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.

Fair enough, I understand that.

So what attracts you to either job (especially as they are so different)?

What is your family situation and what support do you have if you have children?

What’s your fitness level?

I am a police officer. Worked frontline uniform and now in plain clothes role. I would say it depends on your personality. It requires real strength of character to allow the bad bits to wash over you and not get 'cynical' in the job. Even that is not the correct phrase because I have seen the coolest of cucumbers affected by the stress. The job has taken an incredible hit this last decade in pay, morale and support from the public.

You only have to look at the celebration for key workers in recent months to. Price an absence of support for police. NHS were clapped and police had headlines about mistreating the rules and coming down too hard. Bear in mind they were coping with legislation that was drafted in days and had no more clue than anyone else. They were forced to go out and expose themselves to members of the public and there was a massive shortage in PPE so they had to do it unprotected.

All of the above said, mostly I love the job. I love that there are opportunities to specialise and move around and gain experience. The pay is pretty good (certainly better than paramedic which I think should be addressed as paramedics are bloody heroes) and the benefits are good. If you really want to try it I would recommend signing up as a Special. Get a taste for what they do and see for yourself. If you like it then it helps in the application too.

My best friend was a paramedic for about 12 years. She loved it for the first 5 or 6.

It was physically and emotionally incredibly exhausting, both in terms of the actual work and the shift lengths and patterns. Assault was also an issue. She was punched and hit many times. Badly bitten once too.

It makes a huge difference where you work though. She was in a big city and each shift meant being constantly on call. In a smaller town/rural area it would be a very different story.

Fitness good, no children or commitments.
I am more interested in police than paramedic, however the stories of droves of people leaving, lack of public support and low morale etc make me have doubts. I suppose like most jobs you won't know if it's for you unless you go for it.

Assaults are not just likely, they are a given. And it's not as easy to deal with as you might think.

If you're put off by lack of public support, lack of funding, low morale, high stress, long unsociable hours, daily abuse and you believe "one assault is too many" then it's unlikely to be for you.

In my experience those most suited to these roles already know it's for them. They are drawn to service and discipline from a young age.

Unfortunately the services seem to be trying to attract a "new breed" so you might do well anyway.

Assaults are not just likely, they are a given. And it's not as easy to deal with as you might think. - Have already said I understand this.

If you're put off by lack of public support, lack of funding, low morale, high stress, long unsociable hours, daily abuse and you believe "one assault is too many" then it's unlikely to be for you. - Nobody should be assaulted. Doesn't mean I don't understand its going to happen.

In my experience those most suited to these roles already know it's for them. They are drawn to service and discipline from a young age.

Unfortunately the services seem to be trying to attract a "new breed" so you might do well anyway. - Was this intended as rudely as it came across?

It wasn't intended as rude no. But it seems I've offended you.

I was just saying it as it is and you will get a lot of that in any services job.

It's a fact that accelerated promotion schemes have brought in a different type of person to previously very disciplined roles.

As for understanding what it's like to be routinely assaulted whilst trying to do your job, not possible until you've been there but it's worth going in with your eyes wide open. If you're sensitive in nature it could absolutely crucify you.

I'm in the police, front line uniform.
I couldn't imagine doing anything else and I'm proud to be a police officer. But would I recommend it to anyone else? Absolutely not. You need to know in yourself whether it's for you. What a bunch of strangers say on social media shouldn't effect your decision.
Bring assaulted is guaranteed...I got badly beaten up one Christmas Eve. I've been punched, kicks, pushed, spat at, bitten more times than I can remember.
The government have no respect for the police, neither do most of the people you'd be dealing with.
You'll spend half your time under investigation as about half the people you deal with will put in false allegations against you to try and get whatever they're being investigated for dropped.
Your shifts can be changed at short notice, I'm late off most shifts, your leave can be cancelled. You will be working on days you'd rather not be (Christmas, new year ect).

I'm not saying any of this to put you off. But I wish more people went into this job with their eyes open. But as the old job saying goes, if you can't take the joke you shouldn't have joined!

Thanks for the detailed answer @DotDotDotty did you join early on or later in life? Was it something you always knew you wanted to do?

I know there is a fast track for management positions which has had lots of criticism, but didn't realise the new application process for PCs was considered fast track now? @youhave4substitutes

@Pinkyandthebrainz

Thanks for the detailed answer *@DotDotDotty* did you join early on or later in life? Was it something you always knew you wanted to do?

I did civilian roles for a number of years (started on a months contract at 18 and just never left) but became an officer at 28.

I knew it was what I wanted to do, but it took me a while to find the confidence to apply. It was still portrayed as a man's occupation when I was at school ect so I didn't think I'd get in.

I don't regret joining, I've been promoted so I'm on a decent wage, but I also feel I can't leave as I don't have any transferable skills that will get me a decent wage in the private sector.

Have you considered joining as a special?

