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Meet Kelly Wayman, Professional Standards Department (PSD) Business Manager, who has been with Northamptonshire Police for 19 years.
“My role involves assessing police complaints or conduct issues against regulations to ensure there are no breaches of professional standards. I have responsibility and oversight of all police officer and staff misconduct meetings and hearings in the Force. So, any investigation that concludes with a case to answer is essentially passed to me to manage the back end of the process.
“It’s also my job to interrogate our centurion PSD system to obtain data for the Home Office and Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) to publish, ensuring the accuracy of information, while also supporting the head of PSD in compiling reports
“I have line management responsibilities for the admin team, the hearings officers, and our local complaints support officer. An important part of my job is to maintain oversight of PSD processes requiring improvement and support individual leaders in driving forward low level reflective practice or progressing performance concerns.
“What I enjoy most about my role is the variety of what I am dealing with on a day to day basis and the thought that I am making a difference to the integrity of policing by weeding out the few who do not uphold the standards. I also like to think I’m supporting others to reflect and learn from mistakes.
“Sometimes just getting through the day to day and still maintaining a work life balance and raising happy kids can feel like a massive achievement. Personally, I’m most proud when the people I’ve worked with and supported, move on into roles that they have worked hard to achieve. I do get a buzz out of supporting others in their development and recognition of achievements.
“I am somewhat astonished by the things that come across my desk but equally I do appreciate that these relate to the few rather than the majority of officers and staff that work for Northamptonshire Police.
“When I first moved into PSD it was certainly eye opening. Attending my first misconduct hearing and experiencing the tangled web of deceit that people get themselves into. Lying is never going to get anyone far in this business.
“It is never nice to see someone lose their job or face misconduct proceedings. I truly appreciate the role I do and how the decisions I make will have a personal impact on those being investigated. It is not something I take on lightly and there are never any easy decisions, even the simplest of matters, can have a profound impact on others. I appreciate to some I’m just a name or face that represents something that is being done to them, but I hope through dealing with me I manage to convey the care and attention I put into the work I do.
“Before moving to PSD I worked in the Criminal Justice Department. There were lots of cases that impacted my personal values, not least of all was a case involving an 18-month-old baby who had been struck by a car reversing out of a drive. There were no serious injuries thankfully, but the toddler was in the care of a four year old and I remember taking statements from the neighbours and it hit me just how it had come to be that an 18-month-old was in the care of a four year old!
“I never pursued a career in PSD but the opportunity came up at a time when I was thinking about my future development and I thought this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I’m glad I didn’t because I’ve really found it a great role and met some great people from across the force, region, the College of Policing and IOPC, many of whom share the same values I do.”
Deputy Head of PSD, Detective Chief Inspector Ben Howe who nominated Kelly, said: “As the business manager, Kelly performs an essential role as a part of the senior management team in the effectiveness of PSD.
“The Professional Standards Department plays a crucial role in maintaining the trust and confidence of the pubic. As business manager, Kelly is influential in the PSD response to complaints and reviewing matters where officers and staff may not have conducted themselves in line with the Standards of Professional Behaviour. Kelly also ensures that the infrastructure is in place for PSD to manage investigations as well as overseeing our misconduct proceedings all run effectively.
“Kelly deeply cares about the work that she does, and she shows real empathy in her decision making. Since the introduction of the new Regulations in 2020, Kelly has played a key role in resolving many matters swiftly through the new process. This brings complaints and minor breaches of the standards to a conclusion quickly and reduces the anxiety for all involved.”
To find out more about a role in the Professional Standards Department, and to view all our current vacancies, please click the link below.