Guidance

Detective Superintendent - Head of Professional Standards Department

Updated 23 December 2024

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead and shape professional standards within one of Britain’s most unique policing organisations. This role offers the chance to make a significant impact on maintaining the highest levels of conduct and public confidence in defence policing.

Role type

Detective Superintendent – Professional Standards Department (PSD)

Substantive

Salary

£76,745 - £90,274

Hours

40 hours

Location

MDP Headquarters, RAF Wyton, Huntingdon – with hybrid working arrangements.

Qualifications

Previous experience in PSD is not essential however applicants will need to have extensive investigative experience.

Applicants must have Professionalising investigations programme (PIP) Level 2 accreditation. It is desirable to have PIP Level 3 / working towards achieving this accreditation, but it is not essential.

Eligibility

Serving police officers and police officers who have recently left policing (within 36 months) are invited to apply.

Applicants seeking substantive recruitment must have served in the rank of Detective Superintendent or higher for a minimum of 12 months.

Applicants should be able to evidence a credible and relevant policing record detailing their investigative experience.       

Applicants must be a sole British National and British Passport holder and willing to undergo security vetting clearance. Applicants will also be subject to police vetting at management level. 

Applicants will be required to pass a multistage fitness test to level 5.4 (15m test) in line with the National Role Profile fitness level applicable to the role/rank.

Applicants must hold a UK manual driving licence with no more than 6 live penalty points.  

Job description

As Head of Professional Standards Department, you will be responsible for leading and managing all aspects of professional standards within the Ministry of Defence Police. The role involves overseeing misconduct processes, public complaints, and counter-corruption activities while maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders including the Defence Police Federation and various oversight bodies. You will be instrumental in establishing and maintaining fair, transparent processes that uphold the force’s reputation and integrity.

Key accountabilities

• Lead and oversee all professional standards operations, including misconduct processes and public complaints.
• Drive continuous improvement across the department through effective performance management and strategic planning.
• Maintain robust relationships with key stakeholders including the Defence Police Federation and oversight bodies.
• Ensure the delivery of fair, transparent, and legally compliant professional standards processes.
• Champion diversity and inclusion while promoting public trust and confidence in the Force.
• Conduct severity assessments and make determinations in line with Conduct Regulations.

Application

Information session

The MDP Deputy Chief Constable, Kier Pritchard will be hosting an online information session at 1.30pm on 18 December 2024 for those interested in applying.

Register to join the information session

Registration closes at 10am on 17 December 2024. 

An email with a link to the session will then be sent to you by 5pm on 17 December 2024.

Application pack

Please email [email protected] (copying in [email protected]) to request an application pack.

The deadline to request an application pack is Monday 30 December 2024.

Application submission

Closing date for submitting applications: 12pm, 6 January 2025.

Interviews will be held at MDP HQ, RAF Wyton, during the week commencing 10 February 2025.

Medical and fitness tests for successful candidates will take place at locations and dates to be confirmed. Successful candidates will be expected to take up appointment as soon as is practicable.

Pay and benefits

Annual leave

All officers receive a minimum of 22 days’ paid annual leave, rising to 30 days a year after 20 years’ service.

You can also expect other forms of leave, including maternity, paternity and adoption leave, special leave (with or without pay) and parental leave.

Length in service	Leave entitlement
Less than 2 years	22 days (176 hours)
2 years or more	25 days (200 hours)
10 or more years	27 days (216 hours)
15 or more years	28 days (224 hours)
20 or more years	30 days (240 hours)

Pension

Our officers are automatically opted into the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (ALPHA). You will contribute between 4.6% and 8.05%, depending on your earnings, with contributions from the MOD at 28.97%.

Discounts and offers

All employees of the MDP are entitled to a range of discounts through the Defence Discount Service and/or the Blue Light Card scheme.

There are also several other benefits that may be available to you as part of the wider Civil Service including Cycle to Work, salary advances and interest free travel loans. Discover the range of Civil Service benefits.

Wellbeing and fitness

We’re committed to supporting the wellbeing of our people and we understand that people perform best when they feel comfortable and can be themselves. We offer all staff access to:

• trained Mental Health First Aiders throughout the Force, to listen and signpost suitable guidance when staff need support
• the Employee Assistance Programme - a 24-hour helpline available every day of the year, providing emotional support, guidance, and advice on a wide range of issues
• Headfit - an online tool designed to help defence people stay mentally fit and on top of their game at work and at home
• an occupational health team to provide guidance and advice in relation to the annual medical process and other health related issues for safety critical posts
• fitness provisions, including gyms, fitness instructors and a Force dietitian
• staff networks
• guidance advice and support to represent your needs available from the Defence Police Federation
• operational staff can access the Defence Occupational Fitness Programme (DOfit) - this best practise health behaviour change supports programme, developed in partnership with Public Health England, is designed to support MOD and service personnel

Sports

We encourage all our staff to keep fit and healthy, and fitness is an operational requirement for officers.

Membership to the CSSC Sports and Leisure is open to all in Defence and provides several ways to stay active as well as savings on gym memberships.

Many stations have gym facilities, and we have a Force sports association that offers support to staff taking part in competitive opportunities. Our officers take part in Police Sport UK initiatives and Defence sporting events, sometimes competing against their colleagues.