West Midlands
Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner
Information for applicants for the role of
Management Trainee
Contents
1.
Welcome
2.
About the West Midlands and West Midlands Police
3.
The role of West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner
4.
Strategic priorities
5.
Job description
6.
Appointment and selection process
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner
Closing date for applications: noon Friday, 10 July 2015
Dear Applicant
Welcome
Thank you for your interest in the role of Management Trainee for the Police and Crime
Commissioner.
The Commissioner has the challenging role of ensuring that the 3 million people of the West
Midlands are served by an efficient and effective police service. The Force is one of the largest
provincial forces in the country with a budget in excess of £540m and around 6,900 police
officers and 3000 police staff headed by the Chief Constable, Chris Sims.
As Management Trainee you will be an important part of our team, working with colleagues to
gain experience across the breadth of the Commissioner’s office, assisting with various projects
and tasks. Where appropriate the Commissioner would support continued education during the
two year contract for this post. By the end of the contract, you should be ready to continue your
career in various public service career paths.
Drawing upon your research skills and your communication skills you will provide a direct
service for the Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner, undertaking research and other
tasks.
To assist you in completing your application form I have provided some background
information about the West Midlands Office for Policing and Crime and about the role.
However, please do contact Andrea Gabbitas on 0121 626 5318 should you wish to discuss
the post further.
I look forward to receiving your application.
Kind regards
Jonathan Jardine
Chief Executive
2. About the West Midlands and West Midlands Police
West Midlands Police covers an area of 384 square miles and serves a population in the region of
3 million (over 1 million households). The region sits at the very heart of the country and covers
the three major cities of Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton. It also includes the busy and
thriving districts of Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Dudley. The majority of the area is densely
populated but there are some rural areas.
The region’s economy has diversified from its historic heavy industry roots of the Industrial
Revolution. With the decline in traditional manufacturing, both the public and private sectors have
rejuvenated the area. Birmingham now has a commercial and shopping area which is among the
largest in Europe. This is complemented by a wide range of social amenities such as the National
Exhibition Centre, National Indoor Arena, the International Convention Centre, theatres, galleries
and many large conference facilities. The area boasts a thriving nightlife, centred around
Birmingham City Centre. West Midlands hosts a number of Premiership and Championship
football clubs together with many others in the other leagues.
The region is well served by rail and road links. Road and rail travel is supplemented by significant
air traffic through Birmingham International and Coventry airports. The area is proud of its
academic institutions, being home to a number of universities located in Birmingham, Coventry,
Walsall and Wolverhampton.
The population of the West Midlands is diverse. At approximately 18%, the percentage of the
population that are black and minority ethnic is significantly above the national average.
Approximately 10% of the population were born outside of the UK. The average earnings and
house prices for the region are lower than the national average.
There are seven local authorities within the area, Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell,
Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton, each with a Crime and Disorder Reduction
Partnership/Community Safety Partnership. The area is also served by three Local Enterprise
Partnerships (LEPs), Staffordshire and West Midlands Probation Trust and a number of NHS
structures, adding complexity to the partnership landscape.
West Midlands Police is one of the best performing metropolitan police forces in the country.
Significant and sustained reductions across volume crime have been achieved. At the same time,
through headquarter departments and formal collaborative arrangements with other forces and law
enforcement agencies, resources and expertise have been focused on a range of inter and crossforce activities.
Local policing is delivered through ten local policing units (LPUs). Other than Birmingham, which
because of its size has four LPUs, the other six LPUs are coterminous with local authority
boundaries. Each LPU is headed by a Chief Superintendent. The work of the local LPUs is
supported by a number of specialist central and support departments.
West Midlands Police has a reputation for continuous improvement, innovation and empowering
leadership with a talent to continuously evolve and meet changing needs. The Force aims to
deliver policing that is accessible and responds to the needs of local people. Neighbourhood
policing provides a named team of local officers who can influence the policing priorities within their
neighbourhood. They work with colleagues and partner agencies to address the concerns of their
communities.
3. Role of the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner
There are 41 police and crime commissioners in England and Wales covering each of the 41
forces outside of London. The governance of the Metropolitan Police Service is a duty of the
Mayor of London and the City of London Corporation governs the City of London Police. Together
with the Home Secretary and chief police officers, police and crime commissioners are responsible
for policing in England and Wales.
The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner is the local governing body for policing in the
West Midlands. The Commissioner has an over-arching duty to secure an effective and efficient
police force. The Commissioner has a number of statutory roles, which include:

representing all those who live and work in the communities in their force area and
identifying their policing needs

setting priorities that meet those needs by agreeing a police and crime plan

holding the Chief Constable to account for achieving the Commissioner’s priorities as
efficiently and effectively as possible

setting the force budget and setting the precept

hiring and, if necessary, dismissing the Chief Constable
To fulfill these roles, the Commissioner has a range of powers and responsibilities. The
Commissioner:

must produce a Police and Crime Plan

must set the policing "precept", which is the part of local council tax that goes to policing

appoints and, if necessary, dismisses the Chief Constable

makes Crime and Disorder Reduction Grants

has oversight of how complaints against the police are managed

must keep under review opportunities for collaboration

has duties relating to national criminal threats, safeguarding of children, and consulting the
public

