Helen providing vital link with student officers in new Fed role

29 September 2022

Suffolk Police Federation’s Helen Self is settling into her new job as the branch’s third full-time rep in addition to her regional role on the Federation’s National Council.

Helen, who has been a police officer for 26 years and a Fed rep for eight, went full-time a month ago primarily to ease the workload on chair Darren Harris and secretary Ben Hudson.

She was already wellbeing and health and safety lead and is using that experience, plus the knowledge she gained as a tutor to new recruits, as the branch’s go-to person for student officers who are still finding their feet in what is often their first job.

Helen said:  “I am essentially the single point of contact for young officers who are just out of training, linking with the sergeants in the personal development unit and making sure they are given any advice and support they might need.

“I used to be a tutor so I am using that experience to help them work out where they are at. A few student officers have got some little niggles that need sorting out so we are working with them on that and pointing them in the right direction.

“Sometimes when you have a new job you can get a bit lost when you’re trying to find your feet and making sure you have everything you need.

“And also this job isn’t for everybody so sometimes there are hard conversations to be had and if those conversations have already taken place it can be about helping them through the process.”

Helen also plans to get out on the road visiting police stations, meeting members and making sure everyone knows about the work of the Police Federation.

“I want to let our members know we are always here for them and also promote what the Police Federation does,” she said.

“People obviously know about the Police Federation and know their Fed reps but often know very little about what we actually do.

“A good example of that would be the Police Benevolent Fund which is under-used because members often don’t know it’s there for them or what to do to access it.

“So we’re spreading the word: this is what the Fed does, this is what we can offer you, is there anything going on out there that you think we should know about?”

Helen said she was looking forward to working more closely with colleagues and building on existing relationships within the Force.

She said: “I like to learn new things all of the time. I think we have a responsibility to grow and develop and we all want to help others and the more we know, the more we can help. Knowledge is power.”

Members can contact the Suffolk Police Federation office by emailing suffolk@polfed.org or phoning 01473 782001.