Entry requirements
By Laura Corrall
police
candidates will need to show they have good teamwork skills, a confident calm manner, also they need to be able to show they can handle being put under pressure and handle dangerous situations.
You need to take a full medical and fitness test in order to enter the police force.
Before being offered a training position, they are required to attend an assessment center and undergo a medical examination, during which the police vetting process begins. candidates will be made to take a drugs test at their interview, you will be tested for illegal and non-prescriptive drugs. if you fail this test it will mean automatic rejection.
The JRFT (job related fitness test) is what is reasonably expected of every police officer doing their duty. There are two parts to this test, the first part is the 'endurance test' which is a test of heart and lung efficiency. The second park is a 'pull and push test' which is a test of strength to hold a detained subject or move a detained subject to a vehicle or cell.
Certain convictions will make you ineligible to join the police service, whereas minor convictions or cautions will not automatically preclude you from entry to the police service.
You should find out what force in the are of the country you would like to recruit in and request an application form. once they have reciceved the application back to your chosen public service they check your eligibility and mark your competency questions. Step 3 of the application process, will be undergoing the PIRT test (police initial recruitment test) at the police assessment centre you will under-go a interview, four interacted excersies, two written exercises and a numerical and verbal reading test.
Step 4 of the application process will be the fitness test, this will be to test your dynamic strenght and your endurance. If you dont meet the standard first time, you can take the test up to three times.
skills and qualities in the police service
In the police service you will need to be honest. you should have a sense of duty and a strong desire to serve. you will need to have good decision making skills. you should also have good communication skills and be pysically fit. you will also need to be able to work under pressure, also be firm and assertive but not agressive. police officers are often required to make quick decisons that dont allow time to contemplate options. through the police training, you will need to develop and display the sound judgements skills that allow you to make the right decision. An error in judgement could result in injury or even death. Policemen are required to file reports summarizing their actions, so they should have good administrative and organizational skills. Their incident reports often serve as the basis for legal action against a suspect, so they must be thorough and accurate.
Qualities;
The ability to take responsibility and to act with authority is also a very huge advantage if you are considering an application.
Being committed and dedicated is a very useful feather in your cap for any line of employment but especially for the police force. Officers that gain a lot of experience are of great service to the police force and dedication is one of the biggest qualities needed to become a good police officer.
In the police force, teamwork is important to use when in an emergency, to be able to work together and help solve the problem as quickly as possible. its important to use this skill to prevent any further problems. Communication is also a crucial skill to use when in a emergency, to be able to talk to the public about any information they may have about the incident and take notes, it will include writing up statements. You will then have to share the information with your colleagues and find out what information they have found too.
application and selection processes
In the police force you will need to pass a 'beep test' also known as 'bleep test' and 'shuttle run test' this is a very popular method of testing fitness, it also allows to test a large amount of people at the same time. The beep test is where someone runs from one point to the other point which is normally 15 metres apart. the runs are to keep in track with the pre-recorded audio track, which plays beeps at set intervals, and the beeps gets shorter which means you have to run faster in order to keep on track with the beeps on the track. the total running time is around 3 minutes 40 seconds, and failure to meet the lines on the beeps will mean you have failed and have to drop out of the beep test. in the police you have to take the job related fitness test (JRFT) which is split up of two test. the first one being the oush and pull test, which is a test of strength to hold a detained subject or move a detained subject to a vehicle or a police cell. There is also a endurance test, to test your heart and lung effiency. The endurance test is also known as the 'beep test'
candidates have to pass both the endurance test and push and pull test in order of gaining entrance into the police services.
Application and selection process in the ambulance service;
paramedics need physical strength and stamina. they must lift and transport medical patients unable to walk on their own. most paramedic training programs require applicants to be able to lift and carry at lest 100 pounds, and to push and pull objects that weigh more than 50 pounds. paramedics must also have the stamina and endurance to repeatedly bend, lift and kneel in uncomfortable positions throughout their work shifts. paramedics need to have steady hands to be ablw to give medicine to the patients.
Paremedics need to have good eye sight for driving and monitoring patients. good hearing is essential to listen for emergency signals, breathing and heartbeats, also radio transmissions.
With either any previous alcohol or drug abuse, it can result in being denied entry into the police force. you will need to take a physical exam to show you are in overall good health.
you will need to first fill out an application form, if that is successful you will be invited to the evaluation centre for different test, these include numeracy tests, verbal reasoning tests, literacy skills and knowledge of the highway code.
Ambulance service
You will need a full UK manual driving licence to be able to drive a ambulance, if you haven't had your licence for long enough then you may need a extra driving qualification to drive larger vehicles and carry passengers.
local ambulance trust differ in their entry requirements, some may ask for GSCE'S or a NVQ, where-as others will recruit people with good general education or work experience.
You will need certain skills to be accepted into the ambulance services, such as a calm reassuring manner, to help those who are injured. you will also need to be able to use your own initiative and handle being put under pressure.
you will be required to take fitness test, as-well as medical test. you will need to pass a health screening test, this will include eyesight test. additionally you will need to pass a CBR check (criminal records bureau)
candidates will need to show they not only have a calm reassuring manner, you will need to have good general fitness to be able to lift equipment and patients. you will need to have a responsible and highly motivated approach to the work.
Useful pre-entry experience is also important, it is essential that you have experience working with elderly, sick and disable people.
Skills and qualities in the ambulance service
Skills;
You will need good communication skills in order to react quickly to 999 ermegency calls. Also, you will need it so u can talk to the patient and find out where they are in pain and what has happened. You will also require good listening skills to find out how to get to the accident as quickly as possible. You will also need good decision making, and be able to handle being under pressure. Driving skills is essential also, as you will need to drive to the accident as quickly as possible and the quickest routes. You will also need to plan ahead incase the first route is blocked and you cant get through.
Qualities;
You will need a calm reassuring manner, in order to keep the patients calm and not from thinking the worse. You will need a willingness to work as part of a team.
In the police services, three main skills linked to them will be;
1- sense of duty
2-strong desire to serve
3-need to be firm and assertive, but not agressive
In the ambulance services, the main skills linked to them will be;
1-you will need to have a calm reassuring manner and approach
2-you will need excellent driving skills
3-you will also need to handle sickening accidents and be ready to act