Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Operational Commander (Bronze)

The Operational Commander (Bronze) commands all policing assets, whilst coordinating the multi-agency activity at the scene of a CBRN event. They ensure that all police actions at the scene support the strategic objectives and are in line with the tactical plan. In addition, they are also responsible for considerations around the provision of staff wellbeing, before, during and after any policing response to a CBRN event.

• Manage the immediate response at the scene of a CBRN event, in line with local and national guidance and policies, until such time as a strategic and/or tactical commander is in place to minimise the risk to life of members of the general public, service, and partner agency personnel.
• Provide clear lines of communication up and down the chain of command to ensure that tactical decisions are based on the most up-to-date intelligence and deployment decisions are relayed to front line personal.
• Hold a clear understanding of the strategic and tactical aims of the operation to ensure that all operational action undertaken works to achieve those aims.
• Manage the operational deployment of policing resources available for the CBRN event to ensure that the overall strategic (Gold) and tactical (Silver) aims of the operation are achieved.
• Coordinate all multi-agency activity at the scene of the CBRN event in line with JESIP principles, to ensure effective contribution to the aims of the operation.
• Identify and mitigate operational risks, in line with national guidance and area of operational responsibility to ensure the safety of the general public and officers and staff involved in the operation.
• Employ clear and recorded decision making, within their level of operational responsibility to support the tactical (Silver) aims of the operation.

Prior education and experience:

• Hold either Chief Inspector or Inspector rank (Substantive Sergeants will be considered in exceptional circumstances).
• Operational Command experience of at least 2 years.
• Completion of national CBRN Operational Commander Course.
• Completed National IPOC course.
• Previous PSU command experience.
• CBRN trained officer.
• Officer Safety Trained as per their individual force policy. 

Skills:

• Able to engage a variety of audiences through a range of media to inform and/or persuade.
• Able to identify potential applications of new or improved technologies related to own area of work to improve working practices.
• Able to contribute to resource planning, to manage financial budgets and using commercial acumen to make risk-based decisions that deliver effective outcomes within the resources allocated.
• Able to manage the delivery of initiatives that change the structure of the organisation and / or the roles of staff and officers.
• Able to seek out and identify a range of information to identify patterns, trends and options, to solve multifaceted and complex problems.
• Able to develop and motivate a team and create strong engagement of individuals with their personal and team objectives and with Force values, behaviours and strategic priorities.
• Able to identify exceptional situations that merit recognition and to take appropriate action.
• Able to identify situations that require disciplinary action and to respond appropriately.
• Skilled in setting team and individual performance objectives, monitoring performance, assessing progress, identifying emerging risks, issues and opportunities, and taking corrective steps as required to ensure that the right results are achieved.
• Able to plan to short and medium term cycles, to coordinate a range of activities appropriately within the function, to match these to available resources, and to identify and mitigate known risks to delivery.
• Able to develop and implement a stakeholder relationship plan; to develop trust; to capitalise on strengths and enable contributions and to ensure that stakeholders’ needs and concerns are fully understood and responded to in an appropriate way.

• Complete 2 days CPD every 12 months either operationally, by attending CPD events locally, or sessions advertised by the National CBRN centre CPD team.
• Keep up to date with changing legislation and national guidance and how this may affect you in your role.
• Keep up to date with CBRN and command and control trends and learning as promulgated through the national learning and development groups and other forums such as the public order communities on POLKA.

Not Applicable

• Public Order Tactical Commander (Bronze)
• Firearms Tactical Commander (Bronze)
• CBRN Strategic Commander (Gold)
• CBRN Tactical Commander (Silver)