Police Community Support Officer Apprenticeship (PCSO) 2025 - Register your interest – Find an apprenticeship

Summary

You will provide a visible and reassuring presence, acting as the eyes and ears of both the public and Northumbria Police. You will be part of a Neighbourhood Policing Team, engaging with local communities and partners to build positive relationships, identify community issues, and implement solutions to keep communities safe.

Wage

£25,098 a year

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Salary: £25,098, rising to £27,531 basic annually (Plus you will be entitled a shift and weekend allowance, making potential earnings £31,748 - £34,826).

Training course

Police community support officer (level 4)

Hours

As we’re a 24/7 service, you’ll need to be flexible to work shifts - days, evenings and weekends.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 2 February 2026

Duration

1 year 3 months

Positions available

27

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

Handling incidents within your area and conducting initial investigations.
Ensuring scene preservation when necessary.
Providing quality service to victims and witnesses of crime and anti-social behaviour.
Identifying vulnerable individuals and ensuring their safety.
Participating in briefings, operations, and other policing activities.
Attending court as needed and exercising designated powers set by the Chief Constable.

Where you'll work

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

Police Station, Prudhoe Street, Alnwick, NE66 1UJ
Ashington Police Station, Lintonville Terrace, Ashington, NE63 9JX
Police Station, 38 Church Street, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, TD15 1DZ
Police Station, High West Street, Gateshead, NE8 1BN
Police Station, Shaftoe Leazes, Hexham, NE46 3DG
Ponteland, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE20 0BL
Police Station, Millbank, Station Road, South Shields, NE33 1RR
Southwick Police Station, Church Bank, Sunderland, SR5 2DU
Newcastle City Centre Police Station, Forth Banks, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE1 3PH
Middle Engine Lane, Wallsend, NE28 9NT

Training

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

College or training organisation

THE CHIEF CONSTABLE OF NORTHUMBRIA

Your training course

Police community support officer (level 4)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Foster, promote and maintain channels of communication and develop close working relationships with key groups, multi-agency partners and individuals across the community
Communicate effectively, in accordance with the varied needs of differing situations, individuals, groups and communities, including those who may be victims, witnesses and vulnerable people, supporting diversity and inclusivity through their communications
Provide initial support to vulnerable people and assess their needs for further support, including providing advice on accessing that support
Gather, handle and submit information and intelligence from a variety of sources to support law enforcement and to maximise policing effectiveness
Work under the direction of their line managers and community-based Police Constables, contribute to developing, planning and implementing preventative and problem-solving policing approaches to local concerns and issues, including providing assistance to review, analyse and share the results of evidence-based initiatives
Work alongside partner organisations or as part of a multi-disciplinary team to improve, mitigate and solve community problems, issues or concerns
Provide an initial response to incidents (where necessary) in-line with legal and organisational requirements and the limits of their responsibilities, including appropriate planning (e.g. strategies for managing traffic flow), for responses based on analysis of all relevant information at hand
Provide support for victims and witnesses at policing incidents, including advice to identify and access sources of additional support (or accessing sources on behalf of individuals) and post-incident help, and where appropriate, delivering any necessary follow-up assistance
Apply appropriate conflict management tactics e.g. appropriate communication (not hands on physical techniques) where absolutely necessary and in-line with the powers bestowed on them, issued equipment (where applicable), the training they have received and organisational policy and procedure

Your training plan

The 12–15-month training programme combines practical and theory-based learning. Your training will start with two classroom phases, lasting around 3 months, based at Ponteland alongside other PCSO's on your course.

From the essentials like safety training and first aid to decision making and communication skills, your study will encompass all the skills and knowledge you need ready for the next step in your training. Some of your study will be delivered as tutorials, role-plays, self-study or e-learning.

As part of the second phase of your training, you’ll start work in frontline policing. You’ll be based at a police station alongside your experienced colleagues in a neighbourhood team. You’ll be working one-to-one with an experienced tutor who will support you in putting your learning into practice as part of your operational duties.

You’ll also have the opportunity to shadow experienced PCSOs out and about in the community.

Please note, vacancies are available across the force area. We are unable to guarantee you a particular location.

