Communication Officers and Communication Officer Controllers

Opportunities for Communication Officers and Communication Officer Controllers Full time opportunities available, Part time working will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Transferee Call Handlers and Dispatchers are welcome to apply from other services.
We are proud to announce that we are currently recruiting for Communication Officers and Controllers, at our Force Control Room, which is located at Fulford Road, York. These can be a challenging, yet rewarding jobs, where no two days are the same. Our teams are the first point of contact for some 800 emergency and non-emergency phone calls every single day. As a member of the team, you will be at the heart of policing in North Yorkshire and will find yourself dealing with incidents that most people will not come across in their lifetime.
The importance of this role to the communities of North Yorkshire can never be underestimated...
999 what’s your emergency? “Help me, I’m so scared, he’s hurt me, he’s got a knife and threatened me. He was screaming in my face, so I’ve slammed the door shut and ran upstairs. I’ve tried to lock the door, but I’m so scared, please, I need help. He’s coming up the stairs now. I know he will get through the door, he’s kicking the door, please make this stop” Stop and think. What’s going through your mind? Did you listen carefully? Did the caller say they slammed the door in his face, or just slammed the door? Is the door locked? Did they say he has a knife or had a knife? You need to know the facts, so you know what action to take next, most importantly whilst you’re listening to what the caller is saying, you are also typing and, in your mind, categorising the call, in order of priority, whilst at the same time calmly reassuring the caller that help is on the way…
Do you have what it takes? Could you be somebody’s lifeline in what could be the worst moments of their life or when they are at their lowest? We ask our teams to assess the priority and severity of incidents, whilst always doing their best to reassure the caller that we'll get them the appropriate support or assistance as quickly as possible. So, what does a typical day look like?

• You will provide the customer-focused, professional, first point of contact our callers expect, to deliver the best possible service to the public.

• You will be responsible for handling emergency and non-emergency calls from members of the public and other agencies.

• You will triage calls in accordance with our framework, assessing each call’s priority and risks.

• You will be responsible for prioritising a response to incidents

• You will work with colleagues across North Yorkshire to manage our response to requests for assistance.

• Our Communication Officer will create records of reported incidents on the appropriate system(s) and to ensure those records are accurate and contain sufficient detail to enable the Controller (Dispatch) to deploy and support operational resources effectively and to enable effective analysis.

• You will be facilitating telephone interpreting for callers who speak little or no English, building confidence across our multi-cultural communities and for those visiting the county.

• You will be contacting the next of kin / family of victims to gain vital intelligence to support officers at a scene.

• You will be working with police systems to record police Information in relation to reported crimes, domestic violence, road traffic collisions, missing from home reports, along with many other occurrences.

• You will carry out Police National Computer enquiries on behalf of officers e.g., vehicle and name checks.

• You will be responsible for dealing with on-line reporting information.

• You will have emotional awareness and help to build trust and confidence with our communities.

Required Experience You do not need previous experience; instead, we're looking for common sense, attention to detail, great IT skills including good typing skills, excellent communication skills and a calm head under pressure. Above all, you'll have the drive, passion and determination to make a difference and deliver an outstanding service to the communities of North Yorkshire.
Shift Patterns You will be required to work a shift pattern of 12-hour shifts, on a 4 on 4 off rotation pattern. These patterns are either 24/7 or non-24/7 finishing latest at either 12 midnight or 2am, depending on your contract. Examples of shift patterns are available and can be discussed at interview or by telephone/ email enquiries to our Talent Team. You will complete 10 weeks of training and due to the comprehensive training programme, you will not be able to take any holidays during this time. We have start dates planned throughout 2023, including the first course date 2nd October, 2023. Location: Force Control Room, Fulford Road, York
Salary Communications Officers £21,432 - £23,835 (Scale 3 / 4.2). Communication Officer Controller £23,100 - £25,353 (Scale 4) The roles have a shift allowance of either 15% or 20% depending on which shift pattern is chosen and weekend working (where applicable). Total earnings including allowance c. £27,833 - £28,814.
Dates for the diary Closing date for applications for the October intake: 9am Monday 5th June 2023. Applications made after this date will be considered for 2024 start dates. Tuesday 18th May 2023 6.30pm: We are holding a familiarisation event which will provide applicants with an insight into the role and the wider Force Control Room – please click here to register. 22nd – 26th May and 26th-30th June – Face to Face Interviews are planned to take place at our Force Control Room in York. All applicants will also be expected to complete an online assessment as part of the recruitment process. If you cannot make these dates but wish to apply, please contact Lucy.sutton@northyorkshire.police.uk for alternate assessment dates . More details to follow after the closing date.
Positive Action
We, at North Yorkshire Police value difference. We have a positive action team who are dedicated to supporting you through your application and beyond. If you feel you need any reasonable adjustments to help reach your potential, please contact our Positive Action Team positiveaction@northyorkshire.police.uk