Management training for career development
West Midlands Police is to become the first force to put officers and support staff through a Chartered Management Institute training programme to raise performance levels and improve career development opportunities.
West Midlands Police is to become the first force to put officers and support staff through a Chartered Management Institute training programme to raise performance levels and improve career development opportunities.
A pilot group of 14 officers and staff will have to complete an assignment focusing on management issues relevant to civilian or police scenarios; to be awarded Chartered Manager status, each participant will also need to demonstrate an ability to drive change and increase operational efficiency.
The initiative forms part of the forces wider leadership programme which includes workshops, lectures and seminars, delivered on a monthly basis and which feature a range of speakers, both internal and external, police and non-police.
Inspector Yvonne Harris, Leadership Strategy Co-ordinator for West Midlands Police, said: “The scheme is significant because our staff will only be able to retain Chartered Manager status if they demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development.
“That means no one can rest on the laurels of an award and our local community will benefit from police who are determined to be the best.”
Participants also have to undertake 360-degree appraisals from colleagues and attend a panel interview as part of the final assessment.
Christine Hayhurst, director of professional affairs at the Chartered Management Institute, said: “Modern management is about getting the best out of your people, and this often involves creating a strong team ethic. By giving colleagues an opportunity to assess candidates management capabilities, the aspiring Chartered Managers will know what skills they need to improve and what their teams expect of them.”