I think this thread just demonstrates the point OP. there is a lot of low morale right now. I'll buck the trend and say I believe some of change in the force was necessary. Yes there is a lack of 'disciplined service' type officers coming through and a move towards more 'gentle' policing I suppose but that reflects the changes in society. We are now more tolerant of mental health issues and circumstances around why people commit crime which could be seen as weak. But then there are things we are doing well. For instance more focus on domestic abuse which is long overdue. It wasn't that long ago when 'giving the wife a slap' was seen as normal.

The thing is, you might go into it to 'make a difference' and the truth is that we rarely do. But on the odd occasion you really do get to think you saved a life today.

But if you go into it looking for a varied career with relative job security (best achieved by moving away from uniform PC in my opinion) then It opens up a lot of options. It's also worth considering that a lot of people don't consider it a job for life anymore. Some join for five to ten years of experience with plans to move on. It's not the 30year job for everyone.

I will say again as I believe it's the best way to see for yourself. Sign up as a special and see for yourself. It won't show you the gruelling paperwork and as much of the politics but you will see the best and worst of people in a similar way.

It's not @Pinkyandthebrainz

You're taking this very personally. I'm pointing out, as Dot did, that those who are cut out for the job tend to already know that they are.

You're questioning it so I'd suggest you're probably not. However, there is a "new breed" of staff who aren't necessarily cut out for the job but progress anyway as services are keen to be seen to "move with the times"

You've not answered the questions about what you want from the job, what you enjoy, what's important to you in a job. Joining the Police and becoming a Paramedic are quite different so unless you've a yearning for long unsociable hours and not seeing your family at Christmas it could be helpful!

Oh really, I would have thought you'd be snapped up for your skills and just having been in the police by a lot of roles @DotDotDotty

I did consider it yes but saw local force was hiring so thought about just going for it.

@youhave4substitutes I'm not taking anything personally, it was a genuine question. Also, I answered those questions a while back.

Such an interesting thread! Thanks @Pinkyandthebrainz and good luck with whatever you decide.

Dot you have so many transferable skills! If you see something you'd love to do don't let that thought hold you back!

@shouldhavecalleditoatabix yes, a lot of it is an improvement, I should've stressed that. I do think more has been lost than gained and it's gone forever - to the overall detriment of society.

Thanks @shouldhavecalleditoatabix you've given good advice.

Thanks @MyTearsAreOnFire

My mum has been a paramedic most of my life OP and she really enjoys it, however we have had many birthdays and Christmasses without her as it’s not great socially.

Also on the assault thing she has been spat on several times which in my opinion is just as bad and makes me feel sick.

She’s witnessed some horrific injuries including child deaths and given no time off or compassion so you are expected to pick yourself up and onto the next which personally I couldn’t do.

Best of luck whatever you decide, I think most people know your either cut out for it or you aren’t - I am not! X

Idk if it's just a met thing or if it's universal, but there is a saying in the police that "the job's fucked". People have been saying it as long as I can remember. That's not to say that things aren't particularly bad at the moment but just something to bear in mind..

I also dk what the current PC recruitment process is (it seems to change about every 6 months). Like most officers I'm dubious about the accelerated promotion schemes but I would suggest that increasing diversity (in all senses of the word) in the work force is generally a good thing and there is room for many different "types" of police officer, especially outside of uniform response/public order etc. Of course, anyone joining would still have to spend a good few years in uniform and IMO it is an essential grounding.. As pp has suggested becoming a special is a good way to see if you could cope with it.

I only saw that you wanted more variety than your current job and the chance to make a difference.

Is a certain level of pay important to you? If not you'd probably get that job satisfaction of helping people more if you took a carer role. If it is very important then I'd not be looking at a paramedic role.

Is low stress important, are you anxious, do you need a lot of relaxation time? Do you value your free time or are you committed to working day and night all year round, 14 hour shifts, work life balance isn't great.

You can't be easily offended, you can't go in blind, if you are sensitive or take things personally then it'll be hard. Expect to be assaulted, expect to experience abuse that is personal in nature. Expect to be knackered at the end of it and expect to be underpaid.

There are good points, lots of them. But unless you can overcome all of the above as well as being cut out for the job then don't do it. Seriously!

My DH is now retired from the police after 30 years service working mainly on Major Crime Unit/CID. My dad was also a police officer serving for 30 years in mostly CID roles and I worked for the police in a civvy role for 6 years. My DH loved his job with a passion and it was a huge wrench when he retired. Would he go back now - not on your life! My worst fear would be that my DS20 would decide to join. Luckily he has shown no interest.

The way the police are treated these days is just awful. They can't win in any situation. I saw a poster on social media at the height of the pandemic with pictures of all the emergency services with Thank You and a tick next to the picture of the paramedic, doctors, firemen etc and next the the picture of the police there was a big cross saying "Not You". That said it all for me.

Pay - would like to reach a certain level eventually.

Stress/anxious - not a very anxious person, dont mind some stress

Relaxation time - I get that my downtime would be drastically reduced

Working nights/weekends - part and parcel of the role.