Does anyone work in the emergency services?

[Pinkyandthebrainz]

Who can give me an honest answer about what that sort of job is like? Do you enjoy it, would you recommend it etc.

There are several emergency services, which one?
Being a police officer is very different to being a paramedic to being a firefighter.

Paramedic / police

People have many different experiences of both roles. We are not one general lump of thinking. Are you thinking of a career change?

Yes I am considering a change. I don't know many people who work in these roles in real life.

I absolutely loved it for 20 odd years. You have to have a very good support network in terms of childcare as shifts can change or be extended without much notice. Shift work can also be a killer socially as you are rarely around when your existing friends are available, hence I tended to socialise with colleagues only.

Thank you. Would you recommend it as a career move depending on which service you were in?

Police. Yes and no! Too many variables.

Paramedic -yes. My partner is a paramedic and he loves his job.
Police- no experience but I wouldn’t do it personally.

Can I ask why the Nos for police?

For me, it was because I was seriously assaulted. It ruined me and my beloved career. Over twenty odd years I have been assaulted many many times and I just put up with it but the last one was too much.

I'm sorry to hear that @Finfintytint , one assault is too many.

Thank you. Don’t want to put you off. It’s a worthwhile experience and very rewarding too.

You will he assaulted in both career options, of that there is no doubt.

I’ve been a police officer for 18 years. It’s been a great career, policing has so many different areas to get into but frontline policing has definitely changed and I’m not sure I could do that again.

I should say “frontline uniformed policing”. I’m still frontline in my role.

Agree with Nickynacky that there are a huge number of roles within policing - that's one thing that's really good about it. Tbh I've been assaulted fewer times than my relative who is a MH nurse (but then I was only in a uniformed role for a few years).

What do you do now and what is important to you in a job?

If "one assault is too many" for you then don't consider either role.

What are your motivations because they are both very different jobs!

I’m a police civvy, and I’m not encouraging my kids to go into the job.

The government doesn’t respect the police service so how can we expect the public to? You and I and “normal” people respect them, but all too often the people they’re dealing with don’t.

Too many members of the public stand by and video a cop getting their head getting kicked in, rather than helping, as more people would have done in the past, then share the video on social media for people to criticise the cop.

There’s a massive increase in people carrying weapons, particularly knives, amd the officers can only defend themselves in certain approved ways, with a baton at most. The answer is NOT to arm the police.

Operational officers spend a good chunk of their time dealing with people with mental health issues...they want to help people, but they have absolutely no training in this regard.

I know someone has to do the job, but I wouldn’t like it to be my kids.

However, saying all the above, I love my job (control room) and have the most amazing bunch of friends and colleagues, most of whom I’d trust with my life.

Thanks for the replies. Currently very hum drum admin related field, so I'm attracted to the variety, different specialisms, and opportunity to actually do something meaningful.

@Nicknacky Out of interest, why do you say you're not sure you could do it again?

I recognise that assaults are likely. I'm not naive to that part.

For the excellent reasons JudgeRindersMinder said.

However my eldest has expressed an interest in joining the police when she is older and I would fully support and encourage her if she does.

Assaults aren’t likely. They will happen.

@Nicknacky Yes I understand that.

If you would encourage her you must feel overall its still worth doing?

@Nicknacky

For the excellent reasons JudgeRindersMinder said.

However my eldest has expressed an interest in joining the police when she is older and I would fully support and encourage her if she does.

I’d do the same if they expressed an interest, but I’d not suggest it.

Pinky I would encourage her the same way I would if she wanted to be a hairdresser or estate agent. I wouldn’t try put her off doing her dream job if that’s what she wanted to do.