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The Senior Leaders Hub offers development to team leaders at all levels from sergeant to chief officers.

The college wants officers to begin their development earlier in their careers instead of on reaching top management level

Date - 11th September 2019
By - Chris Smith

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An online learning hub has been launched in a bid to improve career development across police ranks.

The Senior Leaders Hub, developed by the College of Policing, offers CPD to leaders at all levels from sergeant to chief officers.

It is aimed at boosting retention levels in forces across England and Wales and encourage a more diverse range of officers to apply for leadership roles.

The hub includes coaching accreditation, a superintendents’ toolkit, a gold public order command module and psychometric assessments.

It is also taking forward the Aspire development programme created to support officers from under-represented groups such as the BAME community.

The College wants people to begin their development earlier in their careers so they can show progression rather than the current system which is too top heavy with established senior officers.

The interactive tool is backed by the Chartered Management Institute and allows people to develop their leadership skills at their own pace.

It follows criticism by HM Inspectorate about the limited pool of people who apply to become chief constables and senior officers.

HM Inspector Matt Parr told Police Oracle he was “optimistic” that this would change and he has given his support to the hub’s development.

Fiona Merkin, Senior Leaders Hub Manager at the College of Policing, told Police Oracle: “It’s the first time we’ve shown the full offer from the College of Policing. We’re now thinking about what we can do beyond the senior level. We need to be the change we want to see.”

The Police Superintendents’ Association has also been involved in its development and has backed the move as step towards the College fulfilling its original vision.

Ian Wylie, Vice President, told Police Oracle: “We’re quite excited about the leadership. We think it will provide the ideal forum for our members to be properly developed beyond the obvious elements of doctrine.

“It develops our members beyond what they have to do and into become better leaders. If we get this right it will be easier for those in the privileged position of leadership because they will be better equipped to do it,” he said.

Mr Wylie said a mental shift will be needed by the potential officers who until now have not considered their own careers.

He said: “Often people don’t think for their own development – they think about others on their team. That’s an issue. There’s a culture in the service of chalk and talk training; that there must be a course. I think creating the opportunity for people to develop their own CPD online can only be a good thing.”

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