Expression of Interest - Force Control Room Operator (Dispatching)

Please be advised this is not an application for the role.

Division/Department - Contact and Control

Contract Type - Permanent

Working Hours - 36.0 Hours per Week

The starting salary for this role will usually be at the bottom of the salary range and will be pro-rata if the working hours are less than full time.

Please note this vacancy is for Surrey Police and based at our Police Headquarters in Guildford. Sussex Police recruit for the same role based at their Headquarters in Lewes.

We really welcome your interest in joining our Police Force. We are looking for talented and inspirational people who put the needs of the public at the heart of everything that they do and who want to make a difference. If you feel you are that person then we want to hear from you.

Surrey Police’s Force Control Room manages and coordinates police resources countywide with a single aim; to protect the public. You’ll get a good starting salary, opportunities for progression and the satisfaction that comes from helping others. Working within the Force Control Room (FCR) of Surrey Police means that you will be pivotal in managing the deployment of Police Officers and Staff to helping people who need assistance from the police and partner agencies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Reviewing matters that require the attendance of an officer;
• Risk assessing all reports passed to the FCR for deployment of police officers/staff;
• Ensuring that the right people get to each and every incident.

As a Controller in the FCR, you will view and assess a range of matters; from a swan sitting on a main road to a person suffering a mental health crisis to a burglary in progress. Key to this role is an ability to review incidents quickly and identify the pertinent information to pass on to attending officers/staff. Decision making under pressure is a must as is an ability to work both on your own and as part of a team. You won’t be going at it alone. You’ll have access to full training and our Force Control Room works closely as a team to continually support you in your career.

A typical shift looks like this:

• Start your shift reviewing all incidents for your area of responsibility within the County;
• Assessing the nature of the reported incident against others;
• Deploying officers to incidents in order, based upon the risk of harm reported.

You will utilise your skills in spotting and managing risk to ensure that attending officers are provided with pertinent information and sufficient detail to manage the incident when they arrive.

Skills & Experience:

• Ability to work under pressure and to risk assess incidents quickly and efficiently;
• Liaison with other Emergency Services and Partner Agencies;
• Identification and progression of lines of enquiry;
• Calling members of the public and providing advice and support;
• Delivering a service that manages the demand upon Surrey Police.

Previous work within a high-pressured environment is desirable but not essential; we offer a detailed training schedule to develop your skills. Above all, we’re looking for common sense, attention to detail, good communication skills, high levels of resilience and ability to remain calm under pressure. You will receive a structured classroom-based course and on the job training with a dedicated coach, who will assist you in your learning and support you until you become independent.

We expect high standards and ethical behaviour, central to this is the Code of Ethics which is the professional code of conduct for Policing. Our teams are there when the public need us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You’ll need to commit to working a shift pattern covering the 24-hour period, this includes night shifts, weekends and Bank/Public Holidays.

While this can be a challenging role, there are many benefits, including the variety the work provides, camaraderie within a supportive environment, working outside the usual 9-5 and the resultant work-life balance. We strive for officers to feel valued and to enjoy a personal sense of achievement through helping people.

Starting salary of £33,714 (this is inclusive of a shift allowance). 180 hours annual leave, rising to 209 hours depending on your length of service. Progressive approach to flexible working. Great training and development opportunities. Opportunity to join various support networks. A competitive benefits package including pension and employee assistance programme.

Part-time working or flexible shifts may be available after completing the full-time training, which is around 6 months.

The role is based at our Police Headquarters, Mount Browne, in Artington which is approximately 1.5 miles outside of Guildford Town Centre. Due to the shift times, own transport is desirable as public transport is not readily available around these times. Successful candidates will be offered a 7-week classroom-based training course followed by a 16-week coaching period working the 24/7 shift pattern. The probationary period for this role is 18 months.

We are only as good as our people. It’s important that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace. We strive to ensure how we deliver our services, provide information and how we recruit is open and accessible to all. We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities. Regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status, or religious belief, we would love to hear from you.