Information about the role of an underwater search dive supervisor, including the role purpose, key responsibilities and the skills required.
About the role
An underwater search dive supervisor is a specialist operations position within the operational support sector of policing. It's a team leader role in the policing professional profiles.
Role purpose
The role of the underwater search dive supervisor is to lead, manage and coordinate underwater search and forensic recovery, in accordance with statutory regulations and National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) guidance.
Key responsibilities
Key responsibility statements show the accountabilities for someone in this role. They focus on what is done, not how it is done.
- Operating in accordance with the Diving at Work Regulations 1997 and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Approved Code of Practice and guidance L104 Commercial diving projects inland/inshore to ensure the safety and legal compliance of all persons involved in the underwater search operation.
- Supervising underwater search dive teams to ensure underwater search is conducted in accordance with the briefed dive plan, whilst monitoring physical and psychological well-being.
- Supervising evidence recovery in line with approved forensic practices, to ensure evidential continuity and scene preservation, in support of police investigations and coronial inquests.
- Coordinating with incident commanders and the police search adviser (PolSA), to ensure effective communication, advise on policing's underwater search capability and support the development and implementation of underwater search strategy and parameters.
- Managing communication with partners and stakeholders, maintaining sensitivity and professional integrity to ensure transparency and accountability of police underwater search operations.
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
Previous education, qualifications and experience
- Successful completion of underwater search diver qualification at an NPCC-approved diving school, or equivalent external qualification.
- Qualified as a licensed search officer (LSO). This is a pre-requisite for the underwater search diver and dive supervisor qualifications.
- Hold an in-date enhanced first aid certificate.
In-role education, qualifications and experience
Where police diving certification is held, the following qualification is required before being authorised to undertake the role of underwater search dive supervisor:
- successful completion of underwater search dive supervisor course at an NPCC-approved diving school
Where existing external diving certification is held:
- this will be subject to review and assessment by an NPCC-approved diving school, with additional underwater search diver training required, before attending the underwater search dive supervisor course at an NPCC-approved diving school
- successful completion of underwater search dive supervisor course at an NPCC-approved diving school
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
In addition to meeting all HSE statutory requirements the following training and registration requirements should be maintained to ensure operational competence and effective performance in the role.
- Undertaking refresher training or a formal competency assessment at least once every five years.
- Ensuring that no period of police diving inactivity exceeds 90 days.
- Maintaining LSO licensing and CPD requirements in accordance with the LSO role profile.
- Complete all core training and learning 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 currency of knowledge and understanding regarding changes to legislation, national policy and guidance applicable to police underwater search
- maintaining currency of knowledge and understanding regarding new and innovative approaches to underwater search, as identified by evidence-based policing research and problem-solving
- maintaining knowledge and understanding of the performance management and assessment process and ensuring they are implemented effectively when leading and managing teams
- keeping up to date with guidance and best practice on health, safety and welfare
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