Competency Values Framework

Impartiality (accredited)

• I take into account individual needs and requirements in all of my actions.
• I understand that treating everyone fairly does not mean everyone is treated the same.
• I always give people an equal opportunity to express their views.
• I communicate with everyone, making sure the most relevant message is provided to all.
• I value everyone's views and opinions by actively listening to understand their perspective.
• I make fair and objective decisions using the best available evidence.
• I enable everyone to have equal access to services and information, where appropriate.

Integrity (accredited)

• I always act in line with the values of the police service and the Code of Ethics for the benefit of the public.
• I demonstrate courage in doing the right thing, even in challenging situations.
• I enhance the reputation of my organisation and the wider police service through my actions and behaviours.
• I challenge colleagues whose behaviour, attitude and language falls below the public's and the service's expectations.
• I am open and responsive to challenge about my actions and words. I declare any conflicts of interest at the earliest opportunity.
• I am respectful of the authority and influence my position gives me.
• I use resources effectively and efficiently and not for personal benefit.

Public service (accredited)

• I act in the interest of the public, first and foremost.
• I am motivated by serving the public, ensuring that I provide the best service possible at all times.
• I seek to understand the needs of others to act in their best interests.
• I adapt to address the needs and concerns of different communities.
• I tailor my communication to be appropriate and respectful to my audience.
• I take into consideration how others want to be treated when interacting with them.
• I treat people respectfully regardless of the circumstances.
• I share credit with everyone involved in delivering services.

Transparency (accredited)

• I ensure that my decision-making rationale is clear and considered so that it is easily understood by others.
• I am clear and comprehensive when communicating with others.
• I am open and honest about my areas for development and I strive to improve.
• I give an accurate representation of my actions and records.
• I recognise the value of feedback and act on it.
• I give constructive and accurate feedback.
• I represent the opinions of others accurately and consistently.
• I am consistent and truthful in my communications.
• I maintain confidentiality appropriately.

Behaviours:

Analyse critically (level 1)

• I recognise the need to think critically about issues.
• I value the use of analysis and testing in policing.
• I take in information quickly and accurately.
• I am able to separate information and decide whether it is irrelevant or relevant and its importance.
• I solve problems proactively by understanding the reasons behind them, using learning from evidence and my experiences to take action.
• I refer to procedures and precedents as necessary before making decisions.
• I weigh up the pros and cons of possible actions, thinking about potential risks and using this thinking to inform our decisions.
• I recognise gaps and inconsistencies in information and think about the potential implications.
• I make decisions in alignment with our mission, values and the Code of Ethics.

Collaborative (level 1)

• I work cooperatively with others to get things done, willingly giving help and support to colleagues.
• I am approachable, and explain things well so that I generate a common understanding.
• I take the time to get to know others and their perspective in order to build rapport.
• I treat people with respect as individuals and address their specific needs and concerns.
• I am open and transparent in my relationships with others.
• I ensure I am clear and appropriate in my communications.

Deliver, support and inspire (level 1)

• I take on challenging tasks to help to improve the service continuously and support my colleagues.
• I understand how my work contributes to the wider police service.
• I understand it is part of my collective responsibility to deliver efficient services.
• I take personal responsibility for making sure that I am working effectively to deliver the best service, both individually and with others.
• I am conscientious in my approach, working hard to provide the best service and to overcome any obstacles that could prevent or hinder delivery.
• I support the efficient use of resources to create the most value and to deliver the right impact.
• I keep up to date with changes in internal and external environments.
• I am a role model for the behaviours I expect to see in others and I act in the best interests of the public and the police service.

Emotionally aware (level 1)

• I treat others with respect, tolerance and compassion.
• I acknowledge and respect a range of different perspectives, values and beliefs within the remit of the law.
• I remain calm and think about how to best manage the situation when faced with provocation.
• I understand my own emotions and I know which situations might affect my ability to deal with stress and pressure.
• I ask for help and support when I need it. I understand the value that diversity offers.
• I communicate in clear and simple language so that I can be easily understood by others.
• I seek to understand the thoughts and concerns of others even when they are unable to express themselves clearly.

