Information about the role of a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear operational commander (bronze), including the role purpose, key responsibilities and the skills required.
About the role
A chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) operational commander (bronze) is a specialist operations position within the operational support sector of policing. It's a manager role in the policing professional profiles.
Role purpose
The CBRN operational commander (bronze) commands all policing assets, whilst coordinating the multi-agency activity at the scene of a CBRN event. They ensure that all police actions at the scene support the strategic objectives and are in line with the tactical plan. They are also responsible for considerations around the provision of staff wellbeing, before, during and after any policing response to a CBRN event.
They employ clear and recorded decision-making, within their level of operational responsibility, to support the aims of the operation. They ensure that all records of decisions made and rationales are recorded to allow for any scrutiny post-incident.
Key responsibilities
Key responsibility statements show the accountabilities for someone in this role. They focus on what is done, not how it is done.
- Managing the immediate response at the scene of a CBRN event, in line with local and national guidance and policies, until a strategic and/or tactical commander is in place to minimise the risk to life of members of the public, service and partner agency personnel.
- Providing clear lines of communication up and down the chain of command to ensure that tactical decisions are based on the most up-to-date intelligence and deployment decisions are relayed to frontline personnel.
- Holding a clear understanding of the strategic and tactical aims of the operation to ensure that all operational action undertaken works to achieve those aims.
- Managing the operational deployment of policing resources available for the CBRN event to ensure that the overall strategic (gold) and tactical (silver) aims of the operation are achieved.
- Coordinating all multi-agency activity at the scene of the CBRN event in line with joint emergency services interoperability programme (JESIP) principles, to ensure effective contribution to the aims of the operation.
- Identifying and mitigating operational risks, in line with national guidance and area of operational responsibility, to ensure the safety of the public and officers and staff involved in the operation.
- Employing clear and recorded decision-making, within level of operational responsibility to support the tactical (silver) aims of the operation.
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.
- Communicating and influencing – Level 3
- Problem solving – Level 3
- Performance management – Level 3
- Relationship management – Level 3
- Change management – Level 3
- Managing people – Level 3
- Managing resources – Level 3
- Planning – Level 3
- Use of IT – Level 3
Education, qualifications and experience
To achieve effective performance in the role, the following standards, training and qualifications should be met.
Previous education, qualifications and experience
- Hold the rank of at least inspector (other ranks may be considered in exceptional circumstances).
- Successfully completed a College of Policing command course and operationally competent in a command function.
- Knowledge of national and local CBRN policies and procedures.
- Completion of national CBRN operational commander course.
- Officer safety trained as per individual force policy.
- Holds vetting level of security check (SC) or above (or SC in progress at the time of CBRN operational commander course).
In-role education, qualifications and experience
- None specified.
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
- Undertake refresher training and maintain CPD in line with the guidance published by the national chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear centre (NCBRNC).
- Complete all core training and learning 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:
- keeping up to date with changing legislation and national guidance and how this may affect own role
- keeping up to date with CBRN and command and control trends and learning as announced through the national learning and development groups
- maintain an oversight of the developing local, regional and national threats concerning the CBRN threat
Related roles
You can find other manager or expert adviser roles in the: