Information about the role of an online facilitator, including the role purpose, key responsibilities and the skills required.
About the role
An online facilitator is a learning, development and assessment position within the business support sector of policing. It's a service deliverer role in the policing professional profiles.
Role purpose
The role of online facilitator is not an individual’s main professional role. Their main role will usually be a trainer. They will require some professional training skills to enable them to be effective in engaging learners and helping them to develop their skills and competencies as an online facilitator.
Key responsibilities
Key responsibility statements show the accountabilities for someone in this role. They focus on what is done, not how it is done.
- Continually reflecting upon existing practice and sharing learning with peers to inform and improve policy, processes and practices associated with online learning.
- Utilising effective online communication methods to ensure learners are engaged and behaviour is managed. Identifying the most appropriate method to deliver feedback to meet individual learner's needs.
- Designing, developing and delivering online learning sessions. Identifying and incorporating training and learning methodologies to meet the requirements of the programme and the needs of its learners.
- Creating and maintaining a safe, inclusive and effective online learning environment. Role modelling an inclusive attitude towards diversity and demonstrating fairness, respect and accountability, enabling effective learner engagement and participation and removing potential barriers to learning.
- Challenging unprofessional actions, attitudes, behaviours and language to ensure the highest standards of professional behaviour upholding the police Code of ethics.
- Demonstrating effective planning, development and delivery of online learning using a range of teaching and assessment methodologies and strategies to successfully meet both the programme and learner needs.
Competencies, values and core skills
The competency and values framework (CVF) provides clear expectations for everyone working in policing. It describes the behaviours required by police officers and staff to be effective in their roles and uphold the Code of Ethics for policing.
Competencies
The CVF has six competencies, which are split into levels. These levels can be used flexibly to allow for a better fit with frontline and non-frontline policing roles, and at different levels of seniority. This ensures that there is consistency throughout all the policing professional profiles. Some roles may contain different CVF levels due to the specialist nature of the role. Those working at higher levels should also fulfil the requirements of the lower levels.
This role should be operating at or working towards the following competencies.
- We are emotionally aware – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
- We take ownership – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
- We collaborate– Level 1: practitioner
- We support and inspire – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
- We analyse critically – Level 1: practitioner
- We are innovative and open-minded – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
Values
The CVF has three values that apply to everyone in policing, regardless of their role or seniority.
Core skills
All roles in policing have nine core skills in common. These are split into levels that represent the different levels of policing. This role should be operating at or working towards the following core skills.
- Communicating and influencing – Level 1
- Problem solving – Level 1
- Performance management – Level 1
- Relationship management – Level 1
- Change management – Level 1
- Managing people – Level 1
- Managing resources – Level 1
- Planning – Level 1
- Use of IT – Level 1
Education, qualifications and experience
To achieve effective performance in the role, the following standards should be met.
Previous education, qualifications and experience
- Competent to and operating within the College of Policing standards for online facilitator and trainer.
In-role education, qualifications and experience
Meet the requirements of the assessor standards if required for the subject area.
Continuing professional development
Continuing professional development (CPD) enables everyone in policing to develop and gain recognition for their professional skills, knowledge and competence.
CPD ensures that we continue to provide high-quality policing to keep the public safe and help to drive career aspirations. Discussion of CPD is usually included as part of professional development review (PDR) conversations.
Learning and accreditation
- Complete all core training required by the force.
- Any exemptions to learning and accreditation requirements are at chief constable discretion, in line with the local force policy.
Professional development
This role should consider the following CPD:
- maintaining knowledge of the role and responsibilities of the Online facilitator as well as any developments in technology
- maintaining competence in own area of training subject matter expertise, including knowledge and understanding of legislation, College of Policing guidance and good practice
- participating in networking opportunities reflecting on practice and sharing learning with peers in order to inform and improve policy, processes and practice
- maintaining and enhancing trainer skills, knowledge and understanding of new approaches to online learning identified by evidence based research and through advances in learning and development models and methodologies. Test and synthesise these by championing innovation and implementing changes to working practice
- consider membership of a relevant professional body and use of the membership for CPD opportunities
Related roles
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