About your application

This will tell us all the initial information we need to know about you. It will also ask about your reasons for applying to join the Cheshire Constabulary family.

This is in two parts. The first covers your educational qualifications. The second includes some of your personal details.

 

Educational eligibility

To apply you’ll need to have:

• Must have a United Kingdom - UK (Hons) degree (or equivalent) in any subject, minimum 2:2 classification
• Admissions Equivalent interview: The programme welcomes applications from individuals who have achieved a UK (Hons) degree (or equivalent) in any subject and have achieved lower than a 2:2 classification. Candidates will need to demonstrate relevant work or life experience and demonstrate the ability to cope with and benefit from Graduate Diploma studies.
  Prior to the interview stage of the recruitment process, it will have been identified if your current qualifications do not meet the standard entry requirements for the course. An Academic member of staff from the University will be a member of the interview panel (for the candidates in-force interview) and you may be asked additional questions by the academic member of staff. An academic equivalence interview sheet will be compiled from your response to the questions that are asked during the interview process.
  Candidates will need to demonstrate relevant work or life experience and demonstrate the ability to cope with and benefit from Level 6 Graduate Diploma studies..
• Please note…applicants will be asked for a copy of their Undergraduate/Postgraduate Certificate and Transcript, to evidence their eligibility for the programme.
• Members of the Armed forces community can look at the qualifications they have obtained in service to see if they meet the required eligibility. Further information can be found via the Armed Forces Covenant page
• Candidates who have secured nationally recognised qualifications from the Defence Awarding Organisation to the required standard are eligible to apply

 

Personal eligibility

To apply you'll need to say 'yes' to:

• I am a National of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland OR I am a Commonwealth citizen or Foreign National with leave to enter or remain in the UK for an indefinite period.
• I have lived in the UK for three continuous years immediately before my application.
• I am 17 years of age or over at the point of application and 18 years prior to commencing the programme (there is no upper limit).
• I have a full UK manual driving licence.
• I do not have any visible tattoos on the neck, face and hands. I also do not have any tattoos visible/on my body which may be considered discriminatory, violent, intimidating, aggressive, related to death, homophobic, offensive and/ or indicate attitudes or views inconsistent with the College of Policing’s Code of Ethics and the Standards of Professional Behaviour.
• I have declared a criminal record if I have one. (You must tell us about any previous convictions or cautions including those spent, fixed penalty notices, traffic offences or any involvement with the police.)
• I am not a registered bankrupt, subject to county court judgements or Independent Voluntary Agreements.
• I can pass a fitness test consisting of a 15m multi-stage shuttle run (bleep test) to level 5.4 (3 minutes and 40 secs).
• I have not applied to become a Police Constable and been unsuccessful at the interview stage with Cheshire Constabulary in the last six months.
• I am prepared to work shifts and accept postings to serve anywhere in the Cheshire area.
• I am dedicated to providing a service to the people of Cheshire and am prepared to uphold the Police Service Statement of Common Purpose and Values.
• I am not a current or previous member of an extremist group or proscribed terrorist organisation or group.

If your circumstances change…

If there are any significant changes during your application such as permanent partner, new residents at your home, change of address, arrests, cautions or convictions or association with criminals you should contact us by email.

The Standards required of a police officer are laid out nationally in the Code of Ethics.

To prepare for your assessment…

• Study the documents we’ll send you.
• Read the College of Policing Competency and Values Framework (link below) and think about how you as an individual might demonstrate these.
• Read about Cheshire Constabulary and understand what is expected of a Police Constable – after all you could be joining the Cheshire Constabulary family sooner than you think.

The online assessment consists of 4 exercises which explore the skills and values that’s every police constable needs. It has been designed and developed by the College of Policing to an enable a standardised recruitment process between forces.
No prior policing experience is needed to complete the exercises.

IMPORTANT: To take part you'll need a computer or other device with a webcam, microphone, keyboard and a reliable internet connection.

 

The Situational Judgement Test

This tests your behaviour and response when faced with everyday situations that are part of a police officer's work. It lasts around 30 minutes. If you pass this stage you will be invited to the following stages:

The Competency-Based Video Interview

You'll answer five questions, taking around 35 minutes. Your responses will be recorded live by the system and will test your:

- Attitude to public service
- Transparency
- Integrity
- Innovative thinking and open-mindedness
- Ability to take ownership of a problem

Your responses to this online interview will be reviewed by an assessor. You'll then be sent a report with your interview score. If you pass, you’ll be invited to take part in two further exercises:

The Written Exercise

You'll take on the role of a police constable who is required to complete an urgent written report about an incident for your manager. You'll be supplied with all the information you need to create your report.

