Postgraduate
Apprenticeship

Senior Leader (Policing)

Apprenticeship Level 7

Start date

Duration

Location

Overview
Requirements
Course detail & modules
Costs & fees
Study & career progression

Next steps

Start date

Next steps

Overview

The aim of this apprenticeship is to convert effective operational managers into strategic managers. It will provide a broad foundation of management and leadership skills that is strategic and integrated in nature. The emphasis of this apprenticeship will allow those in the policing and security services sectors to gain early opportunities to apply these skills in their practice.

It will develop areas of expertise through critical inquiry into policing with an organisationally specific project focused on an area of choice.

It will also encourage you to examine your leadership approach, identify your preferences and style, understand how you want to lead and to develop yourself as a leader. You will have the opportunity to work across other sectors with opportunities to highlight your strengths and areas for development.

You will be able to take these skills back into the workplace and lead across areas of senior responsibility, prioritising public service focussed on the core responsibilities of policing and security services, with an emphasis on the safety and wellbeing of the public.

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship (successful completion of the end point assessment), there is an opportunity to achieve a Masters in Policing at no extra cost.

This course has been mapped to the College of Policing National standards stage 4 senior leaders. For further information, please contact the Head of the Institute for Policing Studies, Andy Rose, or the Course Leader Claire Clark.

Select a start date below to see relevant course information:

Start date:

View apprenticeships standards End Point Assessment

Requirements

Requirements for apprentices

An honours degree 2.2 or equivalent.
Relevant work experience, a minimum of two years postgraduate work experience in a managerial, professional or technical role.

Other relevant qualifications and/or prior experience may also be considered as an alternative.

English and Maths

Before taking the end-point assessment, all apprentices on apprenticeships at level 3 and above must achieve level 2 English and maths (equivalent to GCSEs at grades A* to C or 4 -9). You can take these qualifications at the university while on the apprenticeship.

If you do not have evidence of these qualifications, then we strongly recommend you achieve these before you start the apprenticeship.

For applicants living in London*, we have free courses-please see information here:

Open the door to new career possibilities with our free courses in Maths and English (uwl.ac.uk)

*You must be able to meet the eligibility criteria.

If you have an overseas qualification, we will check this for its UK equivalency during your application and let you know what you may need to do to meet the requirement.

Eligibility

All apprenticeships starting from 1 August 2021:

Eligibility is subject to Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Apprenticeship Funding Rules. Over the duration of the apprenticeship, you must meet the eligibility requirements in place at the time, including:

Have the right to work and study in England
Spend at least 50% of your working time in England; and
Are a UK citizen and have been ordinarily resident for the last three years in the UK or meet one of the following immigration statuses:

UK and Irish Nationals: have been ordinarily resident in the UK or EEA for the three years before the first day of the start of the apprenticeship.

EEA nationals: have either pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme; and have been ordinarily resident in the EEA, Gibraltar, or the UK for at least the previous three years before the first day of the start of the apprenticeship.

*Non-EEA nationals: you are eligible if you have permission from the UK government to live in the UK, (not for educational purposes) and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the previous three years before the first day of the start of the apprenticeship.

* You must meet the UK government’s eligibility criteria for apprenticeship funding:

Where an applicant for an apprenticeship does not hold a UK passport as a British citizen, these requirements state that you must have an immigration permission in the UK that allows you to study and will cover the length of the whole apprenticeship in full without you needing to extend your visa or immigration permission during the apprenticeship.

Please check the guidance for further clarification, particularly for information on:

Family members of UK and EEA nationals
Individuals with certain types of immigration status and their family members
Asylum seekers
Other immigration status.

You can also contact the Student Admissions Team admissions@uwl.ac.uk if you require further clarification.

Course detail & modules

Course outline

To successfully complete the qualification, you need 120 credits at level 7. To achieve this, there are 6 modules to be completed.

Independent End Point Assessment

End-point assessment (EPA) is the final stage of an apprenticeship. It is an impartial assessment of whether the apprentice has developed the skills, knowledge and behaviours outlined in the apprenticeship standard.

Assessments are conducted by independent bodies known as end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs). Passing the EPA and completing the apprenticeship will also lead to professional recognition by an authorised body.

The EPA for this course is a project and a professional discussion. The End Point Assessment Organisation for this standard is the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Successful completion of the EPA will allow you to register for Chartered Manager status.

Course subject to approval

Year 1 and 2

Please note this apprenticeship course is subject to approval. Module names and content could change.

