OCC Communications Officer

Warwickshire Police; Warwick; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization dedicated to protecting communities. As a Communications Officer, you will play a crucial role in handling emergency calls, providing support, and ensuring safety. This dynamic position requires calmness under pressure, attention to detail, and multitasking abilities. With opportunities for career progression and a supportive environment, this is a rewarding chance to make a difference in people's lives. If you're committed to helping those in need and thrive in a fast-paced environment, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

Local Government Pension Scheme

Unison Membership

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Occupational Health Services

Free Parking

On-site Gym Facilities

Fully equipped kitchen and rest areas

Starting annual leave of 24 days

Career progression pathways

Blue Light discounts

Qualifications

• Ability to handle emergency calls with composure and efficiency.
• Strong communication skills for providing advice and support.

Responsibilities

• Take details of emergency calls and provide appropriate advice.
• Assist in dispatching officers when necessary and manage call resolution.

Skills

Calm under pressure

Attention to detail

Multitasking

Empathy

Professionalism

Job description

We are actively recruiting for future posts in 2025/2026.

Please note, if you are successful through the process, your start date will be September 2025 or one of our 2026 intakes.

Serving an estimated population of nearly 600,000 people, Warwickshire Police receives over 90,000 emergency calls per year, in addition to many more non-emergency calls for service.

Working as part of our OCC Control Room as a Communications Officer is a varied and diverse role, with no two calls received being the same. One minute you could be taking the details of a stolen vehicle, the next you may be sending officers to a report of an armed robbery.

Not all calls require an officer. Many times, you are the one to help resolve the call by providing appropriate advice, without dispatching an officer. If you are calm under pressure, able to gather information quickly, and offer a voice of comfort during difficult moments, Warwickshire needs you.

The control room operates 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. It’s a pressured environment but also a hugely rewarding place to work. Knowing you have helped someone during one of the worst times in their life is incredibly satisfying.

We seek individuals who are calm under pressure, attentive to detail, capable of multitasking, and committed to dealing with those in need with empathy and professionalism. We also offer career progression towards a controller position, involving direct communication with officers.

Join us in helping protect our communities from harm. We are recruiting a pool of candidates for intakes over the next six to twelve months. The department operates full-time and flexible part-time patterns, able to work core shift patterns.

Applications will be shortlisted weekly. Please note, if successful, your application will be considered for a start date in September 2025 or 2026. There is no fixed closing date; applications are reviewed regularly, and candidates are updated accordingly.

Planned Assessment Centre Dates:

• 16th May
• 18th June
• 30th July
• 20th August
• 25th September

Please ensure you are available for the earliest date if shortlisted.

For full-time roles, the starting salary is £34,982 (£26,106 basic + £8,876 allowances).

Work involves 37 hours per week over 8 weeks, with 12-hour rotating shifts (days and nights). Shifts follow a pattern of 4 days on, 2 days off, 4 nights on, 2 nights off.

Application Process:

1. Initial Application: Complete an application form and answer questions demonstrating how your experience aligns with role criteria. Responses will be scored for relevance.
2. Paper Sift: Independent reviewers evaluate applications against recruitment criteria, scoring each question from 1-4.
3. Assessment Centre: Held at Warwickshire Police OCC, Warwick Technology Park. It lasts about 2 hours and includes tests on spelling, listening, mapping, typing, problem-solving, and example call exercises.
4. Interview: Conducted via Microsoft Teams, lasting about an hour, with questions related to essential criteria, including scenario-based questions. Prepare by researching Warwickshire Police and the OCC services.
5. Vetting: Background checks including family details and criminal associations. Inform those listed, as they will be part of the checks.
6. Final Offer: After successful completion, a formal job offer is made.
7. Training: Six weeks of classroom training (Mon-Fri), covering role fundamentals, systems, law, vulnerability, and risk. No leave allowed during this period.
8. Tutoring: Post-training, assigned a tutor to guide your transition to handling live calls and full responsibilities.

What we offer:

• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Unison Membership
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Occupational Health Services
• Free Parking
• On-site Gym Facilities
• Fully equipped kitchen and rest areas
• Starting annual leave of 24 days, increasing to 29 days after five years
• Internal support networks, coaching, mentoring, health & wellbeing support
• Career progression pathways
• Blue Light discounts
• Participation in Warwickshire Police Sports and Social Club and Police Perkz discount platform