Operational Policing
The University of South Wales supports police officer training in multiple Police Forces across England and Wales ensuring by the end of their training, officers will be educated to degree level, whichever route they choose.
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Dependent on their qualifications when joining the police, new police officers and police community support officers will be required to commit to study through a combined work and study route within their local constabulary.
To be eligible to study the Degree Apprenticeship, Graduate Diploma, Diploma in Higher Education or Certificate in Higher Education, you must be a serving police officer or police community support officer in one of our partner constabularies. Serving police officers satisfy the academic entry requirements as they have passed the recruitment and selection process to join the police.
There is also an option to study a pre-join degree before applying to the police service.
What qualifications and training are required in the police?
The College of Policing, whose purpose is to develop police standards, have begun to implement a Policing Education Qualifications Framework which includes nationally recognised and accredited qualifications for the police service.
USW is licenced to deliver these qualifications in the workplace, which include a BSc in Professional Policing Practice (Degree Apprenticeship), a Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice and a Diploma in Higher Education in Professional Policing Practice for serving Police Officers, and the Certificate in Higher Education in Community Policing Practice for employed Police Community Support Officers.
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Degree Apprenticeship
Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)
If you join the police without a degree-level qualification, you can follow a three-year professional degree apprenticeship known as the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA).
This study route includes on and off-the-job learning. On completion, you will gain a BSc (Hons) Professional Policing Practice degree.
Your learning journey will consist of academic modules that has practical elements integrated into them. You will be required to evidence practical competency by completing an Occupational Competency Portfolio (OCP) of the skills you have demonstrated in the workplace.
You will need to achieve Independent Patrol Status (IPS) by the end of your first year and complete the portfolio by the end of year 2. In order to successfully complete your 3 year probationary period and gain the qualification you will need to have demonstrated evidence of all practice-based competencies, passed all academic modules and gained the equivalent of Level 2 Operational Skills in English and Maths (Level 2 must be achieved before starting the course) as set out in the College of Policing requirements for this qualification.
- Policing Knowledge
- Policing Behaviours
- Policing Skills
- Policing Operational
Please note: All modules are worth 30 credits unless otherwise stated.
- Organisational Improvement
- Transforming Communities
- Critical Thinking in the Workplace (40 credits)
- Operational Competence (40 credits)
Please note: All modules are worth 20 credits unless otherwise stated.
- Evidence Based Research Project (40 credits)
- Research Showcase
- Policing Specialisms (40 credits)
- Management in Policing
Please note: All modules are worth 20 credits unless otherwise stated.
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Graduate Diploma
Degree-Holder Entry Programme (Dhep)
If you already have a degree when you join the police, you can join and follow a two-year work-based programme known as the Degree-holder Entry Programme (DHEP).
This study route is supported by off-the-job learning. On completion, you will gain a Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice
Your learning journey will consist of academic modules that has practical elements integrated into them. You will be required to evidence practical competency by completing an Occupational Competency Portfolio (OCP) of the skills you have demonstrated in the workplace.
You will need to achieve Independent Patrol Status (IPS) by the end of your first year and complete the portfolio by the end of year 2. To successfully complete your 2 year probationary period and attain the qualification you will need to have evidenced all practice based competencies and passed all academic modules.
- Policing Knowledge (DHEP)
- Policing Skills (DHEP)
- Policing Behaviours (DHEP) (20 credits)
- Policing Operational (DHEP) (20 credits)
Please note: All modules are worth 10 credits unless otherwise stated.
- Policing Specialisms (DHEP)
- Organisational Improvement (DHEP)
- Critical Thinking in the Workplace (DHEP) (20 credits)
- Operational Competence (DHEP) (20 credits)
Please note: All modules are worth 10 credits unless otherwise stated.
Diploma in Higher Education
Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP)
If you join the police without a degree-level qualification, you can follow a two-year diploma known as the Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP).
This study route includes on and off-the-job learning. On completion, you will gain a Diploma in Higher Education in Professional Policing Practice.
Your learning journey will consist of academic modules that has practical elements integrated into them. You will be required to evidence practical competency by completing an Occupational Competency Portfolio (OCP) of the skills you have demonstrated in the workplace.
You will need to achieve Independent Patrol Status (IPS) by the end of your first year and complete the portfolio by the end of year 2. In order to successfully complete your 2 year probationary period and gain the qualification you will need to have demonstrated evidence of all practice-based competencies and passed all academic modules as set out in the College of Policing requirements for this qualification.
- Policing Knowledge
- Policing Behaviours
- Policing Skills
- Policing Operational
Please note: All modules are worth 30 credits unless otherwise stated.
- Organisational Improvement (PCEP)
- Transforming Communities (PCEP)
- Critical Thinking in the Workplace (40 credits)
- Operational Competence (40 credits)
Please note: All modules are worth 20 credits unless otherwise stated.
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Higher Education Certificate
Level 4 Higher Education Certificate Community Policing Practice
Within the overall professional context of Policing Vision 2025 the College of Policing, as the professional body for the police service, has developed new entry routes into the policing profession for the role of Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), as part of the ongoing development of the Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF). The PEQF is a standardised national framework setting professionally-related qualification levels for the police service, by rank or organisational level of responsibility.
- A Level 4 PCSO Apprenticeship entry programme (England and Wales), and
- A Level 4 PCSO Non-Apprenticeship entry programme (England and Wales)
Important: In order to enrol on this course you will need to be employed as a PCSO with one of our partner forces. Details of PCSO recruitment process and eligibility criteria is available on our partner force websites.
Your learning journey will consist of academic modules that has practical elements. You will be required to evidence practical competency by completing an Operational Competence Portfolio (OCP) of the skills you have demonstrated in the workplace.
To successfully complete your probationary period and attain the qualification you will need to have evidenced all practice-based competencies, passed all academic modules. Apprentices will need to attain Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Mathematics (where not already attained the equivalent) as prescribed in the College of Policing requirements for the apprenticeship route.
- Principle and Standards in Policing
- Personal Skills and Practices
- Engaging with the Community
- Modern Day Policing
- Safe and Lawful Patrol
- Community Based Project
- Full Operational Competence
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The use of sub-contractors
The use of subcontractors in the delivery of degree apprenticeships are sometimes essential to ensuring the learning and experience meet the requirements of the relevant outcomes and standards. Subcontractors are only used where they are better placed to provide specific learning opportunities or have expertise enhancing the delivery of the programme.