Quick Links:
How We help
Career Break Scheme
CAREER BREAK SCHEME
Qualification- An Officer can apply for a Career Break once out of the probationary period. The decision to allow a Career Break or not is that for the Chief Constable who is allowed to take matters such as health, sickness and conduct into consideration before making the decision.
- If the application is rejected the decision should be ‘transparent’ and there is an avenue of appeal to the Police Authority.
Status during Career Break- Officers on a break are not required to resign
- The officer and the Chief Constable must agree, before the start of the break, the obligations and expectations of the officer and the Force during the break.
These should include things such as an officer’s response to incidents that may arise that require Police action: restrictions under Police Regulations on an officer’s private life and business interests; any need to keep up with current legislation; an arrangement for any necessary refresher training on return to the force at the end of the break.
Duration- Normally up to 5 years as agreed by both parties. However, the Chief could allow a longer period in exceptional circumstances.
- Start and return dates and the objectives of the Career Break, must be agreed by the officer and the Chief Constable. A Career Break cannot normally extend beyond compulsory retirement age.
Return to Duty- An officer will return on the agreed return date. However, if an officer wishes to return early from the break there are provisions for this, subject to there being a suitable vacancy available and certain other considerations.
- An officer should not normally be required to return to duty before the agreed original date unless he/she consents.
Reviews- The Career Break objectives and time scales can be reviewed at any time during the break by agreement between the Chief Constable and the officer.
- Officers would be under a general duty to inform the Chief of any circumstances that arise which would effect the agreed objectives or time scales of the break.
- In particular; officers must not undertake full time education or activities for which they are paid, reimbursed expenses, or which involve them in the sale of goods or services without the agreement of the Chief Constable.
The chief Constable’s need to know should be balanced with protection of the officer’s right to privacy.
If the Chief Constable has reasonable grounds for believing that the agreed objectives and time scales may not be achievable, he or she can require the officer to attend a review.
A result of the review could be that the officer is required to return to duty.
The chief Constable’s need to know should be balanced with protection of the officer’s right to privacy.
If the Chief Constable has reasonable grounds for believing that the agreed objectives and time scales may not be achievable, he or she can require the officer to attend a review.
A result of the review could be that the officer is required to return to duty.
Conditions of Service- Officers will not be paid during a Career Break and service will not count for reckoning entitlement to pay and annual leave. However, an officer’s rank and pay point will be protected during the break. Entitlement on return will be identical to that at the start of the break, subject to any relevant agreements in Police Regulations, P.N.B agreements and so on.
- An officer living in Police accommodation should discuss his or her future in the property with the Chief Constable before applying for a career break.
Officers who are allowed to remain in such accommodation may be charged by the Police Authority. In circumstances where an officer is living/married to a Police officer, this would be subject to the partner’s eligibility for provided accommodation.
Pensions- Service during the career break is not pensionable.
- However, an officer may be able to buy back service on return but this is one provision of the Career Break Scheme has not yet been finalised and is presently subject to further nego tiation with the Home Office.
- Officers on a break will have a protected entitlement to all pension benefits at the point of commencement of the break, including death benefits and enhanced ill-health pensions and injury benefits.
Maternity Provisions- Officers who become pregnant whilst on a career break are entitled to the same maternity benefits as officers not taking a career break.
- An officer on a break who becomes pregnant should give notice as soon as is reasonably practicable, of the probable date of birth of her child.
- The provisions for the Maternity Scheme will then take effect and the career break will be suspended (unless the officer confirms she does not wish to enjoy the provisions of the Maternity Scheme).
- Resumption of the career break in due course should be subject to a further agreement between the Chief Constable and the officer.