Innovative and open-minded (level 1)

• I demonstrate an openness to changing ideas, perceptions and ways of working.
• I share suggestions with colleagues, speaking up to help improve existing working methods and practices.
• I constantly reflect on my own way of working and periodically review processes and procedures for continuous improvements.
• I adapt to change and am flexible as the need arises while encouraging others to do the same.
• I learn from my experiences and do not let myself be unduly influenced by preconceptions.

Take ownership (level 1)

• I actively identify and respond to problems.
• I approach tasks with enthusiasm, focusing on public service excellence.
• I regularly seek feedback to understand the quality of my work and the impact of my behaviour.
• I recognise where I can help others and willingly take on additional tasks to support them, where appropriate.
• I give feedback to others that I make sure is understandable and constructive.
• I take responsibility for my own actions, I fulfil my promises and do what I say I will.
• I will admit if I have made a mistake and take action to rectify this.
• I demonstrate pride in representing the police service.
• I understand my own strengths and areas for development and take responsibility for my own learning to address gaps.

Behaviours:

Analyse Critically (Level 2)

• I ensure that the best available evidence from a wide range of sources is taken into account when making decisions.
• I think about different perspectives and motivations when reviewing information and how this may influence key points.
• I ask incisive questions to test out facts and assumptions, questioning and challenging the information provided when necessary.
• I understand when to balance decisive action with due consideration.
• I recognise patterns, themes and connections between several and diverse sources of information and the best available evidence.
• I identify when I need to take action on the basis of limited information and think about how to mitigate the risks in doing so.
• I challenge others to ensure that decisions are made in alignment with our mission, values and the Code of Ethics.

Collaborative (Level 2)

• I manage relationships and partnerships for the long term, sharing information and building trust to find the best solutions.
• I help create joined-up solutions across organisational and geographical boundaries, partner organisations and those the police serve.
• I understand the local partnership context, helping me to use a range of tailored steps to build support.
• I work with our partners to decide who is best placed to take the lead on initiatives.
• I try to anticipate our partners' needs and take action to address these. I do not make assumptions.
• I check that our partners are getting what they need from the police service.
• I build commitment from others (including the public) to work together to deliver agreed outcomes.

Deliver, Support and Inspire (Level 2)

• I give clear direction and expectations, helping others to understand how their work operates in the wider context.
• I identify barriers that inhibit performance in my teams and take steps to resolve these, enabling others to perform.
• I lead the public and / or colleagues, where appropriate, during incidents or through the provision of advice and support.
• I ensure the efficient use of resources to create the most value and the right impact within my areas.
• I keep track of changes in the external environment, anticipating both the short and long term potential implications for the Police Service.
• I motivate and inspire others to achieve their best.

Emotionally Aware (Level 2)

• I consider the perspectives of people from a wide range of backgrounds before taking action.
• I adapt my style and approach according to the needs of the people I am working with, using my own behaviour to achieve the best outcome.
• I promote a culture that values diversity and encourages challenge.
• I encourage reflective practice among others and take the time to support others to understand reactions and behaviours.
• I take responsibility for helping to ensuring the emotional well being of those in my teams.
• I take the responsibility to deal with any inappropriate behaviours.

Innovative and Open-minded (Level 2)

• I explore a number of different sources of information and use a variety of tools when faced with a problem and look for good practice that is not always from policing.
• I am able to spot opportunities or threats which may influence how I go about my job in the future by using knowledge of trends, new thinking about policing and changing demographics in the population.
• I am flexible in my approach, changing my plans to make sure that I have the best impact.
• I encourage others to be creative and take appropriate risks.
• I share my explorations and understanding of the wider internal and external environment.

