How To Become A Police Dog Handler

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• Publisher: How2become
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9781909229433
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Counseling in Career Development

The police force use a number of breeds of dogs for a variety of duties. The type of dog sometimes depends on the job to be done, but the following breeds are the ones usually used in Britain: German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Giant Schnauzer, Doberman, Labrador, Belgian Shepherd, Springer Spaniels, Weimaraners and German Short-Haired Pointers. Searching and tracking are the main tasks of police dogs. A single police officer is no match for a police dog as they are able to search more quickly and in very constricted places. How to become a police dog handler is an exciting new book that covers every element of the selection process and also provides practical advice on police dog types, police dog commands, the health of police dogs, dog handler laws and the training of police dogs and their handlers.

CHAPTER 1
THE ROLE OF A PRISON
OFFICER

THE PRISON OFFICER

The modern day Prison Officer has an important role to play in ensuring prisoners are treated decently and humanely, encouraging them to live useful, law-abiding lives once released from custody.

Your role as a competent and effective Prison Officer stretches far further than ensuring prisoners abide to prison rules. You will be involved in their education, training and coaching, which in turn will help them to lead better lives both inside and outside of prison. Naturally there comes a great deal of reward with this role and many Prison Officers enjoy the benefits of a good salary, working conditions and above all job satisfaction. Yes, the role of a prison officer is demanding and challenging but being part of a team that transforms people’s lives is a great prospect for many Prison Service employees. Many people apply to join the Prison Service every year and by researching the role, the selection process and also preparing yourself fully, you will drastically improve your chances of becoming a Prison Officer.

Apart from custodial duties, you will be expected to build close relationships with those people serving custodial sentences and obviously this takes a great deal of skill, education and awareness. This type of challenge is not for everyone but if you believe you have the right qualities, attributes and a determination to succeed, then you can become a Prison Officer.

The Prison Officer’s role is therefore vast and varied. On the following page I have detailed a number of the duties you can expect to perform as a qualified Prison Officer. The Prison Service recognises that the skills required to carry out this role cannot be obtained overnight and therefore if you are successful in your application you will receive ongoing quality training to keep you at the peak of your performance. You will also be expected to pass an annual fitness test to prove your capability and competence in your role.

THE PRISON OFFICER JOB DESCRIPTION

Custodial duties entail responsibility for the security, supervision, training and rehabilitation of people committed to prison by the courts. This includes motivating prisoners to do what is best for themselves and others around them, within a safe, decent and healthy environment. Work varies according to the type of prison and the level of security, for example category A prisoners require closer supervision than those in category C. Prison Officers must establish and maintain positive working relationships with prisoners, balancing authority with a large amount of understanding and compassion. Prison Officers need to be able to think on their feet, making quick decisions and dealing effectively with unexpected situations.

THE MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A PRISON OFFICER

The main duties of a Prison Officer include:

• • Carrying out security checks and searching procedures.
• • Supervising the prisoners that they are responsible for.
• • Maintaining order when required.
• • Accounting for the whereabouts of prisoners.
• • Carrying out relevant restraint procedures whenever necessary.
• • Treating prisoners decently and humanely, respecting their rights when appropriate.
• • Protecting prisoners from harm.
• • Promoting anti-bullying and suicide prevention policies.
• • Taking part in education and rehabilitation schemes for prisoners.
• • Writing reports on prisoners.

PRISON OFFICER SALARY

The Prison Service offers a very generous salary. Salary progression will be on an annual basis dependent upon performance. In England and Wales, the starting salary for a prison Officer is approximately £17,744 a year. This can rise to £26,858 a year with long service. Salaries in Scotland are between £14,877 and £19,800 a year. These figures are intended as a guide only and are correct at the time of writing.

APPLYING TO BECOME A PRISON OFFICER

Prison Officer vacancies are usually advertised in the local media and on line. The best place to check for vacancies is on the Prison Service website which can be located here:
www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk

TRAINING TO BECOME A PRISON OFFICER

During later sections of the guide I will explain what the selection process involves and more importantly how you can pass it. Once you have successfully passed all of the different testing elements you will undertake a comprehensive training programme which consists of the following:

Prison Officer Entry Level Training (POELT)

This initial course will last for eight weeks and it will provide you with all of the necessary skills, knowledge, information and values that you need to perform the role competently. As you can imagine you will need lots of confidence as a Prison Officer and this will form part of your training.

POELT is usually carried out at the Prison Service College (PSC) which is based at Newbold Revel, Rugby, and also at a local POELT training centre.

The following is a break down of the different training and assessments you will undergo during your initial eight week course:

Week 1 - Establishment induction

During the first week you will be placed at your allocated establishment where you will undergo an intensive induction and familiarisation programme. You will get to meet your work colleagues and also your line manager who will explain what he/she expects from you whilst you are working there.

Weeks 2 to 7 – Prison Service College or local training centre

During this period of training you will be really put under your paces. You will get to learn lots about the role of a Prison Officer, how to carry out Control and Restraint procedures (C & R), how to work effectively as a team and also role play based scenarios.

During this stage you will be assessed both via written examinations and also practical assessments.

Week 8 – Return to establishment

During week 8 you will return to your all...

Table of contents

• INTRODUCTION
• PREFACE BY AUTHOR RICHARD MCMUNN
• CHAPTER 1 THE ROLE OF A PRISON OFFICER
• CHAPTER 2 THE PRISON OFFICER SELECTION PROCESS
• CHAPTER 3 THE TOP 10 TIPS AND ADVICE
• CHAPTER 4 THE PRISON OFFICER SELECTION TEST (POST)
• CHAPTER 5 SAMPLE PRISON OFFICER SELECTION TEST 1
• CHAPTER 6 SAMPLE PRISON OFFICER SELECTION TEST 2
• CHAPTER 7 SAMPLE PRISON OFFICER SELECTION TEST 3
• CHAPTER 8 SAMPLE PRISON OFFICER SELECTION TEST 4
• CHAPTER 9 READING COMPREHENSION
• CHAPTER 10 RECALLING SEEN INFORMATION
• CHAPTER 11 THE RECRUITMENT ASSESSMENT DAY AND THE CORE BEHAVIOUR SKILLS
• CHAPTER 12 SAMPLE ROLE PLAY SCENARIOS AND HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM
• CHAPTER 13 HOW TO GET PRISON OFFICER FIT