Sergeant

A sergeant is a core position within policing. It's a team leader role in the policing professional profiles. The sergeant core rank profile outlines the basic requirements of the role. It should be used alongside a specialist sergeant role. These specialist roles can be found in the related roles section.

Role purpose

Sergeants are the first level of line management in policing. They have an important role in the effective daily supervision, guidance, and support of officers and staff. Sergeants are responsible for developing competence within their team. This includes ensuring organisational standards are met and objectives are achieved.

This role co-ordinates and monitors policing activity to uphold the law, enable public safety and build public confidence in policing. This is done in line with legal frameworks and policy guidelines. Post holders are also likely to take on an operational specialist role requiring technical knowledge and skills.

Key responsibilities

Key responsibility statements show the accountabilities for someone in this role. They focus on what is done, not how it is done.

• Leading a team upholding values and ethical standards. Acting with the highest level of professionalism in accordance with the law, the public interest, and professional policing practice to protect the public by preventing and detecting crime. 
• Co-ordinating and controlling policing responses and investigations. Allocating resources, directing activities, managing risks, and reviewing progress to deliver an effective response which supports law enforcement and enables public safety.
• Supervising and monitoring the appropriate handling of information, intelligence and evidence. Aligning record keeping with legislation, policies and guidance which enables effective law enforcement and the initiation of criminal justice proceedings.
• Building engagement, co-ordinating and monitoring the establishment of effective relationships with communities, partners and stakeholders. Delivering an effective approach to preventing and addressing vulnerability and crime in line with the force's planned approach. 
• Identifying and implementing opportunities for change and innovation to drive continuous improvement in policing. Applying critical thinking to identify solutions to problems in line with evidence-based practice within own area of responsibility.
• Leading, motivating, developing, and engaging a team. Supporting and enabling continuing professional development through regular review conversations. Discussing and agreeing goals and standards and giving timely, specific and constructive feedback. Enabling identification and support for career planning and high-performance. 
• Leading and fostering an inclusive workplace culture. Role modelling good practice that demonstrates fairness, respect, integrity and accountability. Using reflection and feedback to develop and enhance leadership skills and performance. Developing these skills to enable successful policing. 
• Monitoring pressures faced by team members, encourage personal reflection. Supporting team members to recognise and address their wellbeing needs to ensure the delivery of an effective policing response. 
• Providing specialist advice and guidance to team members to deliver responses within appropriate policies and legislation and achieving the best possible outcomes.  
• Supporting the allocation of resources to enable effective service delivery and efficient use of available budgets.
• Managing performance effectively, assessing the capabilities and development needs of team members. Devising appropriate development plans to promote high performance and potential progression.