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Job description

The government has announced that from 1 September 2023 police officers can expect to receive a 7% pay increase. The starting salary will therefore be £31,551 – this includes the £3,000 South East allowance. Final confirmation is yet to be received and this could be subject to change.

Have you gained valuable skills from previous work or life experiences?
Could you make a positive difference to support the people of Kent?

If you answered 'yes', then a career as a police constable might be the right path for you. No degree is necessary - we will provide you with the best training and support to enhance your existing skills and allow you to be the best you can be.

The most important part of your job will be to protect life, but you'll also build relationships with local communities, prevent and detect crime, support victims and witnesses and keep people safe. No two days will be the same.

Join our brilliant team and make a positive difference to the people of Kent.

Residency
To apply you must either:

• hold a UK passport
• be a British Citizen, member of the EC or other states in the European Economic Area
• live in the UK with indefinite leave to remain in the country with no restrictions if you are a Commonwealth Citizen or foreign national
• have lived continuously in the UK for three years – this does not apply to those serving in the British Armed Forces

If you do not meet this criteria, please do not apply. Your application will not be accepted.

Personal requirements
You must:

• be 17 years or older when applying however, you will not receive an offer of employment until you have turned 18
• not have been unsuccessful in an application as a police constable with any Home Office force in the last six months
• have a full category B driving licence. If you do not have a category B licence, we can accept your application if you successfully pass your test within 35 weeks of the start of your training. If you do not pass within the 35 weeks, it could result in termination of your employment

If you do not meet this criteria, please do not apply. Your application will not be accepted.

Education and experience

You must have work experience where you can evidence:

• understanding and supporting public/customer needs
• adapting your communication style
• solving complex problems
• making decisions

or

Hold a GCSE in English and Maths (Grade C and above or Level 4 to 9) or equivalent. You must also be able to evidence

• understanding and supporting public/customer needs
• adapting your communication style
• solving complex problems
• making decisions

or

Hold a level 3 qualification as defined in the Education and Skills Act 2008 e.g. one A-Level or equivalent.

or

Have a minimum of three years’ service with the Armed Forces and have achieved an exemplary reference on discharge.

Application form
We will ask you to answer the following questions. Please respond fully drawing from your previous experience, aiming for approximately 200 words in each response.

• how you understand customer needs and provide effective support
• how you adapt your communication skills to meet the needs of different people
• how you solve complex problems and make good decisions
• how your experience or training is equivalent to a GCSE (or equivalent) in maths and has equipped you with the potential to undertake the necessary elements of the role
• how your experience or training is equivalent to a GCSE (or equivalent) in English and has equipped you with the potential to undertake the necessary elements of the role

When constructing your response, use examples from previous roles or life experience. You can use the STAR method to create your response:

• describe the situation
• clarify your task
• explain the action you took
• list the results

Example
In my current role as an engineering supervisor, I consider communication to be a really important part of leading my team. Although engineers often have their own tasks to accomplish, my management style uses regular communication and feedback to make sure everyone understands their targets. I ensure my team knows they can come to me with any questions or suggestions and I am very accessible through online chat software or on the phone. I also have daily meetings with my team so we can freely talk to each other about the day's projects and raise any questions or concerns.

Last year, one of my engineers had an idea for a new feature to one of our projects, but he needed help figuring out how it would work and how to implement it. We spent several meetings drafting ideas together and talking about the different aspects of the new feature. It took time, but our meetings and communication led to a successful new feature that we incorporated into subsequent projects.

Training
We will provide you with the best training and support to allow you to be the best you can be. Our two-year training programme will provide you with a blend of practical 'on-the-job' experience and classroom-based learning at our training college in Maidstone.

A mentor and detective tutor will be assigned to you to start your specialist training towards detective accreditation.

You will be employed as a police officer from day one, making a difference to Kent’s communities, fully supported in applying your classroom learning practically on the job.

Pay and benefits
The job comes with pay and benefits that you can enjoy from your first day with us. You will also have job stability with varied career progression, leadership pathways and opportunities for promotion. You could work with our dog unit, become a cybercrime specialist, or keep the coastline safe with our Search and Marine Unit. Ultimately, it will be up to you to choose your path and the only limit will be your ambition.

