Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)

Warwickshire Police is a small force offering great opportunities.  We can offer you a unique, challenging and rewarding career where you really make a difference to people who live, work and travel in the county of Warwickshire. We offer great staff benefits and career prospects.

Our Leek Wootton based headquarters has its own gym and beautiful scenery to wander around at lunchtime, sit and enjoy a bite to eat and meet new people.   We also have force gyms at Rugby and Bedworth.

Our force has 165 years of history that we are immensely proud of and we pride ourselves on our inclusive, family-feel, #WeAreWarwickshire culture.  A caring and friendly, one-team ethos will support you along every step of your journey with us.

Warwickshire Police values diversity and recognises that people with a variety of skills, attitudes and experiences, from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures, bring fresh ideas and perspectives to policing. We are committed to fostering a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve, and encourage individuals from under-represented groups and communities to join us.

… Protect, Learn and Serve the Warwickshire community.  Please note that although this video asks if you are over 18, you are able to apply from age 17:

View the video below:

Being a police officer is one of the most personally rewarding, challenging and diverse careers available to you. It’s a vital role and offers a great sense of pride from helping and protecting those within our community. The public face of Warwickshire Police, you will ensure we’re fulfilling our commitment to protecting our communities, catching criminals and delivering an outstanding service to victims, witnesses and the public.

You need to be prepared for anything. This is why the new apprenticeship entry route into policing has been introduced nationally; providing you with the skills and capabilities to be a successful police officer in the ever-changing environment. You must therefore be willing and able to meet the academic demands and deadlines throughout the two year programme. You will be supported by Warwickshire Police and the University and 20% of your work time will be allocated as protected learning time enabling you to study, attend master classes and complete assignments and projects.

You’ll need to be compassionate and confident yet calm with the judgment to make quick decisions, ask the right questions to gauge the situation in front of you and respond appropriately. It’s not all 'blues-and-twos'; building strong relationships with the public, victims, witnesses and suspects are also critical so being a good communicator, listener and empathic are all vital too. You’ll face some of the most difficult situations you can think of, and some of the most interesting. Finding the balance is key and being able to separate emotion from fact can often be challenging; however, you will always be supported – we are a family.

From being the first on the scene or arresting an abuser to being a shoulder to cry on and a reassuring face. Tracking down known criminals to the sensitive delivery of difficult news; you’ll be the person everyone looks to for help and guidance. This role is thrilling yet constantly challenging. You’ll work in a fast-paced 24/7 environment where no two shifts will be the same. Police officers typically work 40 hours per week, in shifts, including weekends and bank holidays.

Most importantly, you’ll simply want to make a difference.

Zara was a cadet with Warwickshire Police for three years between 2019 and 2021. She applied for the PCDA scheme in 2021 when in her last year of Sixth Form. The application process took 6 months and included assessments, fitness tests, face to face interviews, situational judgment tests.

Zara is most looking forward to meeting new people, being able to finally do the job she’s worked so hard to achieve and most importantly, be able to make a difference and be a familiar and trusted face to the public when needed.

Speaking about the start of the course, Zara said: “The first challenge was getting to know everyone but everyone is so lovely and you soon become close as this is now your police family. We are all helping each other out where we can so it becomes less daunting.”

Zara was a cadet based in North Warwickshire, and wanted to stay with the force. She said: “I know how the force works, I know it’s a very good force to work for and having some familiar faces will definitely make the job easier. Being a police cadet helped to put into perspective what was expected of me as an officer and a cadet, and also enabled me to meet PCs and police staff from across the force in order to gain a better insight and positive opinion on Warwickshire Police.”

On advice to potential applicants, Zara said: “Persevere through the application process - it’s long but so worthwhile, I know have a lifetime career in the police. It was my dream job and because I persevered and didn’t give up I’ve now got it.

“Also, don’t be afraid to make mistakes in training - we train for a reason, we’re not expected to be perfect or get it right first time, that’s why we train - to realise our mistakes and then tackle it with our trainers to become the best PC possible.”

Some say the best things in life come to those who wait….we need to ensure this role meets your expectations and that you meet ours, and so the application process to join the police can be a lengthy one, as it has six key stages.

_{Stage 1: Online application form}

By clicking the link to apply, you will start your application form. There are two stages to complete: an eligibility check and if successful, you will be asked to complete further application form details.  Once you have submitted the form, the Recruitment Support Team will check your application to ensure that we have all the information we require and confirm that you are eligible to apply. In particular, we will check that you have included your Level 2 qualifications and that your Level 3 qualifications equate to 64 UCAS points or more.

