The Audit Commission's report 'Sustaining Value for Money in the Police Service' (July 2010) highlighted the fact that most forces do not make enough of mixed teams. It recommends the use of specialised police staff and PCSO's as a way of helping police forces to be more cost effective and improve performance. 80% of police spending is on the workforce. Transformational changes from the workforce are only possible if forces begin to look at the way their workforce is composed and ensure: 1) The matching of skills to tasks; 2) The creation of new roles within policing teams and; 3) Ensure the workforce is doing what it is trained to do. There is also opportunity for expertise to be drawn into the service through the use of Special Constables and Police Support Volunteers. We are assisting police forces and police authorities with the business change needed. A well researched, structured and consistent methodology for changing workforce mix has been produced, which is targeted towards achieving sustainable business improvement. We have also developed a Toolkit to provide a planned and integrated approach to the business change needed. Within the HR section of our toolkit, you will find an Employment Framework, approved by HR professionals across the service, which identifies the roles and skills required to deliver policing. Our methodology for changing the workforce mix increases policing capacity and productivity by focusing time, talent and money where it matters. By using the methodology, processes can be made more efficient. It also enables the skills, experience and powers of officers and staff to be more closely matched to policing tasks. In July 2007, a number of forces were selected to demonstrate how the changing the workforce mix methodology could be used focusing on areas such as crime investigation, emergency response, safer neighbourhoods and intelligence gathering. Nine forces participated in the programme, known as 'demonstration sites'. The work that undertook was subject to independent evaluation, funded by the Home Office. Some of the benefits that the evaluation found include: We are also working with a number of police forces to implement business efficiency, using methods such as business process modelling and 'Lean'. These methods aim to reduce 'waste', such as inefficient processes, to create more value for the end customer. We provide specialist advice and support to officers and staff in forces, so they develop a long-term capability for business improvement. You can keep up to date with developments in Workforce Planning by joining the Cost Effectiveness community on POLKA. How can we help.
What are the benefits of Changing Workforce Mix?
Or you can contact the Workforce Planning team by e-mailing Customer Support or calling +44 (0) 203 113 7387.
