Development programme for senior leaders with broad experience of leadership and supervision. This replaces the senior leadership development programme (SLDP).
The police leadership programme – stage 4 (senior leaders) is a development programme for chief inspectors, superintendents, chief superintendents and police staff working at this level. It aims to build self-awareness of your natural leadership strengths and areas for development, and to identify strategies to balance your leadership skillset and fulfil your potential.
The programme can support you to:
- lead effectively in a complex and demanding environment
- maximise performance through data literacy and evidence-based policing
- manage change
- communicate effectively internally and externally, to support communities and partners
- understand organisational strategy and the links to business and finance
This is the preparatory stage for the police leadership programme – stage 5 (executive leaders).
What to expect
The curriculum for the police leadership programme – stage 4 (senior leaders) includes:
- core learning – covered within four modules that build on previously acquired knowledge, understanding and skills
- role-specific learning – for superintendent ranks and police staff working at this level
- professional practice – to allow learning to be applied in the workplace
See the Additional information section for details.
You will be supported to improve your self-awareness throughout the programme. You will receive feedback from several perspectives, including:
- Beyond 360° feedback tool
- peer assessment
- psychometric assessment
The aim is to help you identify your key strengths and areas for development, with coaching and advice on how to approach this.
How to book
Waiting list applicants
Speak to your force learning and development team to book your place.
New applicants
Book your place by sending the following two documents to deliveryadmin@college.police.uk.
- A completed booking form.
- A purchase order for the full course cost.
Ensure you can attend all four module dates for your cohort and consider our cancellation policy before booking (shown in the booking form). See upcoming programme dates in the Additional information section.
If you cannot attend a module once the programme has started, adjustments may be possible in exceptional circumstances and with a supporting recommendation from your home force. It's not possible to change module dates at the time of booking.
| Prerequisites |
Delegates from under-represented groups are encouraged to attend the Aspire leadership development programme before attending PLP stage 4 (senior leaders), where eligible. |
|---|---|
| Rank/staff eligibility |
Chief inspectors and detective chief inspectors
Chief superintendents and detective chief superintendents
Staff equivalent grades
Superintendents and detective superintendents
|
| Duration |
Nine months |
| Accreditation |
No
|
| Cost |
£3,781 for all four modules, materials, psychometric assessment, meals and accommodation, and all site facilities. Or £3,994 to include accommodation on the Sunday evenings before the face-to-face modules begin. |
| Course contact | |
| Additional documents |
Leadership standards
Core learning
The programme covers six areas of learning within four modules of various areas of responsibility and leadership, across a range of functions. The six areas of learning are as follows.
1. Personal leadership in a senior role
Learn about different leadership styles and how to apply your personal skills as a senior leader. Understand your personal impact on others, effective decision making, communication, self-reflection and the use of coaching and mentoring within the senior leader role.
2. Operational and work-based leadership in a senior role
Develop leadership skills for working across areas of senior responsibility, maximising performance, aligning to work-based priorities and the coordination of strategic performance management. Get an introduction to data literacy, evidence-based practice and problem solving.
3. Enabling inclusive leadership
Understand the role of the senior leader in enabling an inclusive environment, with a focus on positive change in the workplace. Explore the significance of organisational culture and accountability.
4. Strategic organisational leadership
Develop skills in strategic thinking to make decisions across your areas of responsibility. Explore organisational strategy and areas of organisational responsibility linked to business and finance.
5. Supporting communities and partnerships as a senior leader
Explore the role of the senior leader in supporting community and partnerships, working through effective communication strategies to maintain and develop relationships. Understand the importance of effective communication in making key decisions, often with competing priorities.
6. Role-specific learning
The role-specific learning is for superintendents, chief superintendents, and staff and volunteers working at this level. It focuses on decision making, critical incident management, developing skills as a strategic leader in policing and understanding rank-specific powers.
Modules
Module 1
This is the start of your self-directed period of learning. You will receive joining instructions outlining the activity for this module, which includes:
- completing the Beyond 360° assessment
- completing a psychometric test on emotional intelligence (EQi 2.0)
- a half-day introduction to coaching session
Module 2
This module is held face-to-face at a College of Policing site. Learning during the week covers:
- an introduction to the leadership landscape
- a debriefing of the Beyond 360° feedback tool and EQi 2.0 emotional intelligence psychometric test
- leadership principles
- organisational culture – with reference to specific police cultural research, which elements are useful, which hinder progress and organisational change, and how leaders can best address cultural barriers to advance your area of business
- psychological safety
- evidence-based practice
- models of feedback
- imposter feelings
- leadership levels – focusing on the requirements for being a functional leader, providing clarity on the right level for you and your team for maximum efficiency, and effective delegation
Module 3
This is a series of online sessions held across one week (exact dates and times to be confirmed). These will cover:
- critical incident management
- managing change
- strategic partnerships
- media and corporate communications
This module also includes role-specific learning for superintendents, chief superintendents and police staff working at this level.
You will be asked to complete a work-based task to:
- apply your learning in the workplace
- understand the core function and level you should be operating at
- understand how you influence others
You should consider the complexity of modern police leadership and explore an area of personal growth. For example, the impact of police culture on you, any self-imposed or external barriers and how you overcame them.
Module 4
This module is held face-to-face at a College of Policing site. Learning during the week covers:
- an individual presentation of your work-based task experience
- individual feedback from peers
- the leadership landscape and critical analysis of national documents – to enhance understanding of organisational strategy and strategic organisational leadership role.
- workforce planning, managing resources and finances – including the fiscal framework, business responsibilities and accountabilities
- a Hydra (immersive learning) exercise – to apply learning in scenario-based situations
- dealing with conflict using the Thomas Kilmann Instrument. Results of this final psychometric test can help you understand your natural preferred method of dealing with conflict. All modes of conflict are considered and linked to how to use the model to negotiate and influence in the workplace most effectively
Course timetable
For dates and availability email deliveryadmin@college.police.uk.