_{Stage 2: National SIFT – Situational Judgment Test (SJT) and Behaviour Style Questionnaire (BSQ)}

If eligible to apply, you will be sent an automated invitation email for you to complete an online National Sift process involving two exercises:

• Situational judgement test (SJT)
• 15 scenarios
• 4 responses per scenario – candidates will rate responses in terms of effectiveness
• Behavioural style questionnaire (BSQ)  
• 80 statements

As this is a nationally led selection process, you will be required to register on the system separately, however it is an extremely short registration process!

You will have 7 days to complete the exercises.  These can be completed in any order you prefer, and at any time of day, 24/7, during that time.   

Reasonable Adjustments: The national sift is not timed, therefore no reasonable adjustments are required.  It is automatically compatible with text to speech software, changes to background colour and coloured overlays.

If you are unsuccessful you will be provided with feedback and will be eligible to re-apply after three months, however, you are only able to complete the national sift twice within a rolling 12 month period.

_{Stage 3: Online assessment centre}

For more information on these stages, see the Candidate Journey below. If successful at each stage, you will progress to the next one.

Required technology

You can complete the exercises on any internet-enabled device with a camera (laptop, tablet or mobile phone), but to ensure full compatibility with the LaunchPad online platform, the following should be set up:

• Your operating system should be Windows 7 (or higher) or Mac OS 10.11 (or higher)
• Your browser should be the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome or Safari (Apple products only)
• You should have the latest version of Adobe Flash installed, and you require a webcam and microphone to record responses.

_{Stage 4: Formal Discussion}

Applicants will be asked to attend a meeting with representatives of the force.  They will invite you to talk about yourself and your reasons for wanting to join Warwickshire Police as well as holding a discussion with you regarding your views on topical news or modern agenda which have an impact on policing.

_{Stage 5: Pre-employment checks}

If successful at the formal discussion, you will start your pre-employment checks. These can take around eight weeks to complete, but this can vary for each applicant. You will be required to complete a medical questionnaire, eyesight test form and online vetting forms in advance.

The pre-employment checks require applicants to attend the following appointments:

• Medical appointment with our Occupational Health team who will review your completed medical questionnaire and eyesight test form and complete height and weight, lung capacity and hearing tests.
• Job related fitness test
• Uniform fitting
• Biometrics clearance – You will be invited to an appointment where mandatory biometric vetting (DNA and fingerprints) is taken and screened
• Drug screening

Whilst these appointments are in progress, the Recruitment Support Team will request employment references, and the Vetting Unit will assess your suitability by performing security checks on you and your family members.

_{Stage 6: Offer of employment}

Once you have successfully completed all of these stages, you will be placed on a waiting list to be offered the post of Student Police Officer as part of our next cohort of students.

You don't need a degree to join. With the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) you can earn and learn on the job, earning a degree in Professional Policing Practice by the end of the programme.

Our fully funded PCDA pathway, recognises policing as a degree-level profession. The PCDA is a vocational course that focuses on practical learning and is specifically tailored to help you start your career in policing.

From day one you’ll be employed as a police officer spending most of your time on the frontline working alongside your team, turning your learning into practical experience. 

We are proud to be partnered with Staffordshire University to train our student officers, while helping them to earn a degree, which will be recognised internationally.

Your formal training on our PCDA course will take place alongside your practical work in one of our many policing teams across Warwickshire. After a few weeks of learning the important bits, you’ll get your uniform, join a team, and begin three years of practical learning that will shape your police career.

It is a three-year apprenticeship programme for non-degree holders resulting in a BSc degree in Professional Policing Practice.

Recruitment onto the PCDA requires you to hold the following entry qualifications:;

Level 2 qualifications in Maths and English e.g. GCSE (Grade A*-C/ 9-4), or Functional Skills for example
and
Level 3 qualification equal to 64 UCAS points. Calculate your UCAS points at the UCAS website

Qualifications listed in your application must be evidenced with a certificate.

If you don’t have the relevant level 2 or 3 qualifications, you can usually complete these online or at your local college.

Staffordshire University now offer a 10-week Step Up to Policing course for people who don't meet the level 3 entry requirements, or you may be able to demonstrate Accreditation of Prior learning (APL).  This would be candidates that can evidence any learning and development within the last 5 years. 

Part of the process for candidates that apply via this route will be a formal assessment by the University to assess suitability for the course by considering candidates Accreditation of Prior learning (APL) and relevant experience.

