Working as a DPP PCSO

A Dyfed-Powys Police PCSO is a role as diverse as you can make it!

Police Community Support Officers are uniformed police staff who work to complement and support regular police officers. PCSO’s provide a visible and accessible uniformed presence, aimed at improving the quality of life in the community and offer greater public reassurance.

The role of PCSO is unique; designed to tackle anti-social behaviour and local issues affecting the quality of life of communities. As a Dyfed-Powys Police PCSO, you’ll work to engage with the local community, building relationships with them to provide reassurance, and work closely with them to tackle issues of local concern. Each and every day, we’ll look for you to bring the drive and desire to make a difference. 

Working as a PCSO is varied and demanding, but no two days are the same and the work you do is incredibly rewarding.

Work activities

There is no typical day at work as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), each day brings new challenges. What stays the same is that everything you do will be to improve the lives of our communities, to problem solve a wide range of issues, and to make a difference.

As a Dyfed-Powys PCSO you will:

• Work to help communities build, and thrive
• Build links and relationships with communities – whether that’s businesses, residents, community leaders or partner agencies
• Help build and maintain relationships with our diverse communities and young people
• Be a visible presence within the community, carrying out high visibility patrols to reassure people
• Respond to a range of incidents, including anti-social behaviour, neighbour disputes, abandoned vehicles, and assisting with missing person enquiries
• Take a problem solving approach to long term issues in the community, working with partners and the community to help resolve them
• Help reassure and support victims of crime, offering crime prevention advice to help keep them safe
• Help with policing large events, gatherings, festivals, and shows
• Use the powers designated to you to help tackle anti-social behaviour and crime in your community
• Collect CCTV evidence, and carry out house to house enquiries to help our investigations
• Act as a professional witness, attending court when required

The early intervention of PCSOs and our approach to neighbourhood policing can often help prevent crimes from happening, and can stop issues that do arise in communities from getting worse. Through our comprehensive training programme you will learn to:

• Deal with minor offences, using the powers you’ve been designated – including community resolution
• Identify opportunities to intervene, and deter people from committing offences
• Use the OSARA problem-solving model to address community issues
• Communicate and engage with the public, in a way that best meets their needs
• Provide support for front-line policing, using a blend of traditional policing methods and new digital tools
• Conduct house-to-house enquiries
• Guard crime scenes

Working hours and conditions

Your normal working week will be 37 hours on a shift system between the hours of 9:00am and 10:00pm covering 7 days a week.

As a Dyfed-Powys PCSO, you’ll spend most of your time on foot patrol in your community, as a visible, reassuring presence. Through the relationships you’ll build with the community, you’ll often be asked questions or be provided with information on issues and concerns. We’re looking for people who can communicate effectively with our communities, in a whole range of different situations.

You'll need to have a full driving licence and you must be 18 years or older when you join.
We’ll provide you with all the equipment you need to carry out your duties safely and effectively. Our PCSOs are designated with a power of detention, so you will carry and be trained in the use of handcuffs.

What’s in it for you?

Joining us at Dyfed-Powys Police as a Police Community Support Officer means you’ll have access to a large range of benefits and support. These include:

• A starting salary of £24,552 plus shift and weekend working allowances (if applicable).
• 24 days annual leave per year which increases with service (up to 32 days).
• Initially, you’ll work a set shift pattern, but once you’ve completed 26 weeks of service you are eligible to apply for flexible working.
• Training and Development Opportunities including access to E-learning training packages
• Employees who meet the eligibility criteria are entitled to enhanced maternity benefits.
• Generous sick pay provisions
• Throughout your service, you’ll be eligible for membership of the pension scheme.
• You’ll have access to the support of Unison; the representative trade union for police staff across the UK.
• We offer a full range of Occupational Health Services, including medical screening, vaccination, physiotherapy, and counselling services. You’ll also have 24/7 access to CareFirst Employee Assistance.
• You will join our staff rewards scheme, offering discounts in a range on high street and online stores.
• Our Sports and Recreation Association offer access to a number of gyms on police premises across the Dyfed-Powys area. There is also the opportunity to represent us in a variety of sports, from football and rugby, to lifesaving and triathlon.
• Support and advice from our Staff Associations and Support Networks which include: Ability Staff Network, Christian Police Association, Gender Equality Support Network, LGBT Network and Ethnic Minority Support Network.

Other than these incredible benefits, there is also so much else to gain from becoming a Police Community Support Officer!

Every day will be different and you will make a difference to the communities of Dyfed Powys Police by preventing trouble and making your community stronger and safer. You might need to step in to calm an argument in the street, or organise a meeting for residents who are worried about the redevelopment of land.  In return for your hard work you will:

• develop your skills in dealing with people
• gain job satisfaction from making a difference in your community
• see how your role makes a positive contribution to local policing

The qualities you need

At Dyfed Powys Police we have set demanding standards for ourselves and you will be expected to live up to these. You'll need to have a responsible approach with experience of:

• serving the public
• dealing with conflict resolution
• problem solving and decision making
• communicating clearly and effectively

These skills will need to be coupled with a high degree of flexibility and self-motivation. You will act with integrity, impartiality and professionalism, taking pride in your work and presenting a positive image to others. Due to the nature of the work, you'll also need to be physically fit and be able to pass the necessary job-related fitness test.

Training and Development

Your initial training will be provided by our dedicated PCSO trainer. We offer an exciting timetable of courses and inputs that will prepare you for your role as a Police Community Support Officer with Dyfed-Powys Police.

The initial training program is a classroom-based course which is delivered over a period of 14 weeks, Monday – Friday at Police Headquarters Carmarthen, you will also be required to carry out self-study during this period. There will be formal written and practical assessments throughout the course. During the 14 weeks initial training you will also spend one week with your Neighbourhood Policing Team at your divisional police station.

While student officers are in training accommodation is available for students whose home address is over 30 miles from Police Headquarters. Unfortunately, due to the amount of learning required, there is little to no flexibility to miss a day, so please bear this in mind when applying for the role.

Once your initial training has been completed you will patrol with an experienced PCSO Mentor as part of the 8 week tutorship period to develop you as a PCSO. Your mentor will provide you with support, advice and guidance during the transition between the classroom and the workplace.

As a Police Community Support Officer you will also have access to the force’s Development & Assessment Profile which is a system designed to monitor and record the good work that you do.