Acting/Secondment – Sergeant - Harm Reduction Unit

Location: High Wycombe

Expected Start Date: 30th April (Please note that start dates will be subject to impact assessment with T&R)

Expected End Date: 6 Months (Please note that end dates are subject to change and, depending on the needs of the department, may be extended or reduced)

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CANDIDATES MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR RELEASE FROM THE LPA PRIOR TO APPLYING

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Applications are invited from Substantive Sergeants on secondment and from Substantive Constables to Act up.

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Since we last reviewed our structure in 2012 policing focus on vulnerability has grown. Traditional crime types, such as vehicle crime and property theft, have fallen, and been replaced by new, complex and increasingly harmful forms of crime such as child sexual exploitation and sexual violence. 

Therefore our proposals aim to improve our service to the most vulnerable in our communities by creating a new Harm Reduction Unit (HRU). 

The creation of a new Harm Reduction Unit will provide stronger governance and more consistent harm reduction activity across areas, and focus on safeguarding and harm prevention opportunities within mental health, exploitation of children/vulnerable adults and domestic abuse. It will provide the lead on orders (DVPOs/knife crime prevention orders) and undertake a range of safeguarding activities. 

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In this role you will provide day to day tasking and supervision to the Harm Reduction Unit, effectively managing the workload, prioritising and directing activity and proactively working with internal and external partners and victims in order to reduce harm, exploitation and repeat victimisation in our communities.

Skills and Experience:

•  Partnership experience - desirable, not essential

Principle Responsibilities: 

• Day to day management of a team of specialist and generalist resources (officers and staff) working in partnership internally and externally to reduce exploitation, victimisation and harm. Ensure that team activity is prioritised in line with Force strategies, local priorities and Threat, Harm, Risk and Opportunity. Ensure that team members have the appropriate training, guidance and support to operate effectively in support of victims and communities Monitor individual workloads and performance, providing support, intervention and direction to maximise the effectiveness of the team.
• Monitor and embed effective working practices between the HRU and the MASH in order to ensure the identification of vulnerability, threat, harm, opportunity and risk, implement safeguarding measures and prevent repeat victimisation.
• Through tasking, ensure that opportunities to proactively disrupt exploitation and harm are acted upon. Oversee effective joint working with investigative departments to ensure that Evidence Led Prosecution (ELP) packages are shared when positive outcomes achieved. Work with internal SMEs such as SOCU and DST to identify and exploit opportunities for covert operations including developing bids for TTCG (NB the team will not be expected to run covert operations themselves).
• Establish strong relationships and embed effective working practices between police and partners to maximise the effectiveness of the team, manage demand and improve victim service.
• Ensure that the use of harm management orders is maximised and that they are properly applied for, maintained and monitored, pursuing breaches and exploiting prosecution opportunities.
• Ensure that agreed MARAC/MATAC processes are delivered effectively in the Police Area including embedding the Voice of the Child, and that MATAC/MARAC Coordinators are properly trained and supported to deliver in their roles. Deputise for the DI HRU as chair of MATAC/MARAC meetings.
• Act as a subject matter expert on the Local Police Unit for the management of mental health. Manage the dedicated Mental Health Officers, ensuring that Force strategy and LCU priorities are delivered, support front line officers and supervisors with this area of work and build strong partnership relationships and working practices with partners.
• Act as a subject matter expert on the Local Police Unit for working with schools and young people. Manage the dedicated Schools Officers, ensuring that Force Strategy and LCU priorities are delivered, support front line officers and supervisors and build strong partnership relationships and working practices with partners.

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For more information, please contact Insp Graham HORTON P5081 

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All roles are available for flexible working including job sharing and part-time unless there are legitimate operational / business reasons why this cannot be accommodated.

Application should take the form of a ‘why me, why now' letter, which must be typed using Arial font size 12 and be no more than 2 sides of A4 with  the margins not modified from the standard 2.54cm.

All applicants must complete the Line Manager Endorsement Form. The form REQUIRES a Chief Inspector or Superintendent’s signature, regardless of whether they are on the Shortlisting Panel. Please be aware that verbal endorsement will also not be accepted.

Suitably endorsed and eligible applications must be completed online by Midnight Sunday 7th April. Please do not send applications directly to the line manager, all applications must be submitted online.