Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) - JRN 30020/30021
Salary: £23,958, rising to £26,280 basic annually (equating to a potential £30,306 - £33,244 with shift and weekend allowances based on the standard shift pattern)
* Please note shift allowances are subject to change based on hours/weekends worked, the amount stated is not definitive, however gives an idea of the potential uplift to your base salary.
Location: Forcewide - Positions are available across the force area however we are looking to recruit mainly into our Northern Area Command, particularly rural Northumberland. Please note, we are unable to guarantee you a particular location and you could be positioned anywhere throughout the force area.
Hours/Contract: Full time, 37 hours
Working for #TeamNP
Our purpose at Team NP is simple: to keep people safe and to fight crime. But it takes more than officers alone to do the job – and that’s where our 2,000-strong team of police staff and 200 volunteers come in.
As one of the largest police forces in England we have a huge variety of departments and specialisms offering you endless opportunities. From mentoring and coaching schemes and online soft skills courses to leadership development programmes; we’ll give you the support, training and time to carve out the career you always wanted.
As one of the top 50 UK inclusive employers and a disability confident employer, we promote a culture of respect in the workplace so everyone can feel seen, heard and valued.
Whether you’re a member of staff or a volunteer, you can also expect first-rate support to manage your health and wellbeing. With year-round events, a 24/7 welfare support hotline and a leading approach to neurodiversity, our initiatives enable you to be at your best.
Above all else, here at Team NP, we can offer you a career that is so much more than just a job, it’s a chance to be part of something that really matters.
The role
Here at Northumbria Police, we think our region is amazing! It takes a great deal of people from different backgrounds, with diverse skills and experience to serve our force area effectively, think you have what it takes to help us make a difference? This could be the perfect time for you to join us as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO).
Our exciting PCSO apprenticeship programme is a chance to earn as you learn; we’ll equip you with the skills and confidence to engage with local communities, help to prevent crime and build valued relationships. You provide a visible and reassuring presence, being the eyes and ears of both the public and Northumbria Police. The community we serve is diverse and you could be working in either rural or urban communities.
As a PCSO you will work within a Neighbourhood policing team and be responsible for:
- Engaging with local communities and partners to build and maintain positive relationships, identifying issues that impact on local communities and implementing problem solving solutions to tackle these concerns and keep communities safe
- You will respond to and take control of incidents occurring within allocated areas and within designated powers, conduct initial investigation and scene preservation where necessary.
- Provide a quality service to victims and witnesses of crime and anti-social behaviour, identifying vulnerable victim and ensuring appropriate safeguarding measures are implemented and adopted.
- Participate in briefings, operations, and other policing activities within appropriate authority levels to contribute to successful planning and conclusion.
- Attend court and support court preparation activity as necessary.
- Exercise designated powers in accordance with, and directed by, those set by the Chief Constable.
- Liaise with a wide variety of community partners to resolve problems, deter crime, and provide advice.
You will be approachable and adaptable, and these skills will support you to build positive and sustainable relationships with key community figures. These relationships will allow you to become the respected face of Northumbria Police within the community.
If you can do all of this and still shrug off your experiences at the end of the day, you'll be rewarded with an immensely satisfying job that's never dull, as well as the opportunity to make a real difference to the community and the Northeast.
What you’ll do
You need to be able to listen, understand and not jump to conclusions about what you see and hear, but work to find the best solution for everyone. This role is all about talking to the public, building bridges and winning the trust of communities. That means you’ll be resourceful, diplomatic, motivated and in touch with the real world.
As a PCSO although you don’t have powers of arrest, handcuffs or batons, what you do have is your training, communication and interpersonal skills to deal with challenging people in difficult situations.
You'll need to be able to stand up for yourself and deal with confrontational situations, but you’ll never be alone – there will always be police officers and other support staff on hand to help. When the going gets particularly tough, you'll appreciate the camaraderie that makes working in this role so unique.
As we’re a 24/7 service, you’ll need to be flexible to work shifts - days, evenings and weekends.
Sound interesting? For further information, and to support your application, please view our PCSO application guide and the job description
What you’ll bring
- You will be full of initiative and have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Strong customer focus, passionate and committed to helping others.
- Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities.
- Keen learner, motivated to complete the apprenticeship programme and any further development opportunities.
To join as a Police Community Support Officer with Northumbria Police, applicants for the apprenticeship must have:
ESSENTIAL:
Level 2 qualifications in both English and Maths for example a GCSE or iGCSE at grade C (level 4) or above, Functional Skills Level 2, Key Skills Level 2 (Communication and / or Literacy) or Adult Numeracy / Literacy Plus
AND
A minimum of ONE Level 3 (or higher) qualification for example 1 A-Level qualification
OR
Relevant work experience that will support your progression into the PCSO role. We will review work experience in line with our core force values and the National Competency and Values framework.
We know it's important for you to feel that you're not only part of a great team, but part of a community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
Harnessing these differences creates a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, and their talents are fully utilised. Appointments are based on merit alone.
Interested to learn more? For further information about the role please contact us by email at JoinTeamNP@northumbria.police.uk
What we offer
- 26 days’ leave (increasing to 30 days for 5 years+ service) plus 8 bank holidays.
- Enhanced maternity/ shared parental and adoption leave.
- Flexible working (we are happy to discuss options such as compressed hours).
- Fantastic market-leading public sector pension scheme with up to 16% employer contribution.
- Corporate travel schemes – local rail, bus services and metro discounts.
- Access to private healthcare and eye test vouchers.
- Discounts on shopping and eating out thanks to the Blue Light Card and Blue Light Tickets.
- We’ve invested in extensive paid sick leave, trained mental health first aiders on-site, an employee advice service for the times you need that additional support.
- Access to gyms in some stations.
- Sports & Social Club – join our thriving sports scene at Team NP and enjoy further exclusive discounts on days out and travel.
- Cycle to work scheme.
Just so you know
Our application form will help us understand how your work, education and life experience has prepared you for the role of a Police Community Support Officer with #TeamNP.
To help support your application research what makes us tick here at Northumbria, the role you’re applying for and the values and behaviours that contribute. If you haven't already, we recommend viewing our PCSO application guide and visiting our website.
Our organisation has achieved the 30th rank in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers for 2023 and we are the highest-ranked police force in the UK - To learn more about an apprenticeship at Northumbria Police, please click here
These vacancies are for courses starting May 2024. Initial classroom phase training will take 13 weeks and you must be available to attend the full training programme.
If you have any questions, please contact the Talent Acquisition Team on JoinTeamNP@northumbria.police.uk
The recruitment process will consist of the initial application form, national sift and skill scan form followed by an interview in early 2024.
Just so you know, you can save your application and come back to it any time prior to the closing date on the advert.
We are proud members of the Business Disability Forum, with whom we collaborate with to improve the lives of disabled employees. We are also Disability Confident Employer, therefore if you demonstrate that you meet the minimum criteria for this role as stated in the advert, we will progress your application and offer you an interview.
If you tell us that you have a disability, we can make adjustments to support you through the recruitment process (for example we can arrange extra time for tests or provide a sign language interpreter) You can get in touch with us via JoinTeamNP@northumbria.police.uk for any support regarding the application process. Please provide us with plenty of notice so we can ensure your visit goes smoothly.
If your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a Recruitment Vetting (RV) form, therefore you must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 3 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed. A job offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance and medical information.
Terms of appointment
This is a permanent subject to a 24-month commitment to post. If you are successful in your application, you will have a 24-month probation period where you will be unable to apply for any other post advertised internally or externally.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) - JRN 30020/30021