A joint venture between the county council and Staffordshire Police is funding additional PCSOs and youth workers

Joint Venture Between Staffordshire County Council and Police to Fund Additional PCSOs and Youth Workers

In a joint venture between the county council and Staffordshire Police, the new recruits will work in Partnership Reassurance Teams dedicated to addressing anti-social behaviour, fear of crime, engaging with hard-to-reach youth groups and other quality of life issues within communities. The teams will be deployed across the county's eight local authority areas*, wherever such issues have been highlighted by the community.

County Councillor John Taylor, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, said: "Tackling anti-social behaviour is a high priority for many neighbourhoods in Staffordshire. These appointments will provide reassurance to communities that we not only listen to their concerns but are prepared to put money into solving the problem.

"This is so important that the county council has identified up to £3 million to fund these posts. Young people also tell us that they need more activities and don't like being demonised by the media. Putting youth workers into the same neighbourhoods as the PCSOs will allow us to offer positive, practical alternatives to hanging about on the street."

More about the roles

The new 'detached' youth workers will target those hard-to-reach youth groups and individuals who are thought to be responsible for anti-social behaviour. Using their specialist skills they will reintroduce displaced young people back into mainstream youth support activity. These activities will include getting young people involved in community-based activities such as volunteering.

The intention is to have the youth workers in place by early 2009 at the latest.

Just over 200 PCSOs currently work alongside police officers in 21 neighbourhood policing teams covering the entire force area.

They are uniformed members of police staff, employed in a non-confrontational role to provide a highly visible and accessible presence at the heart of communities.

PCSOs carry out many of the tasks that do not require the experience or powers of a police officer (such as arrest). A certain level of fitness is required, given that a PCSO could spend up to 90 per cent of a shift on visible patrol - and that could mean walking upwards of eight miles a shift.

More information

The 38 PCSOs will be employed on 18-month fixed term contracts. The role currently falls within a salary band of £15,687 - £21,342. Evening work is a likely requirement. The posts offer a shift allowance and enhanced pay for weekend working.

More details are available by clicking on the 'recruitment' link on the homepage of the force's website at www.staffordshire.police.uk.  Application packs can also be requested by e-mailing applicationpack@staffordshire.pnn.police.uk , or by calling 01785 235333. Completed forms will need to be returned by the closing date of Wed 9 July 2008.

Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed, vetted and have their fitness and health assessed. Successful candidates will then complete a four-week course at force headquarters in Stafford, starting in September.

Sixteen full-time equivalent 'detached' youth workers will be employed. They may be a combination of youth workers and youth support officers.

* Cannock Chase, East Staffs, Lichfield, Newcastle, South Staffs, Stafford, Staffs Moorlands, Tamworth.