Members urged to respond to stress survey

3 March 2021

Federation members are being urged to take part in a quick survey as part of a Force-wide stress assessment this month.

The Force has invested heavily in the survey, with Derbyshire Police Federation’s wellbeing lead recognising that officer stress-levels are at an all-time high.

Sergeant Adam Bryan has welcomed the survey, suggesting that it could be a real opportunity for officers to make a real change to their working environment.

 “Stress, it’s a funny old thing. To some extent an amount of stress is healthy, normal and a positive thing but unfortunately stress levels within policing are sky high,” he said.

 “I know we get sent surveys regularly, and the response rate among operational officers is often very low but this one is a real must.”

 The survey, which is part of a top to toe organisational assessment by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), is totally anonymous and takes a maximum of 10 minutes to fill out.

Adam adds: “It’s vital that officers answer the survey. It’s so important as it’s the first stage of the assessment and the next steps will be guided by the survey results.

“The problem with unmanageable stress is that it creeps up on you and before you realise it’s probably too late. We need to find out what the problem is, come up with possible solutions and then recommendations will be made to senior management.”

Following the survey, focus groups and workshops will be formed in each of the departments highlighted by the results.

“This could be the start of a real positive change process and we need it,” Adam concluded.