Police staff recruitment process
Find out more about the recruitment process for police staff jobs, including details about shortlisting, interviews and vetting.
Applying for a role
Why do I need to create an account to apply for roles?
Our candidate portal allows you to apply for multiple roles and keep all applications in the same place.
This means you can see the current status of all applications and review applications that you have previously submitted.
How can I check on the status of my application?
You will receive notifications and updates on our candidate portal that will prompt you to take any action required and keep you up to date with the status of your application.
What happens if I have technical difficulties when completing an application?
Technical support is available on the candidate portal if you need it.
Please log in to your account to access the guidance.
What happens if I have a question about how to complete the application or I need reasonable adjustments?
Contact the Talent Acquisition Team who will be more than happy to help.
Can I only work full time, shift roles?
Flexible working, full time, part time and job share applications will be considered. However, there are some roles that need a full time member of staff for operational reasons.
You will need to specify if you are seeking an arrangement other than full time and how you anticipate this may be managed in the role you are applying for.
Do I need to be a UK resident?
You must be either a British Citizen, a citizen of the EU or other states in the EEA, or a Commonwealth citizen or foreign national with indefinite leave to remain in the UK and must have resided in the UK for a continuous period of 3 years immediately prior to submitting your application.
If I have a criminal record – can I still apply?
Whether you can join will depend on the nature and circumstances of the offence. Each case will be considered on its own merits.
After you have applied
Will my current employer be contacted before I hand in my notice?
We will always ask you before we contact your current employer for a reference but please advise other referees that we will contact them sooner than this.
We can send the reference request to your current employer after you have handed in your notice and your offer to start with Avon and Somerset will be conditional on a satisfactory reference being returned.
What is vetting and how long does it take?
Read our vetting guidance.
Should I hand in my notice before I receive my recruitment checks back?
This is a personal choice but we recommend that you do not hand in your notice until after we confirm an offer of employment. This will not be until your recruitment checks are returned and cleared.
Interviews and feedback
What should I do if I have accepted an interview but I need to change the date/time?
You can re-arrange interviews through the candidate portal at any time, usually until around 48 hours before your interview is due to take place.
If you need to change the date or time of your interview after this point, contact the Talent Acquisition Team who will talk to you about your options.
What happens if I need reasonable adjustments later in the assessment/interview process?
Please request any support you need as part of your application.
A member of the Talent Acquisition Team will then contact you to discuss your requirements.
When will I hear if I have passed shortlisting?
We inform all applicants if they have been successful at each stage of the process. You will be updated by email and updates will appear on the ‘review status’ section in your applicant portal.
If you have not heard from us, check your junk and spam folders in case our emails have gone in there automatically.
Shortlisting feedback can be requested at each stage and will be provided where available.
We are not always able to provide shortlisting feedback when we have received a high volume of applications.
Will I get feedback about my interview?
If you are successful in being invited to an interview, the chair of the panel will provide feedback, should you wish to receive it. You should request feedback within 14 days of recruitment contacting you after your interview.