Public Servant Lifestyle

Jocelyn Simmons, the Wymondham-based business training manager for the Norfolk Police Force has become the first in her field to be awarded ‘Chartered Manager’ status. The accolade, conferred by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), recognises her ability to manage the training and development needs of more than 2,500 staff.

The award highlights the importance of developing resource management and leadership skills within the police force. It provides independent endorsement of Jocelyn’s effectiveness and complements her honours degree and managerial qualifications.

To achieve Chartered Manager status, Jocelyn needed to show business impact by demonstrating how she has made a measured difference to Force’s performance. Jocelyn submitted a portfolio of work for online assessment which included her proposals for a Force-wide mentoring scheme, obtained 360-degree appraisals from colleagues and completed the process with a panel interview conducted by the Institute’s assessors. Her success was measured against six nationally recognised skill-sets, including the ability to manage customer needs, information and resources.

Mary Chapman, chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute, comments: “Jocelyn is at the leading edge of a new breed of managers. She clearly has a high level of management capability and has demonstrated these abilities as a complementary skill to her operational excellence. Her commitment to keeping those skills up to date will benefit both the local community and her colleagues.”

Jocelyn will have to undertake a 3-yearly review, involving submission of fresh evidence of ongoing organisational impact, to retain her new Chartered status. She says: “Reassessment makes the designation different from traditional chartered awards. It means I cannot rest on my laurels because my skills must remain current, especially if I am to continue to deliver a valuable service to local people and colleagues, alike.”

The Chartered Manager hallmark was launched in September 2003, following the completion of a pilot scheme, which involved managers from a broad range of business sectors. The programme was created in the wake of research which revealed that 36% of organisations in the UK say that their managers are not proficient. It also provides an independent and complementary scheme to Norfolk Police’s own training and development, enhancing the leadership & management training provided by the force.

Chapman says: “Chartered Manager provides professional recognition for leadership and management competence. Those managers who achieve Chartered status send out the clear message that continuous professional development is an integral part of being a successful manager. Jocelyn is to be congratulated on her pioneering achievement.”

The Chief Constable of Norfolk Constabulary, Andy Hayman says, “I am delighted for Jocelyn. This is a great personal achievement reflecting her hard work and ground breaking initiative within the training and development discipline. The Constabulary are fortunate to have such good people working in support of policing the county”.

More information available in Incentives & Rewards