Personal Gains
In addition to the skills you bring to the role, you will learn and develop new, transferable skills during duties and training as a Special Constable. Many employers notice a difference in their staff once they become a Special in terms of communication skills, confidence, and the ability to deal with difficult situations. It has been found that experience gained as being a Special Constable has helped secure employment or has helped gain promotion in their full or part time paid job.
Opportunities within the Special Constabulary
The Special Constabulary has its own rank structure which consists of the below;
- Specials Superintendent
- Specials Inspector
- Specials Sergeant
- Special Constable
When joining the Special Constabulary you will join at the rank of a Special Constable and when on duty will be accompanied by an experienced Special or a Regular Police Officer. You will continue in this rank while completing your Personal Development Portfolio as on the job training, designed to continue on from your initial training and also to run alongside the monthly training you will complete on division.
Once you have completed your Personal Development Portfolio and have been confirmed in rank you will become an independent Special Constable giving you the opportunity to carry out policing duties unaccompanied you will also have the opportunity to gain supervisory experience mentoring a new Special.
There are opportunities for confirmed in rank Specials to apply for promotion when vacancies become available. These vacancies will be advertised within the Special constabulary and only currently serving Specials will be appointed to these roles. Promotion to higher ranks is based on leadership ability along with dedication and performance in the current role.
Hours and Working Life
Specials are asked to carry out 16 hours a month averaging 4 hours a week. These hours are fully flexible and are designed to work around your commitments.
There is no set maximum number of hours a Special can work and the majority of serving Specials do more than 4 hours a week.
The more duty and training hours you put in as a Special, the more you get back. However, we do encourage a healthy balance to ensure your Special duties do not inflict on your home and work life. This is where the flexible hours can fit in with you, allowing you to do more hours one week and less another.
To further support our Specials we have introduced the Employer Supported Policing Scheme (ESP). The scheme encourages employers to support their employees to become a Special by being flexible in the employee's working hours, or even donate the employee hours to carry out Special duties and training. In return the employer will get the satisfaction of having done something for the community and will also benefit from an employee who has increased and developed many transferable skills at no cost to the employer. The broad experience and training gained as a Special Constable can be applied in a wide range of work roles.
If you are an employer or an employee and this is something you would like to discuss further, please contact Sarah-Jayne Graves or the recruitment team at Lincolnshire Police on telephone 01522 558235 or email recruitment@lincs.pnn.police.uk.
Area of Duty
Specials will usually be based in their local area, however a preferred station can be specified and we will do what we can to accommodate this request. From time to time you may be asked to help out in different areas or be required to travel to another station within Lincolnshire for training.For duty and training, you are entitled to claim return mileage from your home address, or the Lincolnshire Police county border if travelling from outside Lincolnshire.
Uniform
You will be fitted and supplied with full uniform, the same as that of a regular Police Officer and which will remain property of Lincolnshire Police. Handcuffs, Baton and CS Gas will be issued on completion of the necessary training during the initial training course.
Job Satisfaction
The role of a Special Constable is a very rewarding one. It can be challenging at times but with the support and good team work of regular officers and other Special Constables it is very rewarding with a great sense of achievement. You will find many Specials receive great satisfaction from playing a big part in helping people and making Lincolnshire a safer environment for everyone to live in. Special Constables working within Lincolnshire Constabulary have found their self esteem, confidence and other life skills have increased.
