We support and inspire: police CVF examples and how to write your answer
Updated · 3 min read
'We support and inspire' is about helping the people around you do their best: encouraging them, supporting them through difficulty, and setting an example others want to follow. You don't need to be anyone's manager to show it. Some of the best answers come from peers who stepped up for a colleague.
'We support and inspire' is one of the six competencies in the College of Policing's Competency and Values Framework (CVF), updated in 2024. You'll meet it in application forms, assessment processes, interviews and promotion boards. Our main CVF guide covers the whole framework; this page goes deep on 'We support and inspire'.
What assessors look for
- You noticed when someone needed support, and offered it.
- You encouraged others and helped them grow in confidence.
- You set a positive example through your own behaviour.
- You gave people a sense of purpose or direction.
Showing the values at the same time
The three CVF values (courage, respect and empathy, and public service) run through every competency. Supporting a colleague who's struggling often takes courage and always takes respect and empathy. Show both, and keep the person's dignity at the centre.
How the question is usually worded
- Give an example of when you supported a colleague who was struggling.
- Tell us about a time you motivated others to achieve something.
- Describe a time you set a positive example for others.
An example answer
As a shift supervisor in a busy restaurant, I noticed a new waiter, Jamie, was making more mistakes each week and had stopped joining in with the team. Other staff had started to complain about him. Rather than raise it in front of others, I asked him to help me with the stock count after a shift so we could talk privately. He told me he was struggling with the till system and was too embarrassed to ask for help again, and that he was also caring for his mum, which was leaving him exhausted. We agreed I'd pair him with me for the next four shifts so he could learn the till without pressure. I also asked my manager, with Jamie's permission, whether his shifts could avoid late finishes for a while, which she agreed to. I made a point of praising him in team briefings when he did well, so others could see him improving. After a month, Jamie's errors had dropped to almost none, and he volunteered to train the next new starter on the till. He told me later that he had been close to quitting. I learned that a struggling colleague often just needs someone to notice.
- Notices someone struggling and acts privately
- Respects their dignity and situation
- Practical support, plus public encouragement
- A clear turnaround, and the person goes on to support others
Your examples don't have to come from policing. Most applicants use work, volunteering, sport or study. What matters is that it clearly shows the competency, and what you personally did.
Common mistakes
- Choosing an example where you just told someone what to do.
- Making yourself the hero at the expense of the person you supported.
- Leaving out what changed for them as a result.
The CVF describes each competency at different levels for different roles, so read the indicators for the level on your force's advert, and check which version of the framework they're using. Then save your best 'We support and inspire' answer: it will come up again at interview, and again at promotion. The STAR method is the structure behind every answer on this page.
Frequently asked questions
- I've never managed anyone. Can I answer this well?
- Yes. Supporting a peer, training a new starter or encouraging a teammate are all strong examples.
- Should I include personal details about the person I helped?
- Only what's needed, and nothing they'd be uncomfortable with. Changing their name is a good idea.