Meet Emma – The Apprenticeship Path to Becoming a PCSO

Emma’s journey to becoming a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) with Thames Valley Police (TVP) has been both rewarding and full of personal growth. In this blog, she shares her experience of joining TVP through the apprenticeship route, the challenges she’s faced, and the fulfilling aspects of the role.

How long have you been with TVP, and how has your journey unfolded?

I’ve been with TVP for almost a year and a half (17 months) now and I have loved every minute of it so far. Policing is something I have always wanted to do but I wasn’t sure that I had the life experience to sign up when I was younger, and so I pursued a career as a youth worker. After 7 years of working with young people, I took some time off to be a stay-at-home mum, but when I wanted to go back to work I was ready for a new challenge and I revisited the idea of joining the police.

The PCSO role looked like it was the perfect fit for me and the entry route available was an apprenticeship. I signed up and from the first day of training I knew it was the perfect job for me, and I can safely say it is the best job I’ve ever had. Being able to help people who are in crisis, provide support and safeguarding for those who are vulnerable in our communities, and being a visible police presence in the community is so rewarding, and such a privilege to be able to do it as a job.

What inspired you to pursue an apprenticeship with TVP?

I was offered the apprenticeship as part of the role when I was applying to be a PCSO. I would not necessarily have considered this entry route beforehand, however, now that I have had the opportunity to do the apprenticeship I am grateful that I was given the opportunity. I feel it has shaped me into a better PCSO and has allowed me to apply my learning from training to my day-to-day job in a way that I wouldn’t have experienced otherwise.

The apprenticeship has helped to consolidate my learning from our classroom training through the coursework assignments and practical evidence I had to gather once in post in my area. It helped me to practice the skills and integrate the theory that I had learned in training, and to apply them to my day-to-day role as a PCSO.

Can you share a memorable moment or achievement during your apprenticeship?

The biggest achievement for me was completing the apprenticeship. I worked hard to complete my coursework alongside my day-to-day duties as a PCSO and to finish the course gave me such a sense of achievement, and knowing that all the hard work had paid off!

How has your mentor or support system contributed to your professional growth?

My DAO (Designated Authorising Officer) assessor has been intrinsic to my growth and development as a PCSO. Being able to talk through different jobs and share highlights from what I was learning in the role with my DAO assessor was really helpful and encouraging. Being able to process what I was learning, look at ways to improve or develop how I was working and what I was doing gave me the chance to stop and reflect, and enable me to improve as a PCSO.

What challenges did you encounter during your apprenticeship, and what did you learn from them?

One of the biggest challenges in completing the apprenticeship was finding the correct evidence for the different course requirements as sometimes we don’t come across the exact situations required to evidence different aspects of our role. However, having to find this evidence and seek out those types of jobs meant that I was able to practice different skills and be put in situations that I might not otherwise have encountered, which broadened my understanding of the PCSO role and expanded my skill set.

Looking back, what would you have done differently during your apprenticeship?

Looking back I could have dedicated more time to the coursework side of the apprenticeship, as I was so excited to be out and about that I didn’t always prioritise the paperwork side of the course. However, the paperwork/coursework has positively contributed to my development as a PCSO and is worth giving the time and attention to.

What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship at TVP?

I would simply say, do it! It is the best way to learn the job, combining theory with practice and helping you to become the best officer possible for the role as you are learning in real-time, on the job.

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If you’re ready to make a difference and be part of a rewarding career that challenges and inspires you every day, why not join us as a PCSO?

To learn more about the Police Community Support Officer route and how to apply, visit: PCSOs – TVP Careers