Police & Fire Service
Entry Requirements
Tom Ward
Special Constable Requirements:
- All applicants must be 18 or over
- No formal educational qualifications needed but you will be required to pass a written test
- There are no minimal or maximum height requirements
- All candidates must be in good health
- Convictions and cautions will probably make you ineligible. However, this depends on the nature of the offence
Skills and Qualities Required:
- Effective communication - This will be useful when talking to the public to ensure police officers have the correct information.
- Problem solving - When an officer is solving a crime, they will have to use problem solving to find a logical answer.
- Good literacy - To ensure a police officer can accurately record details.
- Honesty - Officers may need to appear in court and give statements, these must be completely honest and unbiased.
- Confidence - In a pressured situation, confidence can be useful to remain calm.
- Respect with confidentiality - The public may be required to tell information to the police which they do not want others to know.
Application Process
-Must be completed in black pen.
-Put full name at the top of each continuation sheet.
-Sections which do not apply to applicant should be clearly marked N/A.
No CV is required as all the information required is used on the application form which can be printed of any police website.
Selection Process
- Complete pre-application questionnaire
- Complete an application form
- Day 1 - Assessment centre:
-23 minute numerical reasoning test, this will be multiple choice questions.
-30 minute verbal logical reasoning test, answer multiple choice questions which will measure your ability to make sense of a specific situation.
-Two written exercise, Both of the written exercises will last for 20 minutes each. You will have to write a proposal document based on information you are given.
- Four 5 minute interactive role-play scenarios. Each of the four interactive exercises will be split into two 5 minute parts. The first part will be the preparation phase and the second will be the activity phase, where you will meet a role actor.
4. Day 2 - Medical and fitness:
-Bleep test - This test involves running continuously between two fixed points set 15 metres apart. The required level to reach is 5.4.
-The medical assessment checks eyesight, hearing, blood pressure and body mass.
5. Reference and security checks
Firefighter Requirements:
- The minimal age is 18. Applicants can apply at age 17 and 10 months
- You will be required to undertake physical tests which aim to assess your fitness, strength and manual dexterity
- No formal educational qualifications needed, but GCSEs in English, Maths and science are particularly useful
- Good health is strongly advised, but if you are unsure if you are eligible you can ring the nearest fire station
Application Process
- Know your answers on meeting the Fire and Rescue Service.
- Make photocopies of the application form to practice on.
- Read through the form carefully making sure you understand all the instructions and all the questions.
- Draft your answers in rough first.
- Write using capital letters only if required.
- Do not leave any blank spaces, many Fire and Rescue Services will fail you for forgetting to put in a postcode in the right box.
Selection Process
http://www.hantsfire.gov.uk/selectionprocess
The National Firefighter questionnaire assesses attitudes and motivation based on personal qualities and attributes:
- Working with others
- diversity and integrity
- Confidence
- Commitment to excellence
- Commitment to development
- Situational awareness
- Openness to change
Situational awareness and problem solving assesses ability to ensure your own safety and the safety of others.
The understanding information test assesses ability to read and understand written information of the type a firefighter is likely to need to deal with.
- Working with numbers test assesses ability to understand and work with numerical information, based on information a firefighter is likely to need to work with.
- Physical Tests:
- A ladder climb - This test involves climbing a ladder and carrying out a selected task within a time limit. This test is to evaluate confidence and co-ordination when in high environments.
- Casualty evacuation – This will involve a simulated rescue of a casualty from an open space. This test involves body strength and stamina.
- Ladder lift - This test involves lifting the weight of a ladder within a time limit to simulate housing a ladder back on an appliance.
- Enclosed space - This involves negotiating through a measured crawlway wearing a Breathing Apparatus facemask within a set time.
- Equipment assembly – This aims to test the ability of a candidate to comprehend and follow instructions. The candidate will be asked to assemble and de-assemble a piece of equipment following a series of diagrams within a given time frame.
- Equipment carry – A variety of equipment will need to be carried to a fire scene within a specific time limit. This tests aerobic fitness, muscular strength and stamina.