West Midlands
Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner
Information for applicants for the role of
Business Support AssistantContents
- 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, 3 June 2016
Dear Applicant
Welcome
Thank you for your interest in the role of Business Support Assistant 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 Business Support Trainee you will be an important part of our team, working with colleagues across the breadth of the Commissioner’s office, assisting with various projects and 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 Karen Dawes on 0121 626 6060 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 cross-force 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: Business Support Assistant (3 Month Temporary Appointment)
Grade: Band C Lower £19,326 - £23,277 `
Directly responsible to: Senior Business Support Officer
Directly responsible for: N/A
Location: Office of the West Midlands Police and Crime
Commissioner
Job Purpose:
To provide a clerical support service to the Business Support Team and the staff of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Main duties and responsibilities1. Provide general clerical and administration support to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to include photocopying, filing of records, sending emails and administration of post and mail
2. Monitor stationery and other office supplies to ensure adequate levels are maintained to support the effective and efficient running of the Office
3. Respond to telephone and face to face enquiries and provide excellent customer service
4. Maintain and operate efficient and effective record keeping and filing systems ensuring they are updated and stored appropriately
5. Produce and maintain a wide range of documents, databases, presentations, spreadsheets etc.
6. Provide a reception service and support the receiving of and attending to visitors to the Office
7. Arrange and service meetings, including minute and note taking
8. Support the organisation of events for the OPCC including booking venues and providing reception services etc.
9. Undertake the day to day activities associated with ordering items on behalf of the OPCC to ensure the effective running of the office, including stationery, travel, catering etc.
Other responsibilities:
· Provide excellent customer service
· Forge and maintain effective working relationships with all colleagues in the OPCC and other organisations locally, regionally and nationally
· Comply with the framework for knowledge management to support effective decision making
· Work closely with other colleagues to improve operational practices and effectiveness
· Ensure compliance with all OPCC policies, procedures and practices
· Undertake projects/activities as required working across a range of functions within the OPCC
· Promote diversity and racial equality, ensuring that all activities and matters have proper regard for equality and diversity issues
· Undertake additional duties as are reasonably commensurate with the level of the post
Personnel Specification
Qualifications / · GCSE level with at least 5 GCSEs Grades A-C to include English and Mathematics. Or the equivalent. Or experiential learning. / · NVQ Business Administration or eqivalent / Application form
Experience / Experience of:
· administrative, business and clerical support within an office environment
· assisting others to gather information and data
· maintaining and operating efficient and effective record keeping and filing systems ensuring they are updated and information is stored appropriately
· producing a range of high quality documents and presentations for a range of audiences
· producing and disseminating information in a range of formats
· dealing with telephone calls and providing appropriate responses / Experience of:
· working in a political environment
· working with senior managers, officials
· carrying out research
· analysing and presenting data
· organising events, forums and meetings
· attending and recording accurate and concise minutes of meetings
· diary management / Application form
Interview
Knowledge and skills / · Excellent communication and presentation skills
· Excellent customer services skills
· Ability to utilise a full range of standard office IT software/packages
· Attention to detail
· Organisational skills
· Prioritising workloads
· Building networks and relationships / · Ability to support colleagues in the use of standard office IT software/packages / Application form
Interview
Test
Personal Qualities / · Proactive ‘self-starter’
· Flexible to respond to changing commitments and deadlines
· Ability to work on own initiative
· Ability to work as part of a team to achieve objectives
· Political sensitivity and astuteness
· Promote diversity and racial equality
· Commitment to continuous professional development / Interview
6. APPOINTMENT AND SELECTION PROCESS
The closing date for applications will be noon Friday, 3 June 2016. Interviews will take place shortly after this date.
Completed application forms should be emailed to or posted to Karen Dawes, 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.