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Police Community Support Officer Apprenticeship

Merseyside Police · THE CHIEF CONSTABLE OF MERSEYSIDE
Location
Liverpool
Postcode
L18 9TG
Salary
£27,204 a year
Duration
1 Year 3 Months
Hours per week
36.5h
Positions available
15
Degree awarded
Police community support officer (level 4)
Start date
20 August 2026
Application deadline
30 June 2026
Posted
26 February 2026
Vacancy reference
2000018168

About the role

What You’ll Do:

As a PCSO Apprentice, you’ll work alongside trainers and experienced officers to:

  • Engage with local communities to build trust and reduce crime
  • Provide visible patrols to improve public safety
  • Support vulnerable individuals and respond to incidents
  • Gather intelligence and assist in investigations

What You’ll Learn:

Through a structured apprenticeship programme, you’ll gain:

  • A nationally recognised qualification in community safety
  • Practical policing skills and on-the-job experience
  • Personal development and career progression opportunities

Working week

Hours– Mixture of days and late shifts (not past 10pm). This includes 1 weekend in the shift pattern.

Skills

Communication skillsAttention to detailCustomer care skillsProblem solving skillsAnalytical skillsLogicalTeam workingInitiativeNon judgementalPatienceInterest in public serviceInterest in community safety

Required qualifications

Essential
GCSE · English · Grade E or 2 (or equivalent)
Essential
GCSE · maths · Grade E or 2 (or equivalent)

Training & development

Initial training:

  • 16 weeks of classroom-based training. This includes a 2-week patrol experience working in the community shadowing PCSO Mentors undertaking their role

On completion of initial training:

  • 6 weeks tutor phase working alongside an experienced PCSO
  • 28 weeks full occupational competency phase where you will be on independent patrol, gathering evidence to complete your apprenticeship including the Level 4 Diploma
  • 13 weeks phase of mock end point assessments and then the final end point assessment
Future prospects
  • Building a workforce that represents our communities is important to us
  • We aim to attract & keep people with the best skills & highest potential
  • Opportunites to progress to other roles within Merseyside Police are available after a period of probation

Company benefits

33 days holiday increasing with service to 38 days.

Benefits: Local Government Pension Scheme, In-depth training at our Mather Avenue Training Centre, Continuous Professional Development, Police Blue Light Card Discounts, Access to staff networks.

Things to consider

Details of the recruitment stages can be found on our PCSO information page - https://www.merseyside.police.uk/police-forces/merseyside-police/areas/careers/join-us/police-community-support-officers. We are currently recruiting PCSO’s to start employment in 2026

About Merseyside Police

Merseyside Police was formed in 1974 and serves a population of around 1.5 million people, covering an area of 647 square kilometres. We currently employ over 6000 people in a variety of roles, including Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers, Police Support Staff, Special Police Officers and Volunteers. At Merseyside Police, we believe in putting our communities first in everything we do. We are proud to deliver an excellent policing service and we will continue to work with our communities to tackle the issues that concern them most. Merseyside Police is made up of many different departments. Each department has a different focus, but they all work together towards the vision of providing the region with excellent policing. Our services include helping to create a safer Merseyside by using our expertise to design out crime. We are also responsible for preparing for emergencies, involved in the Policing of all the major events across Merseyside.
Website
www.merseyside.police.uk/