Transferee - PC Dog Handler - Barnsley, United Kingdom - Surrey Police & Sussex Police Collaboration

Description

Vacancy Information

Division / Department - Operations Command

Status - Full Time

Contract Type - Permanent

Rank - Police Constable

Location - See Advert

SURREY ONLY - In line with the published Posting and Tenure guidance, operational requirements will always be considered prior to confirming posting dates to successful applicants. In order to stabilise resourcing over the summer period, postings of officers out of NPT prior to September 2023 will only be taking place in exceptional circumstances.

The Role

Vacancy information:

There are currently several vacancies for our officers to join the collaborated Surrey and Sussex dog unit. All the available posts are currently in Surrey however Sussex officers can apply. We are also actively looking for serving Police Dog handlers from other forces who may wish to apply for this role. A serving General Purpose police dog handler will go straight to the interview stage on 10th or 11th July 2024, every other applicant must pass a suitability course to progress to interview.

PC Dog Handler - Operational Dog Section

We are currently seeking to assess enthusiastic, dedicated and highly motivated officers to join the above specialist unit. Reporting to the relevant Dog Section Sergeant responsible for the team that you are posted to. Your main role is to handle Police Dog(s) as required by the needs of the Operations Command at County dog unit level, providing both reactive and proactive support and assistance to operational police officers and specialist departments.

This will include:

Providing an efficient and effective service to officers or departments requesting the services of a police dog.

Offering advice, guidance and professional expertise when dealing with incidents, including Dangerous Dogs.

Actively conducting foot and mobile patrols to support officers, ensuring that through effective policing and the deployment of police dogs, strategies can be successfully achieved and the public can feel reassured.

Development and maintenance of a General Purpose Police Dog, through continuation training and working to the National Police Dog Assessment Model.

To ensure the effective promotion of the department and to feel confident enough to present this via presentations and displays, ensuring that internal staff members and the public recognise both the benefits and the constraints placed upon the department.

Attending to the welfare, training and handling of an operational police dog. This will also involve ensuring that police dog kennels, vehicles and other associated equipment is maintained to an acceptable and operational standard.

It should be noted that Operations command demands on the Dog Unit generally dictate that Dog Unit officers handle two dogs when suitable ability is demonstrated.

Key Responsibilities

The successful applicant must be highly motivated and self-reliant, and able to work alone with their dog in support of colleagues. They must demonstrate good communication and interpersonal skills and be a confident public speaker.

A Dog handler's role requires a high degree of flexibility and an ability to self-manage and prioritise tasks. The successful applicant will be actively willing to update and develop their own skills, and also assist in the development of the department as a whole.

It is important to possess and demonstrate a full understanding of the Commands objectives and strategies and to have a wide range of policing skills, particularly relating to crime investigation and the handling of prisoners.

All Dog handlers are provided with kennel(s) which are sited at the officer's home address. Police dog(s) reside in the kennel at the officer's home, and the care and maintenance of dogs and kennels are the responsibility of the officer. A Dog handler allowance is payable, and dog food and veterinary care are paid for by Surrey and Sussex Police.

Previous experience with dogs, either in the working or home environment is beneficial.

The post holder must:

Be authorised to drive police vehicles used by the department.

Actively retain a level of physical fitness, in order to cope with the operational requirements relating to the role, and will be required to provide proof of having passed the Force Fitness test to a level of 5.7, no earlier than the date of this advertisement.

Satisfy the policies of Surrey and Sussex Police, and legislation, in relation to accommodation and care of police dogs, and in having a marked police vehicle potentially at their home address. (This will entail a house check during the period prior to Dog Handler interviews. A suitable garden is required)

Successfully complete a Dog Handler Assessment and interview process.

Candidates who are successful in this assessment process but who do not get an immediate position will be held in a pool which will have a life span of 12 months, pending Dog Section vacancies.

On subsequent appointment it is essential that the post holder successfully completes the relevant initial course and applicants should be aware that failure would result in their return to Division.

Upon successful completion of the course, all novice dog handlers are required to successfully undertake a 12 month probationary dog handler period.

Skills & Experience

To provide more information about the role of a Dog Handler there will be an information pack sent out by e-mail to anybody who is interested in this specialist role.

To be eligible to apply for this role, you must have completed your 2 year probationary period and ideally have a further two years' experience. It is also essential that you are suitably flexible and able to work in any designated area within Surrey or Sussex. If you are a serving general purpose police dog handler you can also apply.