PCs can become “Advanced Practitioners” for the first time

“ADVANCED practitioner” constables will be introduced to the service for the first time. Eight forces – including South Yorkshire Police – are involved in a pilot which will see a new role developed for more experienced PCs – although they will not receive any extra pay at this point.

Advanced practitioner constables will take on more complex work which would be more similar to the lowest levels of the sergeant rank – according to a draft document provided by the College of Policing.

They will be expected to lead complex casework, assess how procedures can be developed and improved and think and plan ahead for weeks and months.

The role is being introduced at Avon and Somerset, Cheshire, Lancashire, the Met, North Wales, South Yorkshire, Humberside and Thames Valley Police to provide “lateral career opportunities” for constables.

The advanced practitioner role was first introduced by the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Police Leadership Review in 2015 after acknowledging that 85% of officers who join the service do not go for promotion even though they may be more than capable.

It said the role would be introduced to “to design and support opportunities for professional development to ensure professional expertise and leadership are rewarded and recognised”.

“Advanced practitioner” status will also be applied to the equivalent role for police staff.

The review added: “The recommendation makes reference to pay and remuneration but at this stage for the pilot it has been agreed through the programme governance that there will be no remuneration awarded to participants.”

The roles will be formally introduced across the service in 2018, subject to the outcome of the pilot’s evaluation.

Karen Stephens, from the Police Federation of England and Wales, who has been involved in consulting with the College of Policing on the pilot, said:

“We know that many officers have the knowledge, skills and expertise to fulfil more senior positions, often going above and beyond their current remit. However, for a variety of reasons they choose not to seek promotion.

“We welcome the idea to identify and formerly recognise those who are experts in their field through the creation of Advanced Practitioners.”

However, she said, there are still questions around exactly how this will be done and how it will work across a wide variety of roles.

She added: “This pilot will help set the standards of the Advanced Practitioner role and we will work with the College throughout to help fulfil this aim and ensure the scheme is fair and fit-for-purpose for our members.”