Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) thread

Hey! I’ve just applied for the PCDA. How long did it take for you to get an email to say you’ve been shortlisted for the SEARCH centre??

Okay so here's a rundown of the dates so far

9/12/19 Registered interest in PCDA and completed online questionnaires

20/01/20 Online Behavioural Styles Questionnaire v2

03/02/20 Online Situational Judgement Test

04/04/20 Received date for SEARCH

08/05/20 SEARCH

25/04/20 SEARCH cancelled because of coronavirus

Hope this helps

Hi,

I am applying for the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship and the application requires providing 2 references who can comment on conduct at work and/or school.

I am currently working at my company so I am unable to use my manager as a reference (as they do not know I am applying). As I am on an apprenticeship scheme currently, I can't request a reference from a college instructor due to their links to my company.

Any help is appreciated

Thanks

Quick one on this, I applied for the PCDA and my portal has just changed to Await SEARCH Assessment Centre, did the same thing happen to you before finding our next steps?

Thanks!

Hi,
When did the applications open?
I didn’t know such policing apprenticeships existed so I’m now doing an engineering apprenticeship 🙄🙄🙄

Different for every force. There's 43 police forces so have a look around and pick one to apply to when recruitment opens. Hope this helps 😊

Originally, this was the path I was going to use, but I've now decided to go to university prior to training to become a PC, so I'll be taking the degree holder entry method!

Oh I wish I knew about this earlier, already got offers for engineering degree apprenticeships 😭😭😭

Hoping to pursue a similar route into policing - 3 years at uni then join. Out of interest, would you chose the DHEP or Police Now? I know they're very different programmes but just curious what other people think of them.

With DHEP you're going be on frontline policing for two years at least until you complete the probation period and earn a post grad diploma in policing. After that you can specialise in whatever you like as long as there's a vacancy.
Police Now gives you the option for direct entry as a detective. Serving officers have said that it's better the get a taste of frontline policing first and then specialise as a detective rather than direct entry. Plus, you might find you enjoy being on the frontline and if you don't you can always specialise in CID and become a detective.
Another thing is that the test to become a detective is said to be one of the hardest tests in policing which would be much easier if you already have two years of experience but if you go direct through Police Now then it you'll be at a disadvantage.

I must say my knowledge on this topic is very limited and its best to speak to people that know more about Police Now. I'm just going off of what I've heard.

This is interesting as I wasn’t aware of that. I’ve always been told that SEARCH is still a thing, appreciate that. One thing I have noticed is that there have been a lot of automated emails etc. Did you have this, what did you find the best way to get in contact with the recruitment team was? Via email or phone?

No worries and thanks for the reply. I do know a fair amount on policing as it's been my intention to join for a while now. Spoken to serving officers online and done my research and you're completely right about joining then specialising. I was comparing the Police Now 'National Graduate Leadership Programme' which puts you into a neighbourhood policing team for your whole two years to seemingly use your graduate skills in improving the area. Not very welcomed by long-serving officers, especially given most PN NGLP recruits seem to climb the ranks rapidly!

The DHEP looks more policing-orientated, especially as you're put on a response team. But you do get a post-grad diploma which PN doesn't offer. The PN Detective programme looked ok, but I haven't heard a good word about it (workloads were ridiculous with recruits carrying 30+ investigations). Thanks for your reply though, so many different way to be a 'copper' at the moment!!

Definitely email. Go on the force website and look for an email in HR or recruitment. Which force is it may I ask? I'm extremely disappointed that they haven't told you SEARCH has been abolished. It's been over a month now!!