Take Ownership (Level 2)

• I proactively create a culture of ownership within my areas of work and support others to display personal responsibility.
• I take responsibility for making improvements to policies, processes and procedures, actively encouraging others to contribute their ideas.
• I am accountable for the decisions my team make and the activities within our teams.
• I take personal responsibility for seeing events through to a satisfactory conclusion and for correcting any problems both promptly and openly.
• I actively encourage and support learning within my teams and colleagues.

Behaviours:

Analyse Critically (Level 3)

• I balance risks, costs and benefits associated with decisions, thinking about the wider impact and how actions are seen in that context.
• I think through 'what if' scenarios.
• I use discretion wisely in making decisions, knowing when the 'tried and tested' is not always the most appropriate and being willing to challenge the status quo when beneficial.
• I seek to identify the key reasons or incidents behind issues, even in ambiguous or unclear situations.
• I use my knowledge of the wider external environment and long-term situations to inform effective decision making.
• I acknowledge that some decisions may represent a significant change.
• I think about the best way to introduce such decisions and win support.

Collaborative (Level 3)

• I am politically aware and I understand formal and informal politics at the national level and what this means for our partners. This allows me to create long-term links and work effectively within decision-making structures.
• I remove practical barriers to collaboration to enable others to take practical steps in building relationships outside the organisation and in other sectors (public, not for profit, and private).
• I take the lead in partnerships when appropriate and set the way in which partner organisations from all sectors interact with the police. This allows the police to play a major role in the delivery of services to communities.
• I create an environment where partnership working flourishes and creates tangible benefits for all.

Deliver, Support and Inspire (Level 3)

• I challenge myself and others to bear in mind the police service's vision to provide the best possible service in every decision made.
• I communicate how the overall vision links to specific plans and objectives so that people are motivated and clearly understand our goals.
• I ensure that everyone understands their role in helping the police service to achieve this vision.
• I anticipate and identify organisational barriers that stop the police service from meeting its goals, by putting in place contingencies or removing these.
• I monitor changes in the external environment, taking actions to influence where possible to ensure positive outcomes.
• I demonstrate long-term strategic thinking, going beyond personal goals and considering how the police service operates in the broader societal and economic environment.
• I ensure that my decisions balance the needs of my own force/unit with those of the wider police service and external partners.
• I motivate and inspire others to deliver challenging goals.

Emotionally Aware (Level 3)

• I seek to understand the longer-term reasons for organisational behaviour. This enables me to adapt and change organisational cultures when appropriate.
• I actively ensure a supportive organisational culture that recognises and values diversity and well being and challenges intolerance.
• I understand internal and external politics and I am able to wield influence effectively, tailoring my actions to achieve the impact needed.
• I am able to see things from a variety of perspectives and I use this knowledge to challenge my own thinking, values and assumptions.
• I ensure that all perspectives inform decision making and communicate the reasons behind decisions in a way that is clear and compelling.

Innovative and Open-minded (Level 3)

• I implement, test and communicate new and far-reaching ways of working that can radically change our organisational cultures, attitudes and performance.
• I provide space and encouragement to help others stand back from day-to-day activities, in order to review their direction, approach and how they fundamentally see their role in policing. This helps them to adopt fresh perspectives and identify improvements.
• I work to create an innovative learning culture, recognising and promoting innovative activities.
• I lead, test and implement new, complex and creative initiatives that involve multiple stakeholders, create significant impact and drive innovation outside of my immediate sphere.
• I carry accountability for ensuring that the police service remains up to date and at the forefront of global policing.

Take Ownership (Level 3)

• I act as a role model, and enable the organisation to use instances when things go wrong as an opportunity to learn rather than blame.
• I foster a culture of personal responsibility, encouraging and supporting others to make their own decisions and take ownership of their activities.
• I define and enforce the standards and processes that will help this to happen.
• I put in place measures that will allow others to take responsibility effectively when I delegate decision making, and at the same time I help them to improve their performance.
• I create the circumstances (culture and process) that will enable people to undertake development opportunities and improve their performance.
• I take an organisation-wide view, acknowledging where improvements can be made and taking responsibility for making these happen.