

The only thing I can say really, is for the interview make sure you've read, and re read the competencies and have good examples for each one. You should have been given a list of them, with details of plus and negative points they look for in your answers.
 
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Hi guys. I have my assessment centre tomorrw, so was just looking for a few final tips really. The force is West-Midlands. Yes i have the points they are looking for, and the booklet containing info about my role as a custmor care officer. What tips would you suggest to help me hit the 5 main compatancies? Thanks in advance.
Josh
 
oneale90 said:
Hi guys. I have my assessment centre tomorrw, so was just looking for a few final tips really. The force is West-Midlands. Yes i have the points they are looking for, and the booklet containing info about my role as a custmor care officer. What tips would you suggest to help me hit the 5 main compatancies? Thanks in advance.
Josh
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Its nearly 10 years since I did my assessment centre and the process is different from force to force.

It might be worth popping down to a local nick and speaking to a probationer there.
 
Passed the test, passed the medical, failed the interview stage :(. I really think it was because i kept going back to the same examples...oh well. Any tips?
 
Right, can someone clear some things up for me please.

How does the ranking/growth work within the job, if I applied and got successfully accepted as a regular police officer would I then be able to further my role to detective for example?

Also, what is the basic pay for someone ages 21 during and after training?

If I applied to be based elsewhere, outside of my home town, would they help with housing?

T
 
Tobias said:
Right, can someone clear some things up for me please.

How does the ranking/growth work within the job, if I applied and got successfully accepted as a regular police officer would I then be able to further my role to detective for example?

Also, what is the basic pay for someone ages 21 during and after training?

If I applied to be based elsewhere, outside of my home town, would they help with housing?

T
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To go sideways, for example to detective or a specialist role like traffic or firearms you have to apply to transfer. This will involve application form(s), interview(s) and sometimes exams. You may need certain skills to move to specialist roles (e.g. driving permit). To go up the ranks you have to sit exams and interviews to go to sergeant and inspector, and from there on it's interviews/selection boards. It's perfectly normal to progress upwards and/or sideways every few years. There are myriad options open to you.

Pay is standardised nationally (bar some exceptions) with weighting around the south east forces. It is dependant on rank and length of service. This is a fairly comprehensive guide: http://www.policeoracle.com/pay_and_conditions/police_pay_scales.html

The weightings are meant to help with higher local housing costs, but housing allowances, section houses etc. were phased out around 15 years ago...
 
oneale90 said:
Hi guys. I have my assessment centre tomorrw, so was just looking for a few final tips really. The force is West-Midlands. Yes i have the points they are looking for, and the booklet containing info about my role as a custmor care officer. What tips would you suggest to help me hit the 5 main compatancies? Thanks in advance.
Josh
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Hello Josh;

I took my assessment centre at the beggining of this year for West Mercia. We had to go to Coventry and assume the Customer Care office type of role too (basically a customer service advisor). I can't guarentee it will be exactly the same as what I did however, but here's my experiences:

During the assessment centre you hae 2/3 written questions (addressing complaints and suggesting improvements with regards to a 'customer' writing in to your shopping centre). Also you have a verbal questioning / interview (which you have to think on your feet, though they do ask you a few of the same questions you filled in when you originally applied, so it's worth remembering them!), a logic test, a maths test and 4 roleplays.

The biggest thing you need to remember is the compentancies; You should have them listed in your booklett. Those tell you exactly what they are after and what they aren't. So for example you're practising, practise with teh booklett and listing off appropiate answers which include the competancies. This will score you points in the written, verbal and roleplay scenarios. Just memorise the compentancies. I took the booklett with me, got there early and sat for half hour reading the competancies and going through them.

Also, with regards to the roleplays, if you can ask the 5 w's (What why when who where) you'll trigger the responses you require from the actor to gain extra points.

Any questions, ask away, I'm at work but will try and check on this topic every now and again.
 
Hi Hilly.

Thanks for the responce, thats shone some light on the whole thing :). Regarding the role plays, what sort of questions did you ask? I know you have said the 5-W's but how did you put those questions across if that makes sence :S? Im going to get there early so will have a good hour or so to go through the compentancies.

Looks like i will have to go through the questions i wrote for my app form too !

Thanks for your advice and any future advice you have would be extremely helpful!

Thanks again

Josh
 
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