Police Officer - Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship; PCDA

What You Can Expect From The PCDA

From day one of your training you are a warranted officer and, on successful completion of the programme and your probation, your learning will be accredited with a BSc (Hons) Professional Policing Practice
.

A three-year professional degree-level apprenticeship programme combining on-the-job practical learning and operational competence with academic learning.

Year One
: A blended learning programme delivered by TVP and our Higher Education Institute (HEI) with initial learning phase based at TVP’s Training Centres in Sulhamstead, Reading and Kidlington. You will then join your designated Local Command Unit (LCU) for a period of operational tutoring leading to Independent Patrol Status. In year one operational training will include officer safety training, making an arrest and how to conduct a stop and search, amongst other things.

You will also be required to complete seven academic assignments*. Four of these are completed during the initial learning phase, the remaining three are to be completed whilst operationally deployed during assigned periods of Protected Learning Time**.

Year Two
:
Builds on the first year of learning but with more operational focus including response, investigation, intelligence, community policing and roads policing. In year two you will be required to complete seven academic assignments
* whilst operationally deployed during assigned periods of Protected Learning Time**. During the second year of your probation period you may be identified for an attachment of either 20 weeks in Assessment and Investigation Unit (AIU) or for 12 months on Neighbourhood.

Year Three
:
In year three you will be required to complete four academic assignments
* whilst operationally deployed during assigned periods of Protected Learning Time
** in addition to the End Point Assessment. As part of your End Point Assessment you will be assessed on your Evidence-Based Research Project and achieve Full Operational Competence. The research project has a practical policing purpose; demonstrating your learning, critical thinking and problem‑solving skills.

The starting salary for all new recruits is £34,164 (inclusive of a £3,000 South-East living allowance). On the current system, officers can expect to be earning in excess of £53,000 per annum by their seventh year in the job.

This application is primarily for Buckinghamshire covering Amersham, Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Milton Keynes police stations. However, if you can reach other main stations in Oxfordshire or Berkshire, those locations will also be taken into account when a posting decision is made. You should not apply for multiple locations.

• Self‑assessment form – all potential applicants must self‑assess their eligibility prior to applying
• Application including proof of eligibility (e.g. educational certificates, compliance with residency, tattoo policy etc.)
• Online Assessments (National Sift and Online Assessment Centre (OAC))
• Interview
• Provisional Offer
• Pre‑employment checks including interview, fitness test, medical, references and vetting
• Formal Offer including written confirmation of posting and start date

• Age – be at least 17 years of age
• Citizenship – be a British citizen, or an EC/EEA national with Settled status, or a Commonwealth citizen or foreign national with Indefinite Leave to Remain and no restrictions on your stay in the United Kingdom
• Residency – have been a UK resident for the last three years. There are some exceptions (e.g. periods of travelling/working overseas, armed forces etc) which will be considered on a case‑by‑case basis
• GCSE Education – All applicants must have passes in both English (Language or Literature) and Mathematics at GCSE/Level 2 (A*–C / 9–4) or equivalent (this is a requirement of the National Apprenticeship programme)***
• Further Education/Experience – In addition to the GCSEs, applicants must also have two A-levels (grade A–E) or equivalent Level 3 qualifications OR one A-Level qualification combined with relevant professional experience
  **** OR relevant professional experience only. Suitability of your "relevant professional…