Apprenticeship training course

Police community support officer (level 4)

There are 8 training providers who offer this course. Check if a training provider can deliver this training in the apprentice's work location.

Information about Police community support officer (level 4)

Working as part of a neighbourhood policing team to help deal with and prevent crime.

• Knowledge, skills and behaviours:
  View knowledge, skills and behaviours

  Knowledge

  • The ethics and values of the police service, including: duty of care, service delivery, employment practice, efficiency, effectiveness and value for money, the Code of Ethics, professional standards, and equality, diversity and human rights
  • The composition and diversity of individuals, groups and neighbourhoods in their community and ways in which they may help to develop partnership working to address local community and policing issues, problems or concerns
  • Appropriate methods and media for communicating with individuals, local and multi-agency partners across the community e.g. social media, face to face, neighbourhood meetings, email etc
  • The principles of applying a preventative, evidence-based community policing approach to mitigate or solve community issues, problems or concerns
  • The legal and organisational requirements related to managing conflict and acting in a way which is likely to defuse potential conflict situations, including applying tactical (non-physical) options in line with their powers, training and issued equipment
  • The legal and organisational requirements (local policy) related to responding to incidents and performance of their PCSO duties relating to these responses, including enforcement activities such as e.g. issuing fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for anti-social behaviour, dog fouling and littering and any bylaws relating to their operational context e.g. railway related offences (British Transport Police)
  • The factors that affect vulnerable people (e.g. those at risk from radicalisation or those experiencing mental ill health; the elderly; children and those who may be being coerced, victims and witnesses) and how this may impact on their need for support, including where they may be able to access that support e.g. local Prevent body
  • The legal and organisational requirements relating to handling community and police information and intelligence

  Skills

  • Foster, promote and maintain channels of communication and develop close working relationships with key groups, multi-agency partners and individuals across the community
  • Communicate effectively, in accordance with the varied needs of differing situations, individuals, groups and communities, including those who may be victims, witnesses and vulnerable people, supporting diversity and inclusivity through their communications
  • Provide initial support to vulnerable people and assess their needs for further support, including providing advice on accessing that support
  • Gather, handle and submit information and intelligence from a variety of sources to support law enforcement and to maximise policing effectiveness
  • Work under the direction of their line managers and community-based Police Constables, contribute to developing, planning and implementing preventative and problem-solving policing approaches to local concerns and issues, including providing assistance to review, analyse and share the results of evidence-based initiatives
  • Work alongside partner organisations or as part of a multi-disciplinary team to improve, mitigate and solve community problems, issues or concerns
  • Provide an initial response to incidents (where necessary) in-line with legal and organisational requirements and the limits of their responsibilities, including appropriate planning (e.g. strategies for managing traffic flow), for responses based on analysis of all relevant information at hand
  • Provide support for victims and witnesses at policing incidents, including advice to identify and access sources of additional support (or accessing sources on behalf of individuals) and post-incident help, and where appropriate, delivering any necessary follow-up assistance
  • Apply appropriate conflict management tactics e.g. appropriate communication (not hands on physical techniques) where absolutely necessary and in-line with the powers bestowed on them, issued equipment (where applicable), the training they have received and organisational policy and procedure

  Behaviours

  • Being accountable and taking ownership for own role and responsibilities, whilst being effective and willing to take appropriate, justifiable risks
  • Maintain the highest standards of professionalism and trustworthiness, making sure that values, moral codes and ethical standards are always upheld, including challenging others where their standards fall below those expected
  • Understand and effectively manage own emotions in stressful situations, understanding motivations and underlying reasons for own behaviour and that of others. Value diversity and difference in approaches to work, thinking and background, and treat people with sensitivity, compassion and warmth
  • Have an inquisitive and outward-looking nature, searching for new information to understand alternative sources of best practice and implement creative working methods. Committed to reflecting on how own role is undertaken, learning from success and mistakes, to continuously review and adapt approach
  • Work effectively with colleagues and external partners, sharing skills, knowledge and insights as appropriate to lead to the best possible results
  • Uphold the police services values in day-to-day activities, providing inspiration and clarity to colleagues and stakeholders. Consider how the wider organisation and others are impacted, and help others to deliver their objectives effectively
• Apprenticeship category (sector): Protective services
• Qualification level: 4; Equal to higher national certificate (HNC)
• Course duration: 12 months
• Maximum funding: £9,000 ; Maximum government funding for ; apprenticeship training and assessment costs.

View more information about Police community support officer (level 4) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.