Detective Development Support Staff

19918

3
Learning & Development
MPS wide. Based within an allocated BCU with flexibility to travel to other sites as needed. This role is deemed operational, and workplace attendance is required 80% of the time.
Band D
Full Time
36 hours per week
Permanent

Job Title: Detective Development Support Staff

Salary: The starting salary is £45,451, which includes allowances totalling £6,928.

The salary is broken down as £38,523 basic salary.  Plus, a market rate allowance of £4,000, a location allowance of £1,928 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000.

Location: MPS wide. Based within an allocated BCU with flexibility to travel to other sites as needed. This role is deemed operational, and workplace attendance is required 80% of the time.

 

London is home to almost nine million people across 32 boroughs. An effective, competent detective workforce is essential to keeping them safe and bringing criminals to justice.

As Detective Development Support Staff (DDSS), this will be your chance to help guide the next generation of Trainee Detectives into the next step of their careers.

This is a central and crucial role, working as part of a small team, to lead the Met’s approach on Trainee Detective Constables development through coaching, mentoring and assessment of Professionalising Investigations Programme portfolios.

Each BCU will have a small team of staff focussing on supporting TDCs in the workplace.

Staff will work closely with TDCs within the BCUs and provide assistance across all of the main sites to cover core office working hours, with flexibility where the need arises.

This work will include (but is not limited to):

  • Being available for, and proactively offering, ‘in the moment’ support to TDCs in the workplace during their tour of duty, dealing with ad hoc enquiries.
  • Meeting with assigned TDCs at least once a month in a coaching capacity to assess general progress, review previous month’s goals, identify any barriers to progress and set goals for the coming month.
  • Meeting with TDCs once every three months through planned assessment meetings, ensuring that TDCs conduct effective investigations. Ensure they have the breadth of investigative knowledge and competencies to be signed off as a Substantive Detective Constable proactively supporting and encouraging each one.
  • Conducting ‘professional knowledge inputs’ with groups of TDCs to impart operational and vocational knowledge based on locally identified needs.

Principal responsibilities:

  • Function as a point of contact for TDCs, offering in the moment support, addressing concerns and enquiries where appropriate. Signposting to relevant other stakeholders where such enquiries fall outside of this remit.
  • Assess the appropriate level of assistance required for each TDC and enquiry through a professional decision; use professional judgement to decide whether to accompany a TDC on any given specific task.
  • Monitor the ongoing performance of TDCs, track development of e portfolios, and report on progress to Line Managers.
  • Accompany TDCs where necessary to court and into interview, providing feedback and guidance on investigative procedures.
  • Assess knowledge and/or competence of TDCs ensuring they are assessed on their investigative skills and competencies according to PIP2 assessment criteria.
  • Hold assessment meetings every 3 months, review and assess submissions, providing detailed feedback on performance.
  • Ensure that all assessments and coaching are conducted legally, ethically, and according to operational standards.
  • Maintain complete records of all activities, ensuring that interactions are open to wider internal and external quality assurance and recorded.
  • Keep up to date with all training as defined by the Crime Academy and impart this knowledge to TDCs through general guidance and discussions.
  • Qualify and retain PPST (defensive only, no job-related fitness test) and ELS qualification.
  • Assist with the implementation of new processes, identify and recommend process/ policy improvements to the TDC experience.
  • Identify and report back persistent or emerging trends/challenges in the TDC experience.
  • Engage in continuing professional development (CPD) and occupational competence to maintain competence and knowledge.
  • Willingness to undertake MPS training courses as directed.
  • A working knowledge of or be prepared to have refresher training on Met systems.

How to apply

To begin your career at the Met, please click the "apply now" button below. The application process requires a Personal Statement, and an online application form. In your Personal Statement, you should explain your interest in the position and illustrate how your skills and experiences make you a suitable candidate. Please note that you should ensure that your documents are saved in either PDF or Word format, clearly labelled Personal Statement.

Completed applications must be submitted by 23:55 on 15th of October 2025.

Once received, your application will be reviewed against eligibility criteria, following this, your application will be reviewed by the hiring manager. The application review for this vacancy will commence 1 week after the closing date.

Following application review, successful candidates will be invited to interview. Interview dates will commence end of October.

www.metpolicecareers.co.uk

To be eligible, you will need to evidence recent and detailed experience in the conduct of Police investigations and conducting interviews as a Detective in a PIP2 role. You will also be able to call on a good working knowledge of criminal law and of the criminal justice system, and well-developed communication and interpersonal skills. The ability to work unsupervised and as part of a team will be key, while a coaching certificate would be ideal.

You will need to complete a personal statement outlining your relevant skills and specific Detective experience as outlined. Please detail your knowledge of the new detective pathways and any experience of assessing, coaching, training, or mentoring new officers and attach this to your application.

It is essential for the post holder to have:

  • Substantial and evidenced recent experience in the conduct of Police investigations and interviews as a PIP level 2 or 3 Detective officer (not rank specific).
  • Good knowledge and understanding of the Policing Education Qualification Framework (PEQF) and entry routes.
  • A good working knowledge of criminal law, the criminal justice system, PIP2 process and assessment of operational competence.
  • A high level of interpersonal, written, and oral skills.
  • The ability to work unsupervised and as part of a team.
  • A methodical approach to work and the ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines.
  • To have an awareness of equality and diversity issues in the working environment.

It is desirable for the post holder:

  • To have an awareness of the PC to DC career pathways.
  • To have recent experience of investigations within Frontline Policing
  • Presentation skills
  • To understand data protection issues in criminal investigations
  • To have a flexible approach to problem solving
  • The ability to facilitate the development of others.
  • Recent and relevant experience as a Level 3 trained and accredited Assessor (CAVA)
  • Trained to assess through a programme that meets the ‘Police Sector Standard for the Training of Assessors’, ‘Assessor Standard’.
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The Met is committed to being an equitable (fair and impartial) and inclusive employer for disabled people, striving to have a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and long-term conditions, ethnic minority groups and women.

As a Disability Confident Leader, the Met has committed to making disability equality part of our everyday practice. We ensure that people with disabilities and those with long term conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.

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This opportunity is closed to applications.