has a role in ensuring the effectiveness of the wider criminal justice system
The Commissioner is supported in his work by an executive team headed by the Chief Executive
and Monitoring Officer. Following a recent restructure of the team, an appointment is also
underway for a Chief Executive.
The Commissioner is supported and scrutinised by a separate Police and Crime Panel. The Panel
is made up of twelve councilors from across the West Midlands and two independent members.
Information on the work of the Panel can be found at www.birmingham.gov.uk/wmpcp. The Panel is
set up under the provisions of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.
Further information on the work of the Commissioner and the statutory framework in which the
Commissioner works can be found on the Commissioner’s website. www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk
Information on West Midlands Police can be found at www.west-midlands.police.uk
4. Strategic priorities
Under section 5 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 the Commissioner is
required to issue a police and crime plan (the Plan). The Plan covers the period until March 2017
and sets the Commissioner’s police and crime objectives. A copy of the Plan can be found on the
Commissioner’s website www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk.
5.JOB DESCRIPTION
Job title:
Management Trainee
Grade:
Band C Lower £19,326 - £23,277 (two year fixed term
contract)
Directly responsible to:
PCC / DPCC for day to day direction
Line managed by Executive PA to the PCC &
DPCC
Directly responsible for:
N/A
Location:
Office of the Police and Crime
Commissioner West Midlands
Job Purpose:
To give the post holder a learning and development experience in a dynamic political
environment through the provision of bespoke support to the Commissioner and Deputy
Commissioner.
Main duties and responsibilities
1. To respond to requests to conduct research into local, regional and national
issues of relevance to the role of the Commissioner, gathering analysing and
interpreting relevant information form a variety of sources.
2. Assist in the development of briefing papers, utilising appropriate information
sources and analytical tools.
3. Carry out a range of duties as required to provide day-to-day support to the
Commissioner and/or the Deputy Commissioner and to other members of
staff as directed. Duties will include conducting research, preparing reports,
accompanying the PCC and DPCC to meetings, liaising with stakeholders on
their behalf, taking notes and assisting in the organisation of OPCC events.
4. Assist in the preparation of responses to consultation documents from
government departments and other national bodies.
5. Assist in the conduct of consultations with key stakeholders and partners.
6. Accompany the Commissioner and /or Deputy Commissioner to meetings,
note and minute taking where required.
7. Work with a wide range of internal and external contacts up to the most senior
levels to facilitate the exchange of information and to ensure the provision of
sound advice to the Commissioner.
8. Assist in the conduct of public engagement activities and events to support
the work of the Commissioner.
9. Maintain an awareness of external and internal issues of relevance to the
Commissioner and his office, highlighting those of potential interest.
10. To carry out any other duties commensurate with the post grading and/or
purpose that may be required from time to time.
Person Specification: Management Trainee
FACTORS
ESSENTIAL
DESIRABLE
HOW
IDENTIFIED
Qualifications

Educated to degree level or
demonstration of the
intellectual abilities
associated with that level
Application form
Experience

Evidence of conducting
research and analysis of
complex information
Application form
Knowledge
and Skills

Experience of having to
work to fixed deadlines

Evidence of preparing clear
reports, briefings and other
documents

An understanding of the role
and work of the
Commissioner, in particular,
an appreciation of the
dynamic and politically
sensitive environment in
which the Commissioner
operates.

An awareness of the political
and social issues facing
policing and other parts of
the public sector

An understanding of the
diverse nature of the
communities across the
West Midlands and a
personal commitment to
promoting equality.

Effective communication and
writing skills

Effective research and
analytical skills
and
Interview
Application form
and
Interview
Personal
qualities
Special
Conditions

Effective administrative skills

Ability to deliver to tight
timescales

Interpersonal skills to secure
and sustain the confidence
of members of the
Commissioner’s Board,
police officers, police staff
and the Commissioner’s
partners and stakeholders,
including exercising
diplomacy and discretion.

Ability to be largely selfsupporting through the use
of a range of packages and
standard office IT software
packages

Highly organised with the
ability to prioritise and
manage own workload as
well as working as part of
the Commissioner’s team

Must be able to work on own
initiative

The post holder must be
available to attend meetings
and other events outside of
normal business hours and
away from the
Commissioner’s principal
place of business.

Through frequent access to
the PCC and DPCC, the
post holder will from time to
time be party to information
of a sensitive nature. The
Interview
post holder will therefore be
required to exercise
considerable discretion and
will be required to maintain
confidentiality during and
beyond their
employment/placement with
the PCC.

All staff employed by the
Commissioner, other than
the Deputy Commissioner,
hold politically restricted
posts under the Police
Reform and Social
Responsibility Act 2011.
6. APPOINTMENT AND SELECTION PROCESS
The closing date for applications will be noon Friday, 10 July 2015. Interviews will take place
shortly after this date.
Completed application forms should be emailed to c.l.thomas@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk or
posted to Jonathan Jardine, West Midlands Office for Policing and Crime, Lloyd House, Colmore
Circus Queensway, Birmingham B4 6NQ.
TERMS OF APPOINTMENT
You will be employed by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner. Your general terms
and conditions of employment are those contained in the national terms and conditions agreed
through the Police Staff Council, insofar as adopted by the WMOPC.