The posting
Job Description
- Do you like to build strong working relationships?
- Are you a good listener and a clear communicator?
- Do you want to make a real difference to the communities of the West Midlands?
West Midlands Police are currently recruiting Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) and this could be the role for you!
About the role:
PCSO’s are a crucial link between local neighbourhoods and the Police, as they provide a visible presence within their local communities. PCSO’s conduct patrols to help prevent crime, keep people safe from harm and increase community trust and confidence. Within the role you’ll become an integral member of the neighbourhood that you work in; shaping positive partnerships with organisations such as schools, the local Council, businesses and charities.
Trained to calm heated situations, PCSOs defuse hostility and provide that all important reassurance to help make our communities safer. As a PCSO you will have different powers to Police Officers so you will not be expected to make arrests or investigate crimes, your role will be based around proactively preventing crime specific to the local area you are working in.
As a PCSO, you can expect to:
- Connect with communities, empowering and encouraging them to become more involved with the policing of their area. As part of this you will represent West Midlands Police at local events, conduct meetings within the community and deliver presentations at schools
- Identify and understand key issues and crimes and work with the public to remove and prevent these
- Understand the diversity and demographics of your community and find ways to engage with harder to reach community members
- Be able to talk to community members about the issues affecting them
- Maximise opportunities to gather intelligence about harm and criminality through enhanced relationships with the community, partners and colleagues
- Work with partners to deliver agreed objectives
This role requires applicants to work 36.5 hours per week, covering a shift pattern spanning from Monday to Sunday including evening and weekend work. Shift patterns vary with cover between 08:00hrs – 00:00hrs.
About you:
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
- Strong decision maker, who is also confident in working collaboratively as well as independently
- Ability to remain calm under pressure when dealing with confrontational situations
- Proactive approach to problem solving
- Keen interest in working with the public and local communities
- You must have or working towards a Level 2 English (Grade C/4 or above)
Please note that this role carries a tenure agreement – PCSOs are unable to apply for alternative Police Staff roles within West Midlands Police for two years following their start date.
You will be posted to where the vacancies are at the time of starting with West Midlands Police. Successful candidates will not be posted to their home Neighbourhood Policing Unit.
What’s in it for you?
- Starting salary: £30,897.00, rising annually up to £32,613.00 after 2 years.
- 26 days’ annual leave, rising to 31 after five years.
- Extensive benefits, including pension scheme, employee support, staff networks, and professional development opportunities. See our benefits website for more details.
- A career that matters, make a lasting impact on communities while developing your skills and future.
Fitness, Medical & Vetting:
- Must pass medical checks, which may include drug and fitness testing.
- Must pass our required vetting checks. See our Vetting FAQ for more information.
Residency & Nationality
- Lived in the UK for the past three years.
- Must be a British, Irish, or EEA national, or have the right to work in the UK without restrictions.
Application Process
- Our careers website provides a step by step breakdown of the application process.
West Midlands Police is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We are committed to delivering a fair and inclusive recruitment process and ensuring that no applicant is disadvantaged because of their disability. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the be made to our recruitment process, please let us know. All information shared will be kept confidential.
Guaranteed Interview Schemes:
As a Disability Confident Leader and we operate a Disability Confident Interview Scheme. All candidates who share with us that they are disabled and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview*.
As a proud signatory of the Armed Services Covenant and Care Leaver Covenant, West Midlands Police also operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for Military Service Leavers and Care Leavers who meet the minimum role requirements.
*There may be times we cannot interview all disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the job. For example, seasonal and high-peak times. In these situations, we may limit the number of interviews offered to disabled and non-disabled people. In these circumstances, we will select the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job.
Prospective officers and staff must be held to a higher standard of behaviour and accountability than members of the public, and that therefore their right to privacy can be fettered in certain circumstances. This is to ensure that members of the police are fully aware and accountable for the unique powers entrusted to them and the standards of professional behaviour they swear to uphold.
Contact – For more information please contact [email protected]
About Us
West Midlands Police is the second-largest police force in England, serving more than 2.9 million people across Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall. Every day, our people work together to keep our communities safe, protect vulnerable people, prevent crime and bring offenders to justice.
We answer more than 2,000 emergency calls every day and provide policing 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whether responding to emergencies, supporting victims, investigating crime or working behind the scenes, every role plays a vital part in delivering an outstanding service to the public.
We're proud of the progress we've made in reducing crime, improving emergency response times and increasing arrest rates. These achievements are only possible because of the dedication, professionalism and expertise of our officers, staff and volunteers. As we continue to transform the way we police, we're looking for talented people who are committed to making a real difference.
Why Join West Midlands Police?
A career with West Midlands Police is about more than a job, it's an opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the lives of millions of people. Whatever your role, you'll contribute to keeping our communities safe while developing your own skills and career.
When you join us, you'll benefit from:
- Meaningful work that makes a difference every day.
- A diverse range of career opportunities across policing and professional support services.
- High-quality training, development and opportunities to progress.
- A supportive and inclusive working environment where everyone is encouraged to achieve their potential.
- Competitive pay, generous annual leave, excellent pension arrangements and a wide range of employee benefits.
- The opportunity to work alongside dedicated colleagues who share a common purpose.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
We believe that a diverse workforce helps us better understand and serve the communities we protect. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to succeed.
As a Disability Confident Leader, the highest level of the Government's Disability Confident scheme, we are committed to removing barriers to employment and supporting disabled applicants and employees throughout their careers. Through our Disability Confident Interview Scheme, applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for a role will normally be offered an interview, subject to the scheme's terms and any recruitment constraints.
Our Diversity and Inclusion Vision is to maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness, respect and inclusion, enabling us to deliver the best possible service to our communities.
Professional Standards
Working in policing is a position of trust. Our officers and staff are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and accountability. Successful applicants will be subject to appropriate vetting and are expected to uphold the ethical standards and responsibilities that come with serving the public.
Recruitment and the Use of AI
We recognise that many candidates use AI tools to support activities such as proofreading and improving the presentation of written applications. This is acceptable, provided the content you submit accurately reflects your own knowledge, skills and experience.
Applications must be your own work. Any evidence of plagiarism, false or misleading information, or the inappropriate use of AI during assessments or selection activities where it is not permitted may result in your application being rejected.
Benefits
We know that supporting our people is essential to delivering the best service to our communities. That's why we offer a comprehensive range of employee benefits, wellbeing support and development opportunities to help you thrive throughout your career.
Visit our Benefits page to find out more about the rewards and support available when you join West Midlands Police.
