I have just commenced position as Training & Development officer for a division within Essex police. It is the first of its kind within the division so i have complete free reign with what i do. Have you any advice, from your experience, you can offer in the setting up of this department.
Jayne Williams
5 Responses
Priorities
At the risk of teaching me granny, etc.
First get a VERY clear idea of:
1. What you *think* the powers that be want the training division to do, now and in the long-term
2. What YOU want to do with the training division, now and in the long-term
3. What you think is the most you can realistically hope to achieve, now and in the long-term
4. Make sure you’ve costed as much as possible
5. Negotiate a long-term development plan, with clear and frequent milestones.
Hope this is of use
Setting Up Your Training Department
This is a question that appears frequently and you are indeed fortunate to have a ‘free reign’.
Initially you have to create the mechanisms to allow your new dept to run efficiently. Conveniently, training is a linear process so it makes it easy to design a work flow system which goes from assessing needs, deciding how to meet those needs, perhaps assessing learners, issuing certificates, and evaluating programs. With those topics in mind, design your operating procedures eg, how will you identify needs? How will people apply to attend? Where will you access instructional staff etc.
Once you have thought through the work flow, design your forms and write your procedures. Once the operational mechanism is in place, then you can talk to your client/managers about what they need from you and when and how you can identify needs. You would market your operation and make sure everyone knew what you do and how they can access your services.
[This could be the topic for my next electronic book!]
I’m happy to share with you a standard operating procedure I wrote under similar circumstances if you wish to email me.
Good luck with your new venture.
New Department
I have had a look at this web site and feel that this may be a good starting point for your search http://www.tulliallan.police.uk
This site should give you a good relevant background in what you are looking for.
Anti-discriminatory police work
Some thoughts: make sure your trainers are diversity aware and that your selection/assessment processes are equitable. All training needs to be built around anti-discriminatory principles. Given the police’s profile on diversity issues you are in a great position to contribute to a positive culture change in this area. I wish you well with it all. Feel free to get back to me if I can help you further.
Help available
Hi there
Mail me separately and I can provide some insight on this. As we are an Essex-based organisation we can also help and avise on a local basis if you are interested.
Keith Grinsted