Course Catalogue

1. To enable students to develop an understanding of policing, its position in the social, political and cultural environment and its place within the wider context of criminal justice and legislation. 2. To provide students with a theoretical knowledge, understanding and practical skills necessary to achieve operational competence and complete the Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice. 3. To provide students with knowledge and skills to utilise a range of analytical and research methodologies critically, allowing them to undertake ethically sound, professional, empirical research. 4. To contextualise the development of a range of interpersonal and transferable graduate skills and knowledge developed by students during the programme. 5. To develop critical thinking and reflective practice within ethical and professional boundaries providing a critical academic understanding of policy, practices, and ethical values. 6. Students will build academic knowledge and skills to develop their understanding and application of Evidence Based Practice and in turn develop themselves as professional policing practitioners.

This programme will be delivered in collaboration with Merseyside Police Learning and Development staff. It will be a closed programme for new officers employed by Merseyside Police only. Knowledge, understanding, skills and other attributes will be taught at the University, supported by Merseyside Police, with students putting them into context and appreciating their relevance by application in the workplace. Lectures, seminars, workshops, presentations, directed study, and a variety of online provision will form some part of the formative and summative assessment processes. Students will be encouraged to undertake independent study and this will form part of the teaching ethos, to encourage independent learning. In particular, work-based learning forms part of many modules, typically as work-based projects or other directed assignments. The curriculum will be delivered in a variety of ways, including face-to-face, practical workshop sessions to contextualise skills, group work, reflection, and by a variety of blended methods. Taught (academic) elements will be supported by role-play and other workshop elements, work-sample exercises to support occupational learning. This will then be subject of self-reflection in the Occupational Competence Portfolio and form part of overall assessment. Blended methods will be utilised within Level 6 and the occupational skills, attitudes and behaviours will be assessed as part of the OCP. The teaching ratio will work towards 50% LJMU, 50% Merseyside Police delivery. Assessment will be to University standards and include written submissions, group and individual presentations (in a structured and simple-complex way) and via an academic portfolio to assess group-work. Merseyside Police assessors will be involved in the assessment process by way of moderating; this will also act as an opportunity for CPD for Police staff. Building on the academic skills, workplace and classroom inputs will ensure that all necessary workplace functions are taught and assessed prior to independent patrol. This will include use of IT and specialist equipment, required health and safety, first aid (to national standard) and personal safety training. Occupationally competent police staff, supported by occupationally knowledgeable academic staff, will deliver the majority of this. The College of Policing (PSRB) state, Evidence-based Research project at L6 will have a pass mark of 40%. As blended learning will be a part of this programme, a support mechanism involving workplace mentors, programme surgeries (weekly, by appointment),and assessment cafés will support the students’ learning.

The Graduate Diploma will be a closed client group programme. Each of the students will be employed by the Police Organisation and on successful completion of the degree and the assessment of full operational competence, will continue their employment as a Police Constable, confirmed in rank. Courses are developed to enhance the work-related learning of the students whilst away from the academic setting. In the workplace the students will have mentors and assessors appointed by the police organisation, LJMU will work with the relevant employer to ensure the suitability and enhance the professional development of the assessors/mentors. The employer, within the workplace, will support the student. The police service will provide suitably qualified Mentors and Assessors during the accompanied patrol phase. Those mentors and individual supervisors will support learning in the workplace, they will be trained in the role for support in the workplace phase(s). Once a course is procured, LJMU will also provide support and continuous professional development opportunities for all staff involved in the delivery and support of the Graduate Diploma. Additionally, course tutors will be available to students for support in relation to academic issues. Each of the police assessors will have appropriate training in force, and will hold the current and appropriate assessment qualification Personal Tutors will also provide support during the workplace phases, by way of tutorials that may be delivered in a face-to-face or a blended fashion. Additionally, locally delivered weekly surgeries will be available during the distance phase, Assessment Cafés will support learners in the assessment periods. MP Tutor constables and assessors will only provide support and guidance on occupational issues, they will not be involved in the TLA of the LJMU credit.