All roles are expected to know, understand and act within the ethics and values of the Police Service.

The Competency and Values Framework (CVF) has six competencies that are clustered into three groups. Under each competency are three levels that show what behaviours look like in practice. It is suggested that this role should be operating or working towards the following:

• Resolute, compassionate & committed 
• Inclusive, enabling and visionary leadership
• Intelligent, creative & informed policing

Prior education and experience 

• Competed initial training and probationary period.
• Meet Force specific fitness requirements for role on application (level 6.4 bleep test).
• Be a current licensed general purpose police dog handler.
• Hold standard or advanced driving grade.

Essential Skills

• Good team working skills demonstrating awareness of individual differences, and a proactive approach to relationship development with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Good communication skills with the ability to set out logical arguments clearly, adapting language, form and message to meet the needs of different people and audiences in diverse situations.
• Able to produce concise reports or other documents.
• Demonstrate experience of using effective communication skills with members of the public, particularly in confrontational situations. 
• Problem solving skills with the ability to identify cause and effect and develop a course of action designed to target root causes as well mitigate effects. 

Desirable Skills

• LSO ticket

Essential for the role

• Be a current licensed general-purpose dog handler.
• A secure garden - big enough to house a kennel and exercise space.
• Access to a suitable vehicle to transport dog/s.
• Able to identify, analyse and manage risk to inform balanced, proportionate, evidence-based decisions.
• Good time management skills with the ability to organise and prioritise. 
• Able to use standard IT packages, systems and/or databases to fulfil role requirements.
• Able to review own performance objectively and take steps to make improvements.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

• Maintain and update key knowledge, understanding and skills relating to legislation policy and practice in relation to the Dog Handler function and area of policing operational responsibility.
• Maintain knowledge and understanding of new approaches identified by evidence based policing research relating to the Dog Handler function, including problem solving and team working, and synthesise these into working practice(s). 
• Maintain a working knowledge and understanding of new and evolving crime threats and priorities that impact upon the role of Dog Handling teams; and current best practice to tackle these in order to enable a pro-active and preventable approach.
• Complete all annual and mandatory training including for example, fitness tests, personal safety training, first aid, and protecting information. 

Professional Registration/Licences

NPCC General Purpose Licence

NPCC Licence for Specialist Dogs

Point of Contact

Inspector Leanne Chapman 07391019029

West Midlands Police reserve the right to close applications earlier than the date advertised.

West Midlands Police is a Disability Confident Leader - the highest level an organisation can achieve under the scheme run by the Department of Work and Pensions.  As part of our commitment we operate a ‘Disability Confident Interview Scheme’ - all candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview.

It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the job. For example: in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. In these circumstances, the employer could select the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job, as they would do for non-disabled applicants.

"Diversity and Inclusion Vision:  Maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness and inclusion to deliver the best service for our communities."