PROCEDURE Job Related Fitness Test. Number: C 2007 Date Published: 28 October 2014

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1 1.0 Summary of Changes This is a new procedure and must be read by all police officers, PCSO s and Special Constables. 2.0 What this Procedure is about This Job Related Fitness test (JRFT) applies to all police officers, Special Constabulary officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) as part of the recruitment process and for police officers and Special Constabulary officers who are required to undertake Personal Safety Training during the relevant period of probation and throughout their service. (PCSOS are not covered by the Winsor Reforms and are invited to continue to engage with annual JRFT on a voluntary basis). The College of Policing (COP) Interim guidance sets the level of fitness for police officers and Special Constables at 5.4 on the shuttle run bleep test. (On a voluntary basis PCSOs may undertake this test to the same standards). The JRFT will take place on an annual basis prior to undertaking Personal Safety Training. National guidance makes no recommendations for an alternative fitness test. If an officer has a permanent underlying medical condition that precludes them from engaging in the test this must be notified to Occupational Health on Form H&S40, prior to attendance for the training. Officers failing the test will be provided with supportive action through force performance procedures. No sanctions will apply to officers unable to take the test due to medical reasons. Compliance with this procedure and any governing policy is mandatory. 3.0 Detail the Procedure The method of fitness testing is the JRFT developed by Loughborough University. This is also covered in the CoP JRFT specialist post standards. This test has been chosen because of its current use within the Police Service and the following factors: Little technique is needed; Economic set up and administration; It is safe and convenient, with little specialist equipment required. Page 1 of 5

2 The test measures the officers level of fitness: Endurance fitness - A shuttle run timed against a series of bleeps; Level 5 Shuttle Officers in Specialist Roles Some police roles are more physically demanding than others and require fitness standards to be regularly assessed. These include roles within both firearms and public order units and other specified roles as shown; Unit Recommended Endurance Standard MSFT (Level: Shuttle) Marine Police Unit 5 : 4 CBRN 5 : 4 Method of Entry 5 : 4 Dog Handler 5 : 7 Police Support Unit ( PSU Dog Handler) 6 : 3 Marine Police (Tactical Skills) 7 : 2 Authorised Firearms Officer 7 : 6 Armed Response Vehicle 9 : 4 Dynamic Intervention AFO 10 : Endurance Bleep Test The endurance test consists of a 15 metre shuttle run which is progressive and maximal. Officers run the length of the course arriving at each end to coincide with the sound of a bleep. If they arrive too soon they should wait until the bleep sounds before turning and running back to the opposite end. 3.3 Failure Phase 1 An Individual must pass the test annually. The test must be successfully completed, with the bleep test set at level 5.4 or to the required level for specialist officers. The test will be conducted prior to Personal Safety Training. Refusal to take the JRFT without medical evidence will be deemed a failure. In the event of a failure or in the case of medical evidence the officer will go to phase 2. If successful, a further test will not be required until the officers next scheduled attendance at Personal Safety Training. If the officer again fails to attend or take the test within the requisite time phase 2 will commence. Page 2 of 5

3 3.3.2 Phase 2 In the event of a failure the officer will not take part in Personal Safety Training. The first failure will initiate an from the Personal Safety Training Department to the officer, their line manager, RMU and the Performance Improvement Unit (PIU) notifying them of the officer s failure to pass. A failure of the JRFT will result in the officer being classed as non-operational and the line manager will be responsible for risk assessing the officer s capability to continue undertaking their current role. The risk assessment should be conducted following liaison with the Superintendent in overall charge of the officer concerned. RMU will be responsible for rescheduling another test date at least 6 weeks from the date of the last failure. PIU will engage with the officer s line manager to review the reasons behind failure and provide advice on an appropriate action-plan to support the officer in achieving a success at the next attempt. Whilst a mandatory referral to Occupational Health is not required following the first failure, the line manager s review will consider whether a referral is necessary at that stage. The action plan will incorporate two retakes of the JRFT and will normally run for 12 weeks. In accordance with College of Policing guidance, the retakes should aim to be at intervals of at least 6 weeks and take account of advice from PST and Occupational Health. Successful completion of the test will discharge the plan and the officer will not be required to go through the procedure again until their next allocated Personal Safety Training. If an officer fails the re-test they will go to phase Phase 3 The second failure will initiate an from the Personal Safety Training Department to the officer, their line manager, RMU and the PIU notifying them of the officers failure to pass. RMU will be responsible for rescheduling another test date at least 6 weeks after the date of the last failure. The second failure will initiate a further review of the action plan by the officers line manager, supported by the PIU, and will include a formal referral to Occupational Health. Page 3 of 5

4 If the officer is deemed unsuitable to take the test by Occupational Health at any time between stage 2 and 3 this will be managed by their line manager and the PIU. Should the test not be passed by the end of the period set in the plan, then a review will be conducted by the line manager, in conjunction with PIU, and consideration given by the line manager as to implementing a first stage meeting under the Police (Performance) Regulations Any subsequent actions will form part of the unsatisfactory performance procedures. 4.0 Equality Impact Assessment This procedure has been assessed with regard to an Equality Impact Assessment. As a result of this assessment it has been graded as having a low potential impact as the proposals in this procedure would have no potential or actual differential impact on grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, transgender, disability, age, religion or belief or sexual orientation. 5.0 Risk Assessment Officers and staff who should undertake the JRFT must read the Occupational Health form H&S40. If they consider they may have a pre-existing condition or injury which would put them at risk by undergoing the JRFT test this must be declared on the form when allocated a training event date. The completed forms will be reviewed by Occupational Health who will identify whether the individual is fit to undertake the test or if a further referral is required to the Force Medical Advisor (FMA) to determine if further action is necessary. On the training day a further check will be made with attendees prior to the test and if there are any medical reasons why the test cannot be completed they will not attempt the test but will be referred via their direct line supervisors to Occupational Health for assessment and advice. Suitable footwear and training clothes are to be worn whilst completing the test. The floor should be clear of any spills of fluids and any obstacles that could cause any slips trips or falls. All elements of the fitness test are subject of a safety briefing by the training staff to ensure that each officer is certain of what is required of them and to minimise the risk of injury Page 4 of 5

5 6.0 Consultation The following consultees have been included during the development of this procedure: Unison Federation Equality and Diversity Co-ordinator Health & Safety Evolve - Superintendent Specials Constabulary Occupational Health Employee Relations Local Policing Support Unit Support Networks o MESA o Disability Network o Women s Leadership Development Forum o Work Life Balance o NEXUS Acting Chair o Christian Police Association 7.0 Monitoring and Review Officers will be required to pass the fitness test annually. This process will be overseen by the training staff. The training staff will also be available to provide advice for those wishing to take and pass the test. A record indicating pass or fail and date of the JRFT will be produced by the training staff and forwarded for recording to the CRMU and will be held on the officer s training record. 7.1 Data Recording Information will be gathered in order to monitor the diversity of those officers who pass, fail or are unable to take the test. Collected data is to be shared with the Fitness Testing Working Group (FTWG). 8.0 Governing Force policy. Related Force policies or related procedures None 9.0 Other source documents, e.g. legislation, Authorised Professional Practice (APP), Force forms, partnership agreements (if applicable) Form H&S40 JRFT (job related fitness test) College of Policing (COP) Interim guidance Page 5 of 5