There’s a new CVF in town, with the 2024 version of the Competency and Values Framework launched by the College last year. But most officers struggle with understanding what it all means, often bewildered and mystified by what seems abstract language used to describe desired leadership behaviours of police leaders. This inevitably hampers their promotion ambitions.
So to simplify everything, and following the success of my original CVF explainer video, I’ve recorded a 2.5 hour HD video covering every competency and value in plain English. As always, my aim of this is to help level the playing field of promotion and give aspiring officers the tools needed to achieve promotion success.
In this blog I introduce this new product (which I’ve created at no extra cost for my customers) and summarise what it’s all about. I embed a quick video below if you prefer that format, and also a 30 minute podcast where I also give a free taster. As always, please get in touch if you have any questions. And here’s my CVF explainers if you want to dive in and grab your own copy right away!
Presenting the CVF… In Plain English
“What three little letters are enough to fill even the hardiest of cops with fear and dread? C.V.F.” – Social Media Post
For police officers across the UK aiming to achieve promotions to Sergeant, Inspector and Chief Inspector ranks, there are a minefield of assessments to navigate. And those officers are all assessed against the CVF. But as a police promotion and leadership coach/mentor, I find people are hampered in their aspiration because the CVF is simply alien to them, it just doesn’t ‘click’.
Forces are currently predominantly using the original CVF launched by the College in 2016, or a locally-tailored version of it with bespoke values. Last year, the College recently updated and refined the CVF, which I recommend candidates explore the new CVF at source here. I reported at the time on the highlights and key differences with this new CVF. Forces will gradually be transitioning to this new CVF over the next year or two as their HR processes allow.
In their guidance PDF document, the College advise candidates to “have a clear understanding of the meaning of each competency and value”. That’s all well and good, but the underlying confusion for cops persists.
So following the success of my original CVF explainer video a couple of years ago, and having been commissioned personally to help explain the CVF to aspiring officers, trainers and force assessors, I’ve added an extra in-depth 2.5 hour explainer of the new 2024 CVF at no extra cost. A ‘2 for 1’ product if you like; you can download your exclusive copy here. I commend this new in-depth CVF 2024 explainer to you as a helpful resource to aid effective preparation for your promotion opportunity.
Compiled in a presentation style, I bring together a wealth of insight to help you get to grips with each CVF competency and value. It is suitable for existing and aspiring leaders alike, across all UK police forces, including mention of bespoke CVF values still used by different forces. I cover broad information to get you started then get into each of the six competencies and the three new values derived from the (also new) policing Code of Ethics.
I provide several different ways to explain the behaviours to help it ‘click’ with you, including translating in summary form what they mean in plain English. This approach will not only help you understand exactly what behaviours are required by leaders, but how you can then put that knowledge to work and build your evidence in preparation for promotion.
A Common Oversight
While the CVF can seem mystifying to officers (at all levels), a common oversight is not reading or familiarising yourself with the framework until a promotion process is announced. It’s just one of the common mistakes officers make which ultimately sabotages their own ambitions. So regardless of whether you choose to do this deep-dive with my premium interpretive materials, I implore you to get familiar with the CVF now. Here’s some completely free resources to get started:
- Read the CVF at source: All my materials are merely trying to make sense of and explain the College’s CVF documentation, in my own way, to help connect aspiring officers properly with the concepts conveyed. But of course I encourage all candidates to read the CVF itself as the College articulate it.
- Learn to love the CVF: Read my free blog I published before any of these new CVF changes came about. The lessons are just as relevant today as they were then.
- CVF 2016 vs. CVF 2024: Explore my free blog and summary video exploring the new 2024 CVF. I released this soon after the College launched the changes, highlighting some of the key differences to the prior CVF. I go far more in-depth into the similarities and differences in my new CVF explainer video.
- FREE YouTube CVF explainers: I have previously and succinctly explained/interpreted every original 2016 CVF behaviour in my YouTube CVF series, which you can also watch for free.
