Operational partnerships - Job related fitness test SOP (O43l)
O43l Job Related Fitness Test
1. Summary of Changes
1.1. This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been reviewed in April 2024 – the following amendments have been made:
- Personal Safety Training updated to Public and Personal Safety Training;
- Paragraph 2.2, 3.1.3, 3.2.3 and 3.5.1 have been amended;
- References to Chief Inspector updated to Inspector in paragraph 3.6.1;
- Taser added to the table is paragraph 3.6.2.
2. What this Procedure is About
2.1. 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 ‘Public and Personal Safety Training’ during the relevant period of probation and throughout their service.
2.2. The College of Policing (COP) sets the level of fitness for Police Officers and Special Constables at 3.7 on the shuttle run bleep test; the aerobic fitness standard of 30mlsO2/kg/min.
2.3. National guidance makes recommendations to include the Chester Treadmill Police Walking Test and Chester Treadmill Police Running Test as the preferred validated alternative fitness testing methods. This must be agreed by Occupational Health prior to taking part.
2.4. If an officer has an underlying medical condition that precludes them from engaging in either test this must be notified to Occupational Health on Form H&S40 (Essex) or PST Job Related Fitness Test Questionnaire (Kent).
2.5. Officers failing either test will be subject of the below procedure.
Compliance with this SOP and any governing policy is mandatory.
3. Application
3.1. The 15 Metre Shuttle Run Bleep Test:
3.1.1. This method of fitness testing is the Job Related Fitness Test (JRFT) developed by Loughborough University. This is also covered in the College of Policing 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.
3.1.2. The endurance test consists of a 15 metre shuttle run which is progressive in speed. Participants 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.
3.1.3. Officers are required to run up to Level 3, Shuttle 7 as a minimum standard. The Officer will have met the aerobic fitness standard of 30mlsO2/kg/min at successful completion of level 3.7.
3.1.4. Officers in Specialist Posts will be expected to run to higher levels (see 3.6.2).
3.2. Chester Treadmill Police Walking Test (CTPWT):
3.2.1. This test enables officers with existing lower limb injuries, or any other medical condition that Occupational Health considers appropriate, to take part in an alternative JRFT.
3.2.2. CTPWT is a performance test specifically developed for the Police Service of England and Wales as an alternative fitness test to the 15m Shuttle run, to determine whether an officer is able to achieve the minimum recommended aerobic fitness standard for PPST and Specialist Posts, excluding ARV and DIAFO (College of Policing 2014). After a suitable warm-up the subject is required to walk at a brisk pace (6.0km/hr) on the treadmill. Every 2 minutes the gradient is raised by 3%.
3.2.3. The Officer will have met the aerobic fitness standard of 30mlsO2/kg/min at successful completion of the 8 minute test.
3.2.4. Throughout the test Officers fitness will be assessed using a BORG scale. This consists of the officer describing how exhausted they feel on a scale of 1 to 20 (20 being completely exhausted). The trainer will also use this scale to assess the Officer. Officers will have to be at less than 14 on the BORG scale to continue with and pass the test.
3.3. The Chester Treadmill Police Run Test (CTPRT):
3.3.1. CTPRT is a performance test specifically developed for the Police Service of England and Wales as an alternative test to the 15m Shuttle run to determine whether an officer is able to achieve the minimum recommended aerobic fitness standards of 46mlsO2/kg/min or 51mlsO2/kg/min (DIAFO) (College of Policing 2014).
3.3.2. After a suitable warm-up the officer is required to run at a brisk pace (10.4 km/hr) on the treadmill. Every 2 minutes the gradient is raised by a designated amount. On satisfactory completion of 8 minutes the officer will have achieved the minimum recommended fitness standard for ARV. DIAFO are required to complete the full 10-minute test.
3.4. Application
3.4.1. Police and Special Constables are required to pass the fitness test before appointment as student officers, before completing Initial Public and Personal Safety Training and annually thereafter of attendance to Public and Personal Safety Refresher Training.
3.4.2. A record indicating pass or fail and date of the JRFT will be produced by the training staff and forwarded for recording to the Training Administration Unit and will be held on the officer's training record.
3.4.3. Officers and staff who should undertake the JRFT must read the Occupational Health fitness questionnaire. 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.
3.4.4. 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 Officer (FMO) to determine if further action is necessary.
3.4.5. 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.
3.4.6. No sanctions will be applied to officers who fail the test or who are unable to take the test due to medical reasons.
3.5. Fitness Testing at Student Officer Phase
3.5.1. Student officers are required to pass the job related fitness test to level 5.4 before progressing to participation in Initial Public and Personal Safety Training.
3.5.2. Whilst probationary constables are not subject to Unsatisfactory Performance Procedures (UPP) a failure to pass the JRFT and consequential inability to undergo personal safety training may render them liable to discharge from the force under Regulation 13 Police Regulations and Determinations 2003, in accordance with policy L1180 Discharge of Probationer.
3.6. Annual Fitness Testing
3.6.1. Phase 1: Eligible police officers up to and including the rank of Inspector will be tested annually. The test must be successfully completed prior to Public and Personal Safety Training (PPST). Officers who attend their JRFT, whichever test this is and are successful must attend a PPST session within 6 weeks of passing the test to remain valid. If they do not attend within this time they will have to retake the test to prove their fitness to participate in PPST.
