Onboarding Project Completed

CPRL recently completed a project for the National Uplift Programme following a previous piece of work exploring the implications of having a younger in service and age profile of officers - A narrative review of the literature of the effect of younger police officers in age and service.

Following a consultation exercise with new recruits aimed at exploring their perceptions of current onboarding processes, the authors concluded that whilst policing is doing fairly well at managing IT and policies and procedures - improvements in engagement with new recruits about career development and the breadth of policing was required. 

Line managers could play a bigger role in the support and development of new recruits, through providing clarity in relation to probation, goals and objectives. Inconsistencies in the terminology of tutor, mentor, coach and buddy was confusing for new officers but is considered less important than the clear request for ongoing learning support whilst in the role. Culturally, new recruits want to better understand the realities of policing before starting the role and to be introduced to partner agencies and the wider system in which policing operate.

These findings culminated in the development of an ‘Onboarding Map’ in the form of an APP which provides clarity for recruits about key ‘onboarding’ activities they should expect when they join and at which stage. 

The APP is currently with the Uplift central team for piloting.  The consultation documents supporting the development of this can be accessed here.