Other benefits available include

• Police pension scheme
• Leave – including paid holiday, maternity, paternity, adoption, and parental leave
• Financial services – including savings, investments, and protection products
• Holiday Scheme
• Lottery scheme
• Local and national discounts
• Free gym and sports section

Shifts
For your first two years, you will be posted to a Local Policing team where you will be working a 24/7 shift pattern, on a ten-week (five-week rolling) rota.

You will usually work three to four shifts in a row and have two weekends off in five. You can request part-time or flexible working once your initial training period is completed, but this is subject to line manager approval.

There are a variety of shift patterns you could be working:

Early turn

• 7am to 3pm Sunday to Thursday
• 7am to 5pm Friday and Saturday

Late turn

• 12pm to 10pm Monday to Thursday
• 3pm to 1am or 5pm to 3am Friday to Sunday

Night duty

• 9pm to 7am Monday to Sunday

Location
During the recruitment process you will be asked which area in Kent you would prefer to work in. Your preference will be accommodated where we can, but this may not always be possible, and you could be posted to anywhere in the county.

Health and fitness
Policing is not easy. Not only do you need determination and drive, but you also need to be healthy and have a good level of fitness.

Some medical conditions can prevent you from being able to cope with the physical and mental demands of the job. Further details can be found www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-recruitment-standards-medical-standards-for-police-recruitment

If you do some form of regular exercise, you should have no issue meeting the physical requirements of the job. You will be required to run a 15-metre track in time with bleeps which get increasingly faster. You need to meet level 5.4 on the bleep test to be successful.

If you fail on your first attempt don't worry. You're allowed two more attempts within 12 weeks. If after the third attempt you are not successful, we will be unable to continue with your application.

Tattoos and piercings
If you have a tattoo, you'll be asked to provide a brief and accurate description and two digital colour photos of each tattoo to show the location of the tattoo and another close-up to show the image of the tattoo. Visible tattoos are deemed unacceptable if they could reasonably be interpreted as discriminatory, offensive, or indicative of views which are inconsistent with the College of Policing code of ethics and standards of professional behaviour will exclude you from joining.

If you have a body piercing, we will check to make sure it doesn't breach the standard of professional behaviour or constitute a risk to health and safety.

Criminal conviction/caution
Ideally, you shouldn’t have a criminal conviction or cautions record. If you do have one, eligibility will depend on the age and nature of the offence.

Vetting
Before anyone joins Kent Police, we need to undertake a series of vetting checks to help identify and assess any identified risks, including criminal record and credit reference checks. To help us do this we ask you to complete a detailed vetting form which asks for details of your family members (parents, partner, children and siblings) and any criminal associates. You must let anyone whose details you have provided know that they will be investigated as part of your pre-employment checks. Legislative constraints mean that we’re unable to disclose the results of enquiries on third parties.

Other information that we will ask you to disclose includes financial information such as outstanding debts and CCJs. We will run a credit reference check on you. Police staff have access to privileged and highly sensitive information, which may make them vulnerable to corruption, so it’s important for us to understand applicants’ financial situation.

Help and support
If you unsure about any part of the process, we hold recruitment events and workshops which offer further information about the role and Kent Police - www.kent.police.uk/application-workshopsor contact us, we would be happy to discuss your options with you.

Apply now to start your rewarding career with Kent Police.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £28,812.00-£29,682.00 per year

Benefits:

• Additional leave
• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• Gym membership
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking
• Sick pay
• Store discount

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift
• 12 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Night shift

Application question(s):

• Have you lived in the UK continuously for the last three years? This does not apply to those serving abroad with the British Armed Forces.
• Have you been unsuccessful in an application for the same role with any Home Office forces in the last six months?
• Do you have a full UK category B driving licence?
• Will you be able to commute to your posted location which could be anywhere in Kent? Your area preference will be accommodated where we can, but this may not always be possible, and you could be posted to anywhere in the county.

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: Police constable IPLDP - no degree needed