Technical Skills Trainer - Search
Job summary
Applications for this role are restricted to existing officers of a UK police force or UK policing organisation.
About us:
Our mission is: Leadership, Standards, Performance. This guides our work with individuals, forces, and policing partners towards our vision. We exist to support police officers, police staff and volunteers to deliver the best service to the public. Only through high quality leadership, consistent standards and continual performance improvement can everyone in policing reach their full potential. Our mission guides our work with individual, forces and partners towards our vision.
Although we are a relatively small organisation, our work has a big reach. We are uniquely placed to work both with national policing organisations and local forces to support frontline officers, staff and volunteers in their day-to-day roles.
We offer a supportive and inclusive environment for people to thrive. Our extensive flexible-working policy, employee wellbeing support, family friendly policies, employers’ network for equality and inclusion membership (ENEI silver award winners), and status as a disability confident leader means everyone can bring their whole self to work.
Additional Information:
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.
Due to our status as Public Servants, we are not eligible to participate in the Civil Service transfer process. Therefore, while successful candidates can transfer in on their existing terms and conditions, any subsequent transfer out of the College to the Civil Service cannot be guaranteed on existing terms and conditions, and new starter/modernised terms may apply.
The College embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we comply with the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and apply the minimum selection criteria at sift stage of the recruitment process.
Job description
We look forward to reading your application for the role of Technical Skills Trainer – Search.
The selected candidate will be responsible to the Learning & Standards Manager for the day-to-day delivery of training programmes, supervising students and, where appropriate, associate trainers to ensure that learning objectives are met to course specifications and agreed quality standards.
The selected candidate will work with other College departments to provide subject matter expertise in the formulation of evidence-based policing standards and the design and development of learning products.
Person specification
Some of your responsibilities will include:
- Delivering training programmes to agreed content and assessment specifications. Developing and adapting, where appropriate, teaching techniques, lesson plans, scenarios, and training materials to meet individual students' abilities, levels of understanding and learning styles. Ensure that all students receive a consistent, high quality training intervention which addresses their learning and development needs.
- Continually researching and refreshing own subject matter expertise and work with Policing Standards Managers, Knowledge, Research and Education partners, Training Designers, and external stakeholders to share knowledge. Help identify innovative solutions and draft and develop evidence-based policing standards, guidance and associated curriculum specifications and learning interventions to support the promotion and embedding of consistent approaches to professional practice across policing.
- Taking ownership of specific training modules, courses or work-streams, reviewing and revising lesson plans and training materials to address changes to the curriculum, professional practice, guidance, standards and/or feedback from quality assurance data trends. Update version control log to ensure that learning programmes are always accurate, up-to-date and that definitive records of revisions are maintained.
To be successful in this role you’ll need:
- To be a qualified trainer to meet the Police Sector Standard for Trainers through either a Level 4 Diploma in Learning and Development, a Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training or equivalent or through the College of Policing Training Essentials Programme or be willing to achieve the Level 4 diploma within 18 months.
- Demonstrate experience of successfully delivering training using a variety of evidence-based approaches and delivery solutions.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to influence, challenge and build effective working relationships with internal and external senior stakeholders and staff to achieve timely results. Proven competence and experience as a licensed Police Search Advisor (PolSA) as per Authorised Professional Practice (within the past 3 years).
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Developing Self and Others
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Evidence of competence, experience and knowledge as a licensed Police Search Advisor (PolSA) as per APP (in past 3 years) .
- Demonstrate experience of successfully delivering training using a variety of evidence-based approaches and delivery solutions.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to influence, challenge and build effective working relationships with internal and external senior stakeholders and staff to achieve timely results.
- Qualified trainer to meet Police Sector Standard for Trainers through either: Level 4 Diploma in L&D, Level 4 Certificate in Education & Training, equivalent, CoP Training Essentials Programme or willing to achieve Level 4 diploma within 18 months.
Benefits
College staff have Public Servant status. The College is a great place to work. We're passionate about our people and offer a wide range of benefits, including (but not limited to):
- Continued professional development and structured career paths
- Flexi-time (for certain grades)
- Free employee support line
- Rewards and recognition scheme
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
We also have a number of thriving staff networks that provide the opportunity for advice, support and to drive change. A place to get your voice heard, share experiences and challenge our working practices to ensure equality of opportunity for all.
For more information about our benefits and staff networks, visit What we offer as an employer , College of Policing
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.Applications for this role are restricted to existing officers of a UK police force or UK policing organisation.
Vacancy reference: 7254
Anticipated interview dates: 21st September 2026
This role is available for 24 months as a secondment opportunity to:
- serving police officers substantive in the rank of Constable. All applicants must have the support of their Chief Officer which must be of NPCC rank, i.e., CC, ACC or DCC and this must accompany an application.
Central service conditions may apply.
Please ensure you return the attached secondment approval form either as an attachment when submitting your application or via email to recruitment@college.police.uk quoting the internal reference number 7254.
For further information on applying for a secondment please visit the “Secondments into the College” page.
Internal College applicants who are at risk of redundancy or in need of redeployment and pass the recruitment process, will be given priority over other applicants.
An initial sift based on the lead Technical Skill ‘Evidence of competence, experience and knowledge as a licensed Police Search Advisor (PolSA) as per APP (in past 3 years) within the past 3 years with considerable experience in the delivery of police training’ may be held if a large number of applications are received. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
How to apply and contact information:
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, and as Public Servants we follow the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
We embrace diversity and promote equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
For further information visit our ‘Work for us’ page.
What it's like working at the College of Policing
If you would like to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Mark Sweeney (mark.sweeney@college.police.uk), Learning & Standards Manager - Search
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
We believe that a diverse workforce brings many benefits to the organisation including diversity of thought and improvements to the way we work internally and with partners and communities. We strive to be fully inclusive but we know there is more to do. We genuinely encourage people from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups to apply for this role.
We want to continually improve our recruitment processes and to remove any barriers to equal opportunities that could disadvantage those from particular backgrounds. In order for us to have the information to do this, we ask you to please complete the diversity section of the online application process. We use a “blind” shortlisting process and we hope that by using this method we will be able to promote greater diversity in our workforce and remove any subconscious decisions based on biases.
The College is committed to support the Greening Government Commitment and reducing our Environmental impact. We have a dynamic Environmental Management Plan in place which encompasses various objectives, including our pledge to reduce business travel. To support our green agenda we have, in phase one, installed Electric Vehicle Charging Points at our sites in Ryton (12 points) and Harperley Hall (4 points). We encourage employees to become an Environment Champion to help with promoting and delivering our Environmental Management Plan. Our One Step Greener approach encourages all College staff to make small changes to create a better future for everyone.
Please note that in order to work for the College of Policing you must have the Right to Work in the UK with indefinite leave to remain. In addition, you will also be required to provide an address history in the UK for the preceding 3 years.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : College Talent Acquisition and Inclusion Team
- Email : recruitment@college.police.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment@college.police.uk