Work being done to improve officers’ wellbeing

23 September 2024

We recently caught up with the Force’s wellbeing team to find out how they are taking a more proactive approach - rather than reactive - to help tackle poor morale in Derbyshire.

“There’s a very unhealthy culture in policing, which means cops are expected to cope. We want to change that culture,” said Kate Smith, the Force’s health and wellbeing manager.

“We’re working really hard to create a long-term strategy. Our aim is to be proactive rather than reactive, and although we’ve got a long way to go, the foundations are definitely being put in place to better support officers.

Wellbeing measures

“It’s all about identifying the issues early on and putting preventative wellbeing measures in place. We’re really looking at what we can do before officers reach that critical point - in an ideal world, we would have intervened before it gets to that stage.”

Historically, wellbeing sat under the HR team, up until recently, which saw it move under occupational health, which means there are clinical professionals on hand to help officers when they need it most.

“We’ve bought the support in-house, which means we have clinical professionals working on-site here,” continued Kate, who explained that they are also training supervisors and managers so they feel confident supporting team members who might be struggling with their wellbeing.

Additionally, the wellbeing team is hoping to tour the stations around Derbyshire, holding health and wellbeing checks, which give officers the chance to discuss any ongoing health concerns they might have.

Plus, on the first Wednesday of every month, both police officers and staff are invited to attend an online ‘wellness cafe’.

Head of occupational health and wellbeing Margaret Alcorn explained that the team are constantly using feedback from officers to shape their ongoing strategy.

“As Kate said, it’s all about prevention,” said Margaret.

“It’s a really challenging time for police officers and the expectations put on their shoulders are getting higher and higher. And we mustn’t forget that, on average, police officers witness around 400 to 600 traumatic events in their career, which is huge compared to the average amount civilians see.

“We want to help officers experiencing trauma - whether it’s daily or a one-off - and put the correct support in place to prevent it getting any worse.”

Stakeholders

A ‘Well Together Board’ has also been launched, which gives key stakeholders from across the Force and Federation the chance to meet each quarter and discuss, collaboratively, key themes and concerns.

Derbyshire Police Federation’s wellbeing lead Helen Gallear: “It’s brilliant to see that the Force is proactively working hard to address the wellbeing and morale of our members head-on.

“It’s no secret that I am extremely passionate about improving wellbeing of officers across Derbyshire, and there’s no doubt in my mind that the steps being taken by the Force’s wellbeing team is helping to do just that.

“Collaborative working is essential, as we can all do our part - on both a professional and personal level - to support one another.

“I’m particularly pleased to see so much is being done around training senior managers and supervisors. After all, it’s not just about helping the people who are struggling with their mental health, but ensuring that vital support is in place on a daily basis within their working environment.”