The impact of the role
PSNI expects student officers to successfully complete their training course and be deployed as an operational officer. This means they must be fit for the full range of operational duties while working the full range of shifts including night working. The core of Police duties is largely universal, but each Police Service has its own challenges in dealing with local community issues. Police officers therefore need physical and emotional resilience to carry out this role. The medical assessment considers if the candidate is capable of carrying out the core duties of a constable in line with the National Guidelines on police recruitment but also takes into account the local policing challenges in Northern Ireland.
Body Composition Standard
It is expected that candidates will have already been adopting a healthy lifestyle with regard to diet and exercise before the medical assessment. However, you should note that the body composition standard is set at the start of the obese range, so being moderately overweight is acceptable but being obese and aspiring to meet the standard in the future is not acceptable.
Health and Pension
In some instances, candidates may be able to carry out the role currently and for a reasonable period but may have an increased risk of ill health retirement at some point in the future. Consequently adjustments to the pension benefits with regard to ill health retirement may have to be made but this is not a bar to recruitment.
Disability Discrimination Act 2004
Since 1st October 2004, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 has applied to the recruitment and selection of police officers. Any applicant with a disability will be considered individually on their merit. This does not mean that people will be recruited who are not fit for the job. Applicants will undertake a medical examination. Consultation will take place with any individual who has an impairment that might prevent them from undertaking the role of Police officer Patrol / Probationer and consideration will be given to whether there are reasonable adjustments that can be made to enable them to do the job now and for a reasonable time.
Some Key Medical Standards
Vision
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Binocular vision 6/6 aided or unaided (if visual aids are used must have 6/12 or better in best eye)
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Unaided acuity 6/36 binocularly
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Near vision N6 aided or unaided
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Normal visual fields
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Severe colour deficiency not acceptable
Body Composition Standard
Candidate will not meet the standard if:
BMI candidate's body composition is greater than 30 and
Body Fat candidate's body fat is greater than 5% above the predicted maximum and
Examination candidate appears overweight at medical assessment.
Hearing
Hearing loss of more than a total of 84dB over 0.5-1,2KHz range or more than a total of 123dB over the 3, 4, 6KHz range in both ears is unlikely to be suitable. When one ear is affected or when aids may overcome the difficulty, further assessment will be required to identify possible adjustments.
Assessment
Following the medical assessment you will be considered to be one of the following:
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Medically fit, having met the required standards; or
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Medically unfit, having not met the required standards; or
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Medically fit, but requiring adjustment in the role which will be considered by the PSNI DDA Panel; or
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Medically unfit, having met the required standards for the role but not eligible for the Police Pension Scheme ill health benefits.
Appeals Process
Details of the appeal process will be provided to candidates declared unfit for the role or pension.
Please note that the Medical Examination stage of the PSNI Recruitment Process will be managed by PSNI Occupational Health and Welfare (OHW). OHW have published additional information regarding the pre-employment medical and this is accessible here.