3.6.2. 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 in the following table:
|
Unit |
Endurance Standard MSFT (level : shuttle) |
Target Time for CTPWT (minutes : seconds) |
|
Marine Police Unit |
5 : 4 |
10:00 |
|
CBRN |
5 : 4 |
10:00 |
|
Method of Entry |
5 : 4 |
10:00 |
|
STO (Taser) |
5 : 4 |
10:00 |
|
Dog Handler |
5 : 7 |
10:20 |
|
Mounted Branch |
5 : 7 |
10:20 |
|
Police Patrol Cyclist |
5 : 8 |
10:20 |
|
Police Support Unit |
6 : 3 |
10:40 |
|
Air Support |
6 : 4 |
10:40 |
|
Police Divers |
6 : 8 |
11:20 |
|
Marine Police (Tac Skills) |
7 : 2 |
11:40 |
|
Authorised Firearms Officer |
7 : 6 |
12:00 |
|
Target Time for CTPRT (minutes : seconds) |
||
|
Armed Response Vehicle |
9 : 4 |
8:00 |
|
Dynamic Intervention |
10 : 5 |
10:00 |
3.6.3. Refusal to take the JRFT without medical evidence will be considered a failure. In the event of a failure or in the case of medical evidence the officer will go to Phase 2.
3.6.4. If successful, a further test will not be required until the officer's next scheduled attendance at Public and Personal Safety Training. If the officer fails to attend or take the test, Phase 2 will commence.
3.6.5 Phase 2: In the event an officer fails the fitness test they will not be permitted to continue to continue with the Public and Personal Safety Training Refresher.
3.6.6.Officers who fail the test will be referred back to their line manager and district commander. The line manager will complete a risk assessment covering the officer's suitability to continue in their current role. This process will also include a referral to Occupational Health to assess any obvious or underlying medical reasons for the officer's failure, unless the failure is due to an obviously temporary illness such as a heavy cold.
3.6.7. SSTU will notify the Performance Improvement Unit (PIU) when an officer fails the fitness test, in order that PIU can provide support to the line manager.
3.6.8. The line manager will then complete an action plan to support and improve the officer's performance to enable them to pass the fitness test. The action plan will be bespoke and time limited taking into account any medical information and the fitness plan provided by SSTU. The PIU will be available to provide advice and guidance to line managers.
3.6.9. A second test will normally be booked for the officer approximately 6 weeks later, unless a longer period of time is identified as necessary in the development action plan or time limited by an Occupational Health referral and/or treatment.
3.6.10. If the officer passes the test they will not be required to go through this testing procedure again until their next allocated Personal Safety Training. If the candidate again fails to successfully complete the test, they will go to Phase 3.
3.6.11 Phase 3: If the candidate enters Phase 3 they will be referred to Occupational Health and their line manager will continue to engage with the Performance Improvement Unit, taking a third test approximately 6 weeks after the second test, unless otherwise stated on the developmental action plan.
3.6.12. Consideration will be given to invoke Stage One of UPP in the event that an officer fails to pass the fitness test on the third attempt in accordance with the stated time limits of their developmental action plan.
4. Equality Impact Assessment
4.1. An equality assessment has been carried out and shows the proposals have a high potential for differential/adverse impact on groups or race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, transgender, disability, age, religion or belief or sexual orientation.
4.2. The fitness test data collection that the pass rate for the group of female officers aged between 51 - 60 years old drops below the average pass rate for all other recorded groups. It is recognised that the effects of the menopause may adversely impact on fitness levels.
4.3. Officers are able to receive additional support from the SSTU and Occupational Health to assist them through the fitness process. Under the Equality Act 2010 reasonable adjustments will be made, as outlined throughout this Standard Operating Procedure.
5. Risk Assessment
5.1. This SOP has been assessed as medium risk.
5.2. Suitable footwear and training clothes are to be worn whilst completing the test.
5.3. The floor should be clear of any spills of fluids and any obstacles that could cause any slips, trips or falls.
5.4. All elements of the fitness test are subject of a safety briefing by the training staff to ensure that each participant is certain of what is required of them and to minimise the risk of injury.
6. Consultation
- NPCC Lead for Fitness Training
- Staff Safety Training Unit
- Human Resources
- Legal
- Freedom of Information
- Health and Safety
- Equality and Diversity
- Police Federation
7. Monitoring and Review
7.1. This SOP will be reviewed to ensure compliance with College of Policing Guidance for the implementation of the Job Related Fitness Test - Winsor Recommendation 33. This SOP will be reviewed yearly with the next review scheduled for April 2025.
8. Security
8.1. Kent Police have measures in place to protect the security of your data in accordance with our Information Management Policy (Policy W1000 – Information Management).
9. Retention and Disposal of Records
9.1. Kent Police will hold data in accordance with our Records Review, Retention and Disposal Policy (Policy W1012 – Records Review, Retention and Disposal).
Policy reference: Issue of incapacitant spray SOP (O43e)
Contact point: Head of learning and development
Date last reviewed: April 2024
If you require any further information or to request any documentation referenced within the policy please email [email protected]. For general enquiries, contact us.