A low-cost way to massively enhance your CPD is subscribing to my popular Police Promotion and Leadership podcast. I’ve now published 100 premium episodes to boost your ongoing leadership CPD, many of these cover the CVF specifically (e.g. S4E4, S4E13, S4E22 as more recent examples). At £4.99 per month, it’s a no-brainer for your development, both for helping your promotion ambitions and developing your leadership skills when in post.
About That Video…
Having previously been commissioned by a large UK force to help explain the CVF for officers, assisting in its interpretation for training staff and to support force assessors, this is the second CVF explainer video I have produced. This ‘Demystifying the CVF 2024’ video is available in a 2 for 1 deal, with no extra cost for aspiring officers. You’ll now get both my CVF 2016 and CVF 2024 explainer videos for the same great price.
I encourage individuals who are serious about achieving promotions to watch both, even though you’ll be assessed against one or the other. Why? Because over the last decade of successfully supporting officers as a coach and mentor to achieve promotions, I know this approach to preparation works effectively. Whether you’re in the Met, Police Scotland, West Mids, PSNI, BTP or any other UK force, these resources will serve you well. Even those as far as Australia have achieved success with these methods!
The sting of disappointment experienced by unsuccessful officers in a promotion selection process is balanced with the elation felt by successful candidates. Almost without exception, success is achieved by those who recognise the huge opportunity that exists, well in advance of any force process. Raising their awareness of specific criteria they will be assessed against, seeking meaningful support if required and generally acting before their competition.
The College of Policing (COP) is the primary source of information for the CVF, promotion policy and guidance for forces in England and Wales. Though they don’t explain the CVF, they do publish it and it’s worth seeing things directly from the horse’s mouth. In addition, I encourage serious candidates to allow time to work through any supporting information or guidance provided by their own force.
Perhaps understandably given the pressures of modern policing, few seem to do that… but not you!
This new CVF explainer video helps you prepare, providing intuitive and understandable interpretations of the CVF for anyone who wants to work smart and deepen their understanding. Combined with the rank-specific written toolkits and/or my comprehensive Promotion Masterclass Video, you’ll be far more equipped and confident to present your best evidence and maximise your potential in any future promotion process.
Hundreds of successfully promoted officers have been kind enough to share how valuable they found these in-depth resources in supporting and guiding effective preparation, often scoring top marks. For example:
“The digital toolkits are well structured, easy to read & follow, covering all the keys areas. I fully digested the toolkits & CVF explainer video before attending the masterclass… I would highly recommend the toolkits & masterclass they are 100% worth the money.” – Elizabeth, passed Inspector process
“I found rank success invaluable. A large volume of good quality videos breaking down the CVF and giving real world examples of good & poor answers. It really helped me understand the CVF in a way just reading the COP stuff just didn’t sink in.” – Anon
“The way you demystify the CVF’s & break the promotion journey down is very helpful as I know colleagues & myself feel daunted by the promotion process, knowing where to start & what structures to put in place. I listened to your podcasts on the journey to & from work, whilst walking the dog & the subliminal learning I took from that cannot be underestimated. I’m currently mentoring an aspiring D/I & D/S & the first thing I covered in my mentoring session with them was the benefits of Rank Success. Thanks again & keep doing what you do as the impact cannot be underestimated.” – Chris , passed Chief Inspector board
A coaching question I ask aspiring individuals at the start is: “What do you know about the CVF?” It’s also a great one to finish with. I encourage you to explore and utilise the support resources available to you raise your awareness, boost your confidence and smash that promotion opportunity.
Kind Regards, Steve
Seeking police promotion? Want a MASSIVE head start right now? Hit the ground running with your personal digital promotion toolkit, and/or my market-leading Police Promotion Masterclass. There’s nothing else like it to effectively prepare you for success in your leadership aspirations. You can also contact me to arrange more personal coaching support. Or try my podcast for your ongoing police leadership CPD covering a range of fascinating subjects.