Information about the role of a PIP 1 and 2 investigative supervisor, including the role purpose, key responsibilities and the skills required.
About the role
PIP 1 and 2 investigative supervisor sits within the investigative sector of policing. It's a team leader role in the policing professional profiles.
Role purpose
The PIP 1 and 2 investigative supervisor provides daily supervision, guidance and support to a team of investigators, working on volume and priority (PIP 1) or serious and complex (PIP 2) investigations, whilst also undertaking an investigative role where appropriate using their skills, knowledge and experience.
Key responsibilities
Key responsibility statements show the accountabilities for someone in this role. They focus on what is done, not how it is done.
- Providing support to assist team members identify and plan relevant investigations, considering resources, priorities, and proportionality to achieve investigatory objectives.
- Inspiring, coaching, and leading a team of investigators so that they are motivated to perform at their best in the investigation of crime.
- Supervising a team, managing their wellbeing, welfare and development. Devising and implementing effective strategies to identify issues and improve team and/or individual performance to maintain professional standards and contribute to the achievement of unit/force objectives.
- Co-ordinating and controlling the investigative responses of own team, allocating resources and directing activities and appropriately managing risks and monitoring progress within ongoing investigations.
- Supervising interviews with victims, witnesses and suspects within relevant PIP standards and gathering all required material within the criminal law and the legal framework to bring offenders to justice.
- Identifying opportunities for and co-ordinating the exploration of new ways of working and innovation in policing, applying critical thinking to identify solutions to problems in line with evidence-based practice within the field of volume and priority (PIP 1) or serious and complex (PIP 2) investigations.
- Where necessary supervising a team of investigators to use relevant powers when:
- arresting and detaining suspects
- carrying out associated search and custody procedures to protect and safeguard the suspect and the public in accordance with legislation and policy.
- Providing appropriate supervision for the gathering of material from a range of sources (including open-source platforms, intelligence and third-party material), ensuring that processes are in place for the recording and retention of such material in a format that is evidentially admissible to support the investigative process.
- Overseeing the management of threat, risk and harm to victims, witnesses and suspects. Ensuring all risk assessments and associated strategies are completed and referrals to partner agencies submitted to support the wellbeing of both victims and suspects.
- Co-ordinating and working with other investigators and managers to establish and use appropriate methods for gathering material and to develop strong procedures relating to managing intelligence within investigations.
- Supporting and supervising the analysis and assessment of evidence, evaluating materials generated by the investigation of crimes to identify offenders.
- Ensuring all material, including exhibits, are seized, examined and retained in accordance with legislation and policy, where necessary.
- Responding to safeguarding concerns and managing risk in cases, including but not limited to; offences against children, offences against vulnerable adults, domestic abuse and sexual offences to protect the most vulnerable people in society.
- Supporting the preparation and submission of case files to ensure compliance with national file standards.
- Overseeing the disclosure process ensuring records of all material relevant to the case, including that which will not be used in evidence in the prosecution case, are properly recorded, retained reviewed and revealed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
- Using specialist knowledge and skills within the investigation of volume and priority (PIP1) or serious and complex (PIP2) cases to support the investigative team to achieve best outcomes for all.
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 2: supervisor or middle manager
- We support and inspire – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
- We analyse critically – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
- 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.
Education, qualifications and experience
To achieve effective performance in the role, the following standards, training, registration, accreditation and qualifications should be met.
Previous education, qualifications and experience
PIP 1 supervisor
- Successful completion of applicable initial entry training and undertake training to achieve professionalising investigation programme (PIP) level 1 registration.
- Experience in conducting volume and priority investigations.
- A detailed understanding of the criminal justice system
PIP 2 supervisor
- Successful completion of professionalising investigation programme (PIP) level 1 and 2 investigator registration or:
- lateral entry following completion of a robust assessment and selection process to assess competence against assessment criteria for PIP 1 and 2 investigators and pass the national investigators’ examination (NIE).
- Experience in conducting serious and complex investigations.
- A detailed understanding of the criminal justice system.
In-role education, qualifications and experience
PIP 2 supervisor
- Successful completion of investigation supervisors and managers development programme (ISMDP) or previous equivalent course.
- Successful completion of first line leader’s programme.
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.
To achieve effective performance in the role, the following standards, training, registration, accreditation and qualifications should be met.
Learning and accreditation
- PIP registration: assessed competence against relevant professional standards for this role is required to achieve PIP 1 or PIP 2 supervisor's registration. Maintenance of this registration requires the demonstration of continued competence against professional standards as well as evidence of CPD, in line with the College of Policing’s guidance.
- Complete all core training as 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 relevant PIP registration by keeping a record of recent experience of conducting different types of volume and priority (PIP1) or serious and complex (PIP2) investigations which evidences the knowledge and skills gained
- keeping up to date with new and developing legislation (including current guidance on disclosure) and current national policing priorities e.g. vulnerability, that may impact on investigations
- ensuring that case file management follows current good practice
- keeping up to date with new approaches to evidence-based policing and apply these to own work
- keeping up to date with all technology that might facilitate offenders in committing crimes
- understanding the impact of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) 'learning the lessons' reports relating to investigation, for example, importance of case file management
- familiarising self with other relevant IOPC and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) reports
- reading the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidance on investigative practices, relations with the police and applying to own work
- regularly sharing best practice for investigations with colleagues, for example, contribute to relevant online communities or deliver informal briefings
- maintaining a working knowledge of how other government agencies, such as the National Crime Agency (NCA), His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs) and Government Agency Intelligence Network (GAIN) can assist in the investigation of cases
- working closely with colleagues in intelligence to develop strong procedures relating to development of intelligence
- understanding and developing knowledge of other roles within policing e.g. work alongside other colleagues in another department to further operational knowledge of one other’s roles
- coaching and/or mentoring less experienced colleagues (e.g. PIP1 investigators) and deliver training sessions and CPD to support learning and development
- keeping up to date with guidance on conducting the performance development review (PDR) process and apply this to own work
- ensuring knowledge of any line-manager responsibilities in relation to assessment and recognition of competence (ARC) procedures and apply to own work
- where appropriate, maintaining knowledge and skills relating to work-based assessments to conduct these when necessary
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