Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)

Summary

Becoming a police constable is a career like no other. Not only will you be taking on challenges that will change your life, but you’ll be working to protect the people and communities of South Yorkshire. This is a career where you’ll travel between urban cities and rural towns, meeting people from all walks of life.

Wage

£29,907 a year

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Salary increases year on year

Training course

Police constable (integrated degree) (level 6)

Hours

Shifts covering 24/7/365. TBC.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 2 March 2026

Duration

3 years

Positions available

48

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Duties of a Police Constable
Study for a Degree in Professional Policing
Mixture of: on the job, classroom training and University study

Where you'll work

Training : Robert Dyson House
Wath Upon Dearne
Rotherham
S63 7EF

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY

Your training course

Police constable (integrated degree) (level 6)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Apply authorised professional practice (APP) within day-to-day policing contexts in line with local policing policies.
Identify, organise, engage, and clearly communicate information with a range of stakeholders to manage planned and dynamic situations, which influence and lead others in a policing context.
Gather, handle, store, disclose and analyse information and intelligence from relevant sources, in line with organisational policies and procedures to support law enforcement and to maximise policing effectiveness.
Apply an open investigative mind-set whilst cognisant of the code of ethics and national decision-making model.
Manage dynamic conflict situations through leadership, taking personal accountability for the use of proportionate and justifiable responses and actions.
Manage ethical searches for evidence and information in differing environments, including searching of people, vehicles and open spaces.
Provide an initial, autonomous and risk assessed response to incidents, including complex and confrontational, to bring about the best possible outcomes.
Provide an initial, autonomous response to crime scenes, that require the management and preservation of evidence and exhibits.
Provide leadership at policing incidents and situations providing empathetic support to protect the public including the most vulnerable.
Manage and conduct priority and volume investigations by identifying, evaluating and acting upon appropriate lines of enquiry including digital evidence, to enable the presenting of permissible evidence to authorities where required.
Use police powers to deal with suspects including arrest, report and alternative disposal options.
Interview victims, witnesses and suspects, inclusive of vulnerable persons in accordance with investigative standards contained within Authorised Professional Practice and use of the PEACE model.
Assess risk and threats demonstrating critical thinking using the national decision-making model, in order to select and apply specialist techniques to support individuals in need of public protection.
Use discretion when applying powers across policing situations ensuring these are proportionate, legal, accountable and necessary.
Engage in self-reflection to improve own professional practice in future operational activities.
Apply reflection strategies to existing policy and practice recommending innovative approaches to policing.
Engage with individuals and collaborate with organisations in the community, to enhance effective teamworking in order to achieve positive outcomes for public reassurance, safety and well-being.
Critically apply problem-solving techniques to prevention interventions to inform decision-making and actions in policing environments.
Apply local organisational sustainable practices.
Embed organisational led good practice requirements for equality, diversity and inclusivity in decision making in policing situations.
Apply authorised professional practice (APP) within day-to-day policing contexts in line with local policing policies.
Identify, organise, engage, and clearly communicate information with a range of stakeholders to manage planned and dynamic situations, which influence and lead others in a policing context.
Gather, handle, store, disclose and analyse information and intelligence from relevant sources, in line with organisational policies and procedures to support law enforcement and to maximise policing effectiveness.
Apply an open investigative mind-set whilst cognisant of the code of ethics and national decision-making model.
Manage dynamic conflict situations through leadership, taking personal accountability for the use of proportionate and justifiable responses and actions.
Manage ethical searches for evidence and information in differing environments, including searching of people, vehicles and open spaces.
Provide an initial, autonomous and risk assessed response to incidents, including complex and confrontational, to bring about the best possible outcomes.
Provide an initial, autonomous response to crime scenes, that require the management and preservation of evidence and exhibits.
Provide leadership at policing incidents and situations providing empathetic support to protect the public including the most vulnerable.
Manage and conduct priority and volume investigations by identifying, evaluating and acting upon appropriate lines of enquiry including digital evidence, to enable the presenting of permissible evidence to authorities where required.
Use police powers to deal with suspects including arrest, report and alternative disposal options.
Interview victims, witnesses and suspects, inclusive of vulnerable persons in accordance with investigative standards contained within Authorised Professional Practice and use of the PEACE model.
Assess risk and threats demonstrating critical thinking using the national decision-making model, in order to select and apply specialist techniques to support individuals in need of public protection.
Use discretion when applying powers across policing situations ensuring these are proportionate, legal, accountable and necessary.
Engage in self-reflection to improve own professional practice in future operational activities.
Apply reflection strategies to existing policy and practice recommending innovative approaches to policing.
Engage with individuals and collaborate with organisations in the community, to enhance effective teamworking in order to achieve positive outcomes for public reassurance, safety and well-being.
Critically apply problem-solving techniques to prevention interventions to inform decision-making and actions in policing environments.
Apply local organisational sustainable practices.
Embed organisational led good practice requirements for equality, diversity and inclusivity in decision making in policing situations.

Your training plan

Training at SYP training centre, on the job training and study at Sheffield Hallam University.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

A Level in:

Any (grade Min 80 UCAS points)

Other in:

N/A (grade N/A)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Administrative skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Physical fitness

Other requirements

This role can be confrontational, a level of fitness is required, working shifts to cover 24/7/365

About this company

We are one of the highest performing forces in the country and we have great aspirations to be the very best we can be for our communities. We are a full spectrum force which means we have a wide range of roles including a dog section, mounted section, specialist firearms officers and we serve a diverse mix of 1.4million people across a varied range of settings.

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Once your 3 year probation and degree is complete, you will have the option to apply for specialist roles in the force or apply for promotion boards.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: