Greetings!
By way of introduction; my name is Clive Newlands and I am one of five Development Advisers for the High Potential Development Scheme (HPDS). Each of us has chosen to work with groups of officers from minority communities at national level. I have chosen to work with the NDPA.
This year’s selection process is now up and running and packs are available from our web site; www.npia.police.uk/hpds
I would be delighted to speak to any officer considering an application. We have worked hard with Warwick University Business School (our academic partner on the programme) to ensure that reasonable adjustment issues and a variety of learning methodologies are available for colleagues. Additionally, NPIA Exams and Assessment have a specific reasonable adjustment policy to supporting officers through the three-stage selection process.
The previous cohorts have been diverse in make-up and it is hoped the HPDS will continue to attract officers from a wide range of backgrounds regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation. This also includes academic background. The scheme is open to non-graduates and last year many successful applicants were not degree holders. It is vital that the police service reflects the community it serves.
We aim to ensure that opportunities to move up the career ladder are open to everyone. In this year’s selection process, we hope to select approximately 60 officers.
I look forward to hearing from you and good luck!!
Best wishes,
Clive G. Newlands
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What is the High Potential Development Scheme (HPDS)?
The HPDS is a programme for police officers delivered with an academic partner, resulting in a nationally recognised Masters qualification. It uses a range of innovative approaches to challenge and equip future leaders. Participants will have to demonstrate their desire, commitment and the potential to reach senior officer levels and progress to ACPO.
The initial stage of HPDS leads to an accredited qualification at Post Graduate Diploma level. Those officers who progress to the second part will undertake an academic programme leading to a Masters qualification. HPDS officers will normally be promoted to the next rank when they satisfy the Chief Officer that they are competent. This can speed up the progression of HPDS officers as they do not have to wait for a vacancy to become available.
Eligibility Criteria
HPDS is open to serving police officers at the ranks of Constable and Sergeant only. Officers from all 43 forces in England and Wales and those from PSNI, States of Jersey and BTP can apply for the scheme.
Inspectors and higher ranking officers are not eligible to apply for HPDS. Officers who have been selected for promotion to Inspector are not eligible to apply. The HPDS is a five year programme designed to provide all delegates with high level learning and the opportunity to embed this operationally without the added pressure of continued academic learning at every stage. It takes place in three phases:
Years 1 and 2: Postgraduate Diploma
The key development activity in this phase is the completion of a Postgraduate Diploma in Police Leadership and Management, which is delivered in partnership with Warwick Business School.
Years 3 and 4: Professional Consolidation
During this period officers will consolidate and build on their learning, undertaking a development plan incorporating activities that reflect their particular needs and circumstances.
Year 5: Final Year
In their final year officers will undertake development that will prepare them to move beyond the programme and will have the opportunity of pursuing a Master's Degree building on the postgraduate diploma.
Membership of the HPDS is considered in terms of calendar years, with each cohort commencing the five year programme in the year following selection. A member of cohort 1, which was selected in 2008, is therefore regarded as commencing their first year on the HPDS programme on 1 January 2009.
Years 1 and 2 - Postgraduate Diploma
Scheme members will follow a bespoke course designed and delivered in collaboration with Warwick Business School. They will be exposed to leading edge thinking concerning the policing, business and executive skills needed to succeed both now and in the future.
The programme will consist of six three-day modules based either at Warwick or NPIA sites.
- Leadership and Public Value
- Managing People and Change
- Operations and Performance Management
- Partnership working, Stakeholder Management and Community Engagement
- Policy Making and Strategy and
- Managing and Using Resources.
Delegates will be part of an action learning set and take part in master classes during the programme. They will be assigned a development adviser and have the opportunity to undertake various attachments.
At the end of the two year period delegates will undertake a workplace related dissertation. Successful completion of this work leads to the award of Post Graduate Diploma in Police Leadership.
Years 3 and 4 - Professional Consolidation
The nature and extent of the activities undertaken in this two year period will reflect the needs of the individual, and it is recognised that scheme members will have a wide range of needs at this stage of the programme. Some may still be constables while others may have reached the rank of Chief Inspector or higher. Their circumstances and development priorities will vary accordingly.
In the consolidation period, as at all other times on the HPDS, individual scheme members and forces retain ultimate responsibility for learning and development, supported by the NPIA.
Scheme members will be expected to devise a development plan for their consolidation period which is supported by their force. The HPDS Development Advisers will provide guidance and advice to scheme members and forces as part of the process.
We will provide or facilitate a range of development activities in the consolidation period. The HPDS Development Advisers will also work with scheme members and forces to determine which, if any, of the following will be appropriate during this period:
- Access to a 360 degree tool and related feedback
- Utilisation of a Continuous Professional Development Diary
- HPDS-specific Masterclasses or Modules provided by the NPIA, potentially including elements delivered in partnership with Warwick Business School
- NPIA leadership and learning programmes such as those provided by the National College of Police Leadership
- Action Learning Sets, Attachments and Secondments.
Attachments and secondments may involve: attachments to other departments in their force; to other forces or police organisations such as HMIC; to other public sector organisations such as the Home Office, or into the private sector.
The NPIA will support Forces and individual scheme members in organising and identifying development opportunities which must have demonstrable value for the individual and the Force.
It is anticipated that delegates may undertake one or possibly two secondments in the consolidation period depending on their situation. Abstraction from the workplace will normally be short-term. However, each individual's needs should be considered on a case-by-case basis and secondment will not always be appropriate, or feasible for the force concerned.
Year 5 - Final year
In the final year we will aim to ensure that scheme members have the capacity and capability to manage their careers successfully as they move beyond the scheme. This will involve further development of career management skills and self awareness, linking scheme members with other development and training opportunities provided by the NPIA, forces, and other partners, such as the Senior Leadership Programme.
Scheme members will have the opportunity to apply to undertake study towards a Masters Degree as a development activity in their final year. This will again be delivered by Warwick Business School and will build on the Postgraduate Diploma completed in years one and two.
The Masters Degree will include both residential modules and a substantial piece of research which is relevant and beneficial to their force or the wider service. The residential modules will cover the following topics:
- Advanced Leadership and Strategic Management
- Research and Evidence based Policy Making and
- A dissertation demonstrating a substantial piece of research which is relevant and beneficial to their force or the wider service.
Undertaking the Master's element of the scheme is not a requirement but is a development opportunity which will be appropriate for some scheme members. It is accepted that by this stage in the scheme further study would not be suitable for all members and it may be counterproductive. However, it is anticipated that many scheme members may wish to undertake the Masters degree.
There will be a limited number of opportunities to undertake the Master's degree, and specific criteria will apply. Due to the time commitment that can be involved, HPDS members selected to undertake the Masters may not complete that course of study until after their fifth year concludes.
Promotion during the programme
HPDS officers are subject to a specific provision in the police promotion regulations which means that they are to be promoted as soon as they satisfy their Chief Officer that they are competent in the new rank. This can speed up their progression as they do not have to wait for a vacancy to become available.
For the purpose of HPDS promotion regulations and other policies, officers are considered to be scheme members from the point they are informed of their success in the selection process until they are either removed from the scheme or complete their final year.
Officers who wish to apply for promotion should complete the relevant Promotion Assessment Review (PAR) form available in the downloads on the web site.
Note: The programme structure provided gives a general outline of the scheme, this information is however subject to change. For further details about the scheme please consult the Manual of Guidance.
