The Assessment Centre
What is it?
The SEARCH assessment centre has been created as part of the National Recruitment Model
which has been adopted by all forces in England & Wales.
What's involved?
For details of the day click on the 'Information for Candidates' & 'Westshire Welcome Pack' links in the downloads section to the right of your screen. This will fully explain your role during the assessment centre.
How's it marked?
Once the assessment process has been completed, all the assessment sheets are collected and checked by the Centre's Management Team. All assessment sheets are scanned onto a database by the Administration Manager. It is this scanning process which collates the candidates marks.
Once this process is completed the relevant documentation is sent to Centrex Examinations and Assessment, Harrogate , and the marking is completed by the Occupational Psychologists on the Police SEARCH® Delivery Team.
Understanding the Pass Mark
In order to pass candidates must meet four pass mark criteria:
- 60% overall (the cumulative percentage of all exercises)
- 50% in Respect for Race and Diversity (assessed in the interactive exercises, written and interview)
- 50% in Effective (Oral) communication (assessed in the interactive exercises and interview)
- 44% in Effective (Written) communication (assessed in the written exercises and Verbal Logical Reasoning Test)
Failure to achieve any of these criteria will result in failure of the assessment centre, regardless of percentage for the other criteria.
Core Compentencies
You are assessed against the Core Compentencies throughout the assessment day. They are:
- Respect For Diversity: Considers and demonstrates respect for the opinions, circumstances
and feelings of both colleagues and members of the public, irrespective of their position, background, circumstances, status or appearance.
- Teamworking: Develops strong working relationships within and outside own team to achieve
common goals. Breaks down barriers between groups and involves others in discussion and decisions.
- Community and Customer Focus: Focuses on the customer and provides a high quality service tailored
to their individual needs. Understands the community served and demonstrates an active commitment to policing a diverse society.
- Effective Communication: Communicates effectively both verbally and in writing. Uses listening
and questioning techniques to ensure understanding and effective transfer of ideas and information.
- Problem Solving: Gathers information from a range of sources. Analyses data to identify problems and issues, and makes effective decisions.
- Personal Responsibility: Takes personal responsibility for making things happen and achieving required
results. Displays motivation, commitment, perseverance and conscientiousness. Acts with a high degree of integrity.
- Resilience: Demonstrates resilience even in difficult circumstances. Prepared to make difficult
decisions and has the confidence to see them through.