More training information

Learning will cover a wide range of community focused topics including safety training, emergency life support, communication, wellbeing, problem solving and safeguarding.

You will undertake the majority of your training on the frontline alongside experienced colleagues, fully supported in putting your classroom-based learning into practice.

Phase 1 classroom learning:

5 weeks, Monday - Friday, 08:00 - 16:00, based at Ponteland.

This includes role-based general learning and learning in specific policing areas.

Shadowing period:

1 week, based in your Area Command on your assigned shift pattern.

Upon conclusion of the above phase of classroom learning you will enter the shadowing phase in an operational environment.

Phase 2 classroom learning:

6 weeks, Monday – Friday 08:00 – 16:00, based at Ponteland.

In the next phase of your classroom learning, you will build knowledge in key areas to successfully work within the community.

Phase 1 and 2 of your classroom learning will be 12 weeks in total.

Tutoring period:

Based in your Area Command on your assigned shift pattern.

Upon completion of the second phase of classroom learning, you will undertake a more advanced phase of 1-2-1 tutorship in an operational environment, where more advanced, community-based learning can be contextualised and supplemented.

Independent Patrol Status:

Once you have demonstrated and evidenced sufficient competence in the role of a PCSO, you will be confirmed independent, safe and lawful in the workplace.

Deployment:

You will continue working on your team with experienced mentors to achieve Full Operational Competence as a PCSO and the Level 4 Diploma in Community Policing Practice.

End Point Assessment:

At the end of the programme, you will complete an independent end-point assessment (EPA) of the knowledge, skills and behaviours that have been learnt throughout the apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (level 2 equivalent) (grade Grade C (level 4) or above)
Maths (level 2 equivalent) - for under 19's (grade Grade C (level 4) or above)

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths (level 2 equivalent) - for over 19's (grade Grade C (level 4) or above)

A Level in:

Any subject (level 3 or equivalent) (grade Any grade)

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
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Team working
Non judgemental
Physical fitness
Relationship building
Prioritisation
Resilient
Keen to learn

Other requirements

If you do not meet the ONE A Level (Level 3 or higher) qualification, relevant work experience that will support your progression into the PCSO role will be considered. We will review work experience in line with our core force values and the National Competency and Values framework. Proof of qualifications are required on application.

About this company

Our purpose at TeamNP is simple: to keep people safe and to fight crime. But it takes more than officers alone to do the job – and that’s where our 2,000-strong team of police staff come in. As one of the largest police forces in England we have a huge variety of departments and specialisms offering you endless opportunities. From mentoring and coaching schemes and online soft skills courses to leadership development programmes; we’ll give you the support, training and time to carve out the career you always wanted. As one of the top 50 UK inclusive employers and a disability confident employer, we promote a culture of respect in the workplace so everyone can feel seen, heard and valued. What's more, we're proud to have been rated as 'good' on our most recent inspection for building, supporting and protecting our workforce. You can also expect first-rate support to manage your health and wellbeing. With year-round events, a 24/7 welfare support hotline and a leading approach to neurodiversity, our initiatives enable you to be at your best. Above all else, here at Team NP we can offer you a career that is so much more than just a job, it’s a chance to be part of something that really matters.

https://careers.northumbria.police.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

26 days’ leave (increasing to 30 days for 5 years+ service) plus 8 bank holidays. All other company benefits can be found on - https://careers.northumbria.police.uk/police-staff/benefits/

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 you’ve successfully completed all the elements of the PCSO training, you’ll be awarded a level 4 Diploma in Community Policing Practice. This leads to your end point assessment and achievement of the Police Community Support Officer Apprenticeship.

We are committed to helping you continously develop in your role to take your career in any direction. You will have access to resources such as mentoring programmes, leadership training, in-house soft skill development and more.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Northumbria Police

Join Team NP

JoinTeamNP@northumbria.police.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000320010.

Apply now

Closes on Sunday 31 August 2025

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

Applications are currently closed for our PCSO role however if you are interested in joining on our next intake, register your interest through the link and we will be in touch when applications go live again.

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Police Community Support Officer Apprenticeship (PCSO) 2025 - Register your interest

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