Compulsory modules

Management Skills for Police Senior Leaders

The range of required executive skills has grown in scope and requirements for senior leaders have expanded. The ability to demonstrate leadership competency, strategic thinking, sound decision-making and execution, relationship building, tech-understanding, deep familiarity with financial issues, political savviness, presentation and excellent communication skills and a reputation for ethical conduct will help you to develop towards executive leadership roles.
The contemporary demand on police leaders is increasingly complex and this module will help you understand the present leadership landscape, critically evaluating ‘what works.’
Leading People and Teams

The module will equip students to understand team dynamics and conflict management, develop critical understanding of the current literature on strategic workforce planning, including talent management, learning organisations, diversity and inclusion, develop the ability to work effectively as a member of a high-performance team, contributing to a collaborative and inclusive culture. Demonstrate ability to cooperate, negotiate, influence, lead in given or chosen contexts. Critically evaluate one’s effectiveness at collaboration and leadership; and identify areas for further development.
Strategic Decision Making and Problem Solving

This module covers developing knowledge and understanding of the fundamental concepts and models of strategic decision-making, including an understanding of the application of theory in strategic decision-making. You will develop a critical understanding of the current literature on the application of strategic management and business modelling in an environment driven by constant change. You will grow your ability to evaluate strategic options and associated risks in any context e.g. critical or major incidents. The module covers how to create or shape an organisational vision to foster creativity and problem-solving while recognising the practical challenges to an effective implementation.
In policing how a strategy is communicated and then operationalised, could be the difference between success or criticism. Organisational culture has an impact on strategic decision-making and problem-solving, and this module will explore this.
Financial Management for Decision Makers

Critical discourse on the application of behavioural theories in Financial Management for Decision Makers and financial decision making. Understand the Normative theories of Financial Management for Decision Makers. Analyse data contained in financial statements to evaluate business performance and inform strategic decisions in a given or chosen context. Apply Capital Investment Decision methods and Risk analysis to inform strategic decisions in given or chosen context. Apply the key principles of capital structure theory to inform strategic financial decisions in a given or chosen context.
Communication, Trust and Confidence

This module will cover a critical understanding of the impact of media and communications in the current policing context. You will develop an understanding of current trends in global societal behaviour and its impact on communities. Working with medical professionals you will create and analyse communication strategies for a given or chosen event or incident, evaluate competing theories and models relevant to enabling trust and confidence in communication strategies. This module will cover the principles of engagement with communities in building and retaining confidence in any given policing scenario e.g. investigations, events such as protests, and critical incidents.
Evidence Based Policing and Research Project

You will critically evaluate different research strategies, methodologies and approaches in relation to a chosen research objective. Your project will contrast policing issues that lend themselves to research as they are contemporary issues of interest. You will demonstrate an ability to plan a structured research project and to improve the plan based on critical feedback and uphold the highest of ethical standards in the conduct of research.
This module will give you a critical appreciation of the wider impact of evidence-based policing research and interest to relevant stakeholders.

Teaching & learning

Two young police officers attend a lecture

This Level 7 apprenticeship will develop your intellectual skills at Masters Level:

Ability to manage information
Communicate clearly in various media
Analyse complex issues
Think critically, working with alternative perspectives
Solve strategic problems.

How you will be assessed

There is one assessment per module, which is summative – the marked element of the assessment. There will be several elements within the assessment but they will be work-based and relevant, contextualised to your place of work.

The Apprenticeship End Point Assessment (EPA) for Senior Leader is graded: fail, pass, merit or distinction.

CMI Accreditation

We partner with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) for the delivery and assessment of this apprenticeship. The CMI has accredited our apprenticeship, and they are currently the End Point Assessment Organisation for this standard.

This has key benefits for those enrolled, which are as follows:

Upon successful completion, apprentices are entitled to apply for and receive Chartered Manager (CMgr) status, which sits alongside their other achievements and demonstrates a high level of management and leadership expertise. CMI is the only professional body and EPAO that can award this
Upon successful completion, apprentices also automatically gain the CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice; a professional, industry-recognised qualification
For the life of their apprenticeship, apprentices are members of CMI, entitling them to be part of CMI's management and leadership community, with access to events and networking, thought leadership, mentoring, mental health support, a career development centre, and Management Direct, CMI's online library with over 30,000 pieces of relevant content.

Apprentices will also remain members of CMI for 3 months beyond their study, free of charge.

Costs & fees

Costs for apprentices

Although there are no tuition fees payable by you as an apprentice, additional costs may be incurred which are outside of the apprenticeship levy funding. Please discuss additional costs directly with your employer.

Costs for employers

For employers, the costs of training your apprentice will usually be covered by the apprenticeship levy. Find out more about how apprenticeship funding works.

Teaching staff

Study & career progression

Student police officers studying at the Institute of Policing Studies at the University of West London

This degree apprenticeship will provide you with an opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills and behaviours to progress your career in senior management and leadership.

On successful completion you will gain:

Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education graded apprenticeship certificate.

You will be eligible for:

Chartered Management Institute Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice
Professional Accreditation - Membership of the Chartered Management Association (CMI)

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship (successful completion of the end point assessment), there is an opportunity to achieve a Masters in Policing at no extra cost. 

Next steps

Next steps for apprentices

Apprenticeships are open to both existing and new employees.

If you would like to start an apprenticeship in your current working role, you will need to register interest with your employer.

Why not send the appropriate person at your organisation a link to our information for employers?

How to apply

To apply for this apprenticeship, you will need to find a position with an employer who is offering it. We cannot accept applications directly.

We advertise any apprenticeship vacancies from employers we are working with on our Vacancies page, and we recommend checking the National Apprenticeship Service website for vacancies across the country.

Next steps for employers

To find out more about working with the University of West London, please contact Janet Rowson, Head of Degree Apprenticeships:

Email janet.rowson@uwl.ac.uk

Senior Leader (Policing)

Overview