About the application

The application form requires you to evidence your qualifications, experience, knowledge/skills/abilities and any special requirements against the role profile/job description and the competencies and values framework.

You will need to give full, clear, specific examples/evidence of how you meet the criteria.

The application must be all your own work.

You will need to be educated to NVQ Level 2/GCSES grade A-C or equivalent.

Some experience in a customer service environment will be an indication of your range of acquired skill and previous call taking experience is advantageous though not essential.

You must have lived in the UK for three continuous years immediately prior to application.

Our ideal candidates are highly motivated with a good attention to detail. They can make logical decisions under pressure and listen, talk and type at the same time.

We expect everyone at Cheshire Constabulary to adhere to the policing Code of Ethics with its core values including accountability, honesty, integrity and respect.

In addition, to be a communications operator you should enjoy interaction with public and colleagues and be an effective communicator. You will be pragmatic, resilient, a confident decision maker, and a strong team player with the drive and determination to do a great job.

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage, we will invite you to complete an assessment centre and face-to-face interview, which both happen one the same day.

You will be asked to complete two tasks, taking on both a communication operator role and a radio operator role.

You will listen to example calls and take notes with a secondary prioritisation task. Once the assessment has been completed you will then be taken through to your interview.

The interview will consist of a panel with operational officers and police staff representatives from the Force Control Centre. It will normally between 30 and 45 minutes.

The interview will explore your understanding of the College of Policing Competence and Values Framework.

This will help our team decide your suitability for the role.

If you are successful…

We’ll let you know by email and explain the next steps. Please note that depending on intake numbers it’s possible our offer may be put on hold until a later date, we will inform you via email if this is the case.

Our interviews are always fair

We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to attracting, supporting and developing a workforce representative of the communities we serve.

Throughout the recruitment process, the members of staff and assessors involved are trained to the highest standard, ensuring that the principles of the Equality Act are adhered to. Panel members will all have received an interview briefing as well as training in Standards of Practice to ensure fairness and legitimacy of our process.

Do you need any reasonable adjustments?

For example, would you like us to take into account a disability, dyslexia, learning difficulties, injury, pregnancy, menopause, religion or belief?

Any requests for reasonable adjustments will be considered and arranged where possible and treated in the utmost confidence.

For further information please email us as early as possible.

Please note: offers of employment could be delayed

Candidates who are successful at interview may be given a conditional offer of employment immediately. Or, depending on intake numbers, that offer may be put on hold until a later date.

For this reason, we recommend that you don’t give notice to your current employer until you’re sure that we have made you a firm offer of employment.

All offers following interview are subject to the completion of pre-employment checks.

Important: any non-attendance or delay in attending appointments for this stage of the process may result in you not meeting a specific intake date. Your application could then be put on hold or withdrawn.

An offer of employment with us is always subject to these checks. They must be completed successfully within an agreed timescale:

• Medical tests - This involves a medical questionnaire which you will complete and return to our Occupational Health Unit.
• Final vetting/security checks
• References - References must be obtained from you current and previous employer or education establishment over the last 5-year period

Once you have commenced training, you will begin your 11 weeks initial training. The training programme will involve;

• Six weeks in the classroom, (working full time Monday to Friday 09:00 – 17:00). During this time, you will cover a wide range of topics, providing you with the relevant knowledge and skills ready for beginning your new role. You will get first-hand experience listening to both calls and radio, and undertake role plays to test your skills before going in to the live environment.
• After this there is a period of coaching, which is a minimum of five weeks. This is where you will begin gathering experience taking 101 calls with a coach sat next to you and listening in to provide help and support.
• Following this 11 week period you will then continue your development of your skills independently. Then after agreement that you are ready, you will progress on to 999 calls. You will be assigned a coach to follow the same process as above to support you through gaining this new skill.
• You will work independently taking 101 and 999 calls until again it is agreed that you are ready to take on the radio deployment skill, where you will return to the classroom for a weeks radio specific input and then begin a minimum of five weeks with a coach on the radio.