MSC CANDIDATE SUPPORT FAQs - Metropolitan Police Careers

MSC CANDIDATE SUPPORT FAQs
HOW LONG IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS?
The application process will take approximately 39 weeks from receipt of your application form, plus 23 weeks
(or 5 weeks intensive) for training.
HOW LONG AFTER I APPLY WILL I GET MY DAY 1 ASSESSMENT?
Once we have received you application form, it will take approximately 11 weeks to receive a Day 1 Assessment date.
HOW LONG AFTER MY DAY 1 WILL I GET MY DAY 2 ASSESSMENT DATE?
Providing you pass your Day 1 Assessment, we will contact you within 9 weeks to confirm a date for Day 2.
HOW LONG AFTER MY DAY 2 ASSESSMENT WILL I START MY TRAINING?
On passing your Day 1 and Day 2 Assessments you will be ready for training, subject to security clearance
and reference checks with your current or previous employer. You will be booked in for your training within
approximately 10 weeks upon completion of your Day 2.
WHAT WILL THE DAY 1 ASSESSMENT CONSIST OF?
The Day 1 Assessment consists of a written exercise testing your written English including spelling, punctuation,
grammar and hand writing legibility. There is also an interview in which you will be asked specific questions
relating to the 5 competencies required to becoming a special constable.
WHAT WILL BE ASSESSED IN MY DAY 1 INTERVIEW?
The special constable recruitment process includes a competency-based interview. These same competencies are
also required of regular police officers - after all, Specials have the same powers and responsibilities as regular
officers. The competencies you will be assessed on will cover;
• Personal Responsibility - for your own actions and decisions
• Customer & Community Focus - you’ll need to be aware of the needs of different people
• Teamwork - working with others and making the team more effective
• Respect for Diversity - to provide a service to the many communities that make up London
• Effective Communication - both verbally and in writing, to communicate with people from all walks of life
Think about experiences that reflect how you’ve demonstrated the competencies and prepare your answers using
the ASPIRE mnemonic - make them Appropriate, Specific, Positive, Individual, Relevant and Emphasise your role
in each. Take care with spelling, grammar and punctuation in your written exercise.
ARE ROLE PLAYS/INTERACTIVE EXERCISES PART OF THE
DAY 1 ASSESSMENT?
The current special constable recruitment process does not include role plays or interactive exercises.
However, you will be tested on your practical ability during your training course. For these, you will be observed
throughout a practical exercise where you will stop and search a subject, and also complete a lawful arrest. This is
marked against a marking guide of core areas such as legal requirements, health and safety, and officer safety to
name a few.
WHAT IS THE PASS MARK FOR THE DAY 1 ASSESSMENT?
For the written exercise you must have no more than 8 errors (spelling, grammar, punctuation and legibility).
In the interview your answers are scored in a range of 1 to 5 (with 5 being the highest) and you must score a
minimum of 3 in each answer.

CAN ANY ADJUSTMENTS BE MADE IF I HAVE A SPECIFIC LEARNING
DIFFICULTY E.G. DYSLEXIA?
Candidates with a specific learning difficulty e.g. dyslexia can request reasonable adjustments to the assessment
process. Candidates are required to submit documentary evidence compiled by a qualified professional e.g.
chartered psychologist. The report / assessment should have been done since your 16th birthday. This is reviewed
by the MPS occupational health team who will make recommendations regarding the reasonable adjustment.
For more specific medical information / conditions please speak directly to the Recruitment Medical Centre on
0207 161 6373 or 0207 161 6376 or e-mail HR-MedicalEnquiry@met.police.uk
Information on how to undergo an assessment and obtain a report evidencing that you have a specific learning
difficulty can be found on the British Dyslexia Association website.
WHAT WILL THE DAY 2 ASSESSMENT CONSIST OF?
The Day 2 Assessment consists of a Job Related Fitness Test (JRFT) and a medical exam which includes both an
eye test and a hearing test.
Please note you will be required to bring suitable attire such as tracksuit, shorts, trainers etc. Changing rooms and
shower facilities are available.
For full details on the medical requirements and the JRFT please have a look at Fit for the Job.
Please note, on the day you will be asked to provide documents of personal identification and will also
undertake a fingerprint check. You will receive full instructions and information regarding this before you attend
the Day 2 Assessment.
HOW LONG IS THE TRAINING COURSE?
All special constables are required to undertake a 23 day training course. This will be completed initially at
Hendon training school or one of our regional training centers. The training courses we offer are:
• 23 consecutive weekends
• Intensive Training Course - 23 consecutive weekdays (Monday to Friday)
• Hybrid Training Course - 10 consecutive weekdays (Monday to Friday) followed by 12 consecutive Saturdays
Once you join your borough or unit you will receive ongoing mentoring to embed your classroom learning in a
practical setting.
IF I AM UNSUCCESSFUL DURING ANY PART OF THE APPLICATION
PROCESS CAN I REAPPLY?
If you narrowly fail the interview part of the Day 1 Assessment we will invite you to re-take this again within about
3 months.
If you are not successful in any other aspect of the recruitment process you may re-apply after 6-months from
the time you were notified of the outcome of your application. However, you should consider the reason for
rejection to ensure a further application will not be rejected on the same grounds.