‘Protected learning time needed for those wanting promotion’ urges deputy chair

26 November 2023

West Midlands Federation is campaigning to get prospective sergeants and inspectors protective learning time after hearing about the severe impact completing their portfolio is having on their mental health and wellbeing.

Branch deputy chair and Detective Sergeant Jase Dooley is urging learning and development leads at West Midlands Police to give officers working towards a promotion the necessary protected time to complete their portfolio.

His calls come after hearing from hundreds of members that their mental health and wellbeing is being hugely affected, with some revealing the workload had even led to a breakdown in relationships.

“As a single parent and sergeant myself, I know how the members are feeling. I’m a single parent and when I was in the promotional process, I would pick my daughter up from school, then we would come home and I would put her to bed, before starting work on my portfolio at 8.30 - often until 1am - and then would be back up at 5.30am for an early shift,” said Jase.

“I was working all of the time. And this is such a common feeling among members.

The time needed to complete prospective sergeants and inspectors' portfolio
is having a huge affect on the mental health and wellbeing of some participants.

“They are working full-time and having to complete a portfolio at the same time, plus have a life. I’ve heard from one member who is being asked by his daughter why he is always working on his laptop - and that’s because he is trying his hardest to complete his portfolio in time. That’s not right.

“Our members are under enough pressure and this is just adding to poor morale.”

At the moment, when a sergeant or inspector passes their promotional interview, they must do a portfolio. This portfolio has to be completed in 10 months and consists of around six to eight sections.

Jase explained that for prospective sergeants and inspectors to become qualified, they must complete the portfolio in 10 months. Until then, they are either a temporary sergeant or temporary inspector.

“The sections vary in length but I’ve got a colleague who wrote 45,000 words for one section - that’s how big each section can be. It’s mad,” said Jase.

“And then, if you don’t get the work done in the 10 months allocated, you face demotion - you don’t get the role. Which is not only demoralising, but it’s embarrassing too, and it means a pay cut as well.”

Jase revealed that he sent an internal email out to all members about the issue and within hours had received more than 100 replies.

“Some of the emails I received back were awful. From damaging mental health to members not being able to spend time with their children. I even had emails detailing breakdowns of relationships because the workload was taking over.

“It’s clear that some people are really struggling and things need to change.”

Jase is now campaigning for protected learning time, which will mean those going through the promotion stage, will be given up to eight hours a month to solely focus on their portfolio.

“I hear from so many other forces that they give their officers protective learning time, so why doesn’t West Midlands? I feel like we’re the only one that doesn’t,” continued Jase, who is hoping to have a meeting with the Force’s learning and development lead at the Force this week.

“The added issue is that this is now putting people off going for promotion. We