AND

The Briefing Exercise

Again, you'll take on the role of a police constable. This time you'll be presented with a real-life policing scenario and you'll be asked a series of questions about how you'd handle the situation. (At the start of the exercise you'll be given information and materials to help you prepare your answers.)

Candidates who are successful at assessment will be invited to attend a face-to-face interview held at Headquarters in Winsford. The panel will consist of the following; operational officers, police staff representatives. If you require an Admissions equivalent Interview, an Academic member of staff from the University will be a member of the interview panel and you may be asked additional questions by the Academic member of staff. An Academic Equivalence Interview sheet will be compiled from your response to the questions that are asked during the interview process.

The interview can last anywhere between 30 - 45 minutes and will explore your understanding of the College of Policing Competence and Values Framework (CVF).

This will help our team decide your suitability for the role of police constable with Cheshire Constabulary.

 

If your interview is successful…

We’ll let you know by email and explain the next steps. Please note that depending on intake numbers it’s possible your conditional offer to join the force may be put on hold until a later date.

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 post Assessment In-force Interview Training developed and delivered by the College of Policing. to ensure fairness and legitimacy of our process.

 

Do you need any special arrangements?

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 [email protected] 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 formal offer of employment.
All conditional 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 to join Cheshire Constabulary could then be put on hold or withdrawn.

 

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

Fitness test - This must show that you have the physical fitness needed to be a police officer. If necessary you will be offered 2 further attempts within a reasonable timeframe (failure to pass first time may cause delays in your application). Failure to pass on a third attempt will mean your application is withdrawn.

Medical tests - These comprise of a signed GP statement (fee payable by applicant), a sight test (optician fee payable by applicant) - Cheshire Constabulary requires officers to meet Group 2 DVLA standards so they are able to undertake blue light driving. The medical tests also include an Occupational Health assessment and a drugs test for screening.

Drugs test - you will be asked to provide a hair sample at one of our pre-employment days which will be analysed by our third party provider

DNA and fingerprints - We hold this biometric identification data for all our officers

Final vetting/security checks

References - Satisfactory references must be obtained from your current and previous employer or education establishment over the most recent two year period.

As a Police Constable on the Degree Holder Entry Programme, your initial weeks will involve being introduced to both Cheshire Constabulary and University of Chester.
You will be issued uniform and receive your warrant card along with registering you as a student at the university.
This course will be delivered by Subject Matter Experts and experienced practitioners with a wealth of professional and subject expertise supported by a network of relevant subject specialists to prepare you with key transferable skills required for the role of Police Constable.

 

How will I be taught?

Methods of learning and teaching are varied to facilitate application of theory to practice. Bespoke facilities dispersed across two sites include simulated road policing scenes, interviewing suites, a Hydra immersive learning suite, court room and custody suite.

 

How will I be assessed?

Assessments will focus on the student’s ability to demonstrate both academic and professional competency, in an appropriate format. Formative assessments are varied and will include;

• Be subject to self, peer, and tutor review
• Presentations
• Reflective Log
• Academic debates
• Question and answer sessions
• Knowledge checks
• Monitored role play
• Planning and preparation for interviewing
• Practice Interview sessions
• Planning and preparation for interviewing
• Conduct and analyse interviews with victims, witnesses, and suspects
• Commentary on Interviewing techniques
• Analysis of recorded interviews
• Preparation of interview transcripts
• Review case materials
• Plan and conduct an investigation into Priority and Volume Crime
• Essays
• Completion of Independent Patrol Status (assessed by Cheshire Constabulary)
• Professional Discussion
• Preparation of an Investigative Strategy for a Criminal Incident (including in class tests)
• Group Poster Podcast Presentation
• Case Study and Court Tribunal
• Completion of Occupational Competency Portfolio/achieving Full Occupational Competence (assess)

 

Fees and Funding

Student Funding will be drawn down from Cheshire Constabulary, with no fees paid by the student.

Obligation after finishing degree

You won't be tied into a contract after finishing the programme. We really hope that you will stay with us but you are under no obligation to do so.