POL5042 - The Skilful Officer

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
demonstrate effective and appropriate communication skills in a practical situation;
demonstrate effective and appropriate decision-making skills in a practical situation;
conduct themselves appropriately in a team;
reflect on their skills in respect of decision making, communication and team working using academic theory to support their reflection.

Content:

This module is centred around teamwork, communication and decision making.

Students will learn a range of theories and practices associated with communication; non-verbal communication skills for use in professional contexts; appropriate and effective presentation skills; and the process for conducting an operational briefing.

In respect of decision making, students will learn to evaluate decisions made whilst on operational duty and the impact upon the outcome of the use (or otherwise) of the National Decision Model; the importance of accountability in assessing risk; the impact of risk aversion and risk avoidance on the ability of the police to deliver a service; how varying circumstances can exert influence upon the decision-making process; how varying circumstances can exert influence upon the decision-making process; and review policing incidents in which ethical considerations have been crucial to the decision-making process.

In respect of teamworking, students will learn team-building skills based on objective analysis of models currently being deployed within the police; theories of team dynamics as a means of developing team cohesion; and why interpersonal conflicts can occur within a team and develop strategies to enhance individual and team performance.

Learning and Teaching Information:

It is anticipated 5 hours will be given to didactic inputs preferably to the whole cohort.

It is intended that the large cohort will then be split into smaller groups of students. This will allow for more discussion-orientated teaching, facilitation and reflection.

Students will be provided with resources and instructions as to their self-directed learning.

Lectures
Hours: 5
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Small group teaching
Hours: 44
Intended Group Size: 26

Guided independent study
Hours: 151

Further details relating to assessment
Students will be assessed in a practical exercise to test their communication, decision making, leadership and team working ability. There is a suggestion that this be some kind of non-police exercise e.g. an escape room type activity.

This will be followed by a 2000-word reflective report based on a reflection of personal contribution to the practical exercise, the assessment feedback from the practical exercise, with reference to the theory, models and other learning from the module.

Assessment:

Fact File

Module Coordinator - PRS_CODE=
Level - 5
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NOT APPLICABLE
Semester(s) Offered - 5WP515WP52

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