At the time of application, you must:

• be a British citizen or if not, evidence that you are resident in the UK and free from restrictions.
• have resided in the UK for three consecutive years immediately prior to your application
• be at least 17 years old, although you will not be able to start as an officer until you are 18 years old
• possess a full UK manual driving licence
• not be a member of a group and/or organisation that contradicts our values or ethics and our commitment to inclusion
• not have applied to become a police constable and been unsuccessful at any stage of the Police National Assessment process in the last three months with any force
• meet the required Fitness level: We want to make you aware at this early stage of the requirements for the fitness test. This is a test of endurance whereby you will you will be asked to run along a 15 metre track in time with a series of bleeps, which become increasingly faster to level 5.4.
• meet the police recruitment medical standards and have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of between 18-30, although if your BMI falls outside of this range, this may not preclude you
• meet the police eyesight standards
• not have tattoos on your face or the front of your neck, or any which could cause offence to members of the public or colleagues. Other visible tattoos such as on the back of the neck, forearms and hands, will be permissible as long as they are deemed to be appropriate and inoffensive, whilst maintaining a professional image. These will be assessed on a case by case basis
• declare any convictions and cautions: If you do have any criminal convictions or cautions on record you may still apply, eligibility will depend on the age and nature of the offence.  Any previous criminal convictions or cautions (including those spent), fixed penalty notices, traffic offences or any involvement with the police must be declared
• And finally, you must be successful in completing the selection processes during your application stages detailed above

Your formal training will take place alongside work in one of our policing teams across Warwickshire. After getting your uniform and a few weeks learning the basics, you’ll join a team and begin three years of practical learning which will shape your policing career.

Being a police officer from your first day on the job with the PCDA

You’ll join colleagues at a local station to police our urban or rural communities, responding to 999 calls and helping to solve some of the most serious crimes. Over the three years, you will be rotated through various police specialisms, experiencing 24/7 frontline policing in Response, Investigations, Intelligence and Patrol.

Once in the workplace, you will apply what you have learned on the job to your course of study, supported by your co-ordinator, tutor constable, colleagues, line manager and the university. Most of your learning will be done digitally on Staffordshire University systems, watching lectures and accessing learning modules from your computer, without needing to travel to campus. There will be some need of a blended approach to the academic learning, both in the classroom at our headquarters in Leek Wootton, or online, led by both university trainers and force trainers. 

The subject guide can be found here: Staffordshire University Institute of Policing - subject guide.pdf

On successfully finishing the programme, you will complete your probation and achieve a degree in Professional Policing Practice from Staffordshire University. All your university tuition fees will be paid for, and you can look forward to starting on the next stage of your policing career, keeping our communities safe across Warwickshire.

When you join Warwickshire Police, you can expect a career with variety, diversity, challenges, rewards and now, a professional qualification. You’ll be a key figure on the front line, a vital job that matters to the public but also matters to us.

We will give you:

• A starting salary of £22,065 with the potential to rise to over £30,000 within the first 5 years.
• Fully-funded professional qualification – a Degree in Professional Policing Practice.
• 22 days per year annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 30 days a year depending on your length of service.
• A competitive benefits package including:
  • Highly competitive pension scheme.
  • Onsite gyms
  • An employee assistance programme for advice and counselling.
  • Access to discounts, savings and cash back rewards.
• Opportunities to progress through the ranks and/or specialise in an area of policing that interests you most. Here is a selection of videos to help you understand the variety of routes that your policing career could take you:

Career pathways available within the Police Service

• Opportunities to join various support networks, staff associations and our sports club. We have on-site gyms and a range of sports clubs, all of which aim to promote health, friendship and fun amongst police officers and staff.
• To support your health and wellbeing we have excellent welfare services including employee assistance program, chaplaincy support and mental health first aiders who offer in-house service to support you mental health and wellbeing when you need it. Diffusers also offer post incident trauma support.

Warwickshire Police is committed to recruiting from under-represented communities as we believe a more diverse workforce will allow us to become more effective to fight, prevent and reduce crime, keep people safe and care for victims.

We are currently under-represented by females and people from Ethnic Minority backgrounds and so are encouraging people from these groups to apply to become Police Officers or members of Police Staff.

If you are from one of these groups please do ask the Recruitment Support Team to put you in contact with our Positive Action representatives to offer support and guidance with your police officer application process.

Positive action is about levelling the playing field, and will also lead to a wider pool of skills, experience and talent from which to recruit.

Greater diversity equips the police workforce with the understanding it needs to better serve our diverse communities – this helps the service secure the trust and confidence of the public and aids effective crime prevention and commitment to justice.

Please check back for more details.

If you have passed the National Assessment Centre (SEARCH, Day One or Online) in the past 24 months, you may be able to transfer your score to Warwickshire Police for the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship.

Scores are valid for 24 months from the date of your assessment centre.

To transfer your score, please send a copy of your assessment report to [email protected] 

You can request your assessment report from the force at which it was undertaken.