How we helped a police force achieve a challenging Workforce Modernisation programme Devon and Cornwall Police

Service Line:

Outplacement | Penna in the Public Sector |

Devon and Cornwall Police underwent a challenging Workforce Modernisation programme to shape the Force to meet the policing needs of today’s communities and become a top-performing Force by 2012. Working in close partnership with the Devon and Cornwall Police, Penna developed a programme of support for individuals affected and timetabled delivery to match the rolling process over a 14 month period.

Background

Devon and Cornwall Constabulary employs 3,500 police officers, more than 2,000 civilian staff and 362 police community support officers. The Force covers the largest geographical police area in England, extending 180 miles from the Dorset and Somerset borders in the east to the Isles of Scilly in the west. The area’s population is approx 1.5 million, rising to 8 million with the influx of visitors in the summer.

The requirement

In planning the programme of change the Force recognised the need to provide support to those affected during what they identified would be unsettling times. Penna was approached following the success of an earlier joint project involving a group of traffic wardens. The service to be provided needed to focus on keeping the individuals engaged and open to seeking alternative options within the Force whilst remaining realistic and managing expectations.

Our approach

A flexible level of support was agreed on to meet the rolling timetable of the process, the differing needs of those affected and the delivery points in terms of the vast geographical area.

The service included:

• Introductory awareness sessions to Penna
• “Looking to the Future” sessions - opportunity to provide input and get individuals thinking about what they can be doing in thinking about the future ahead
• Independent Financial Advice
• Initial 1:1 Meetings - to discuss their own situation and think about options and support available
• Workshops for Job search, CVs and application forms, self employment and retirement
• Individual 1:1 support
• PennaSunrise tools

The results

Over the 14 month period introductory/awareness sessions were provided to over 100 employees with 60 taking up the full 1:1 support services. When the project completed our feedback survey rated the service as excellent. Those who took up the service stated that the flexible approach taken met and or exceeded their expectation and approx 80% secured a new role internally.

For more information

Please contact Louise Cantrill, Client Partner for Devon and Cornwall, on 01736 756295 or louise.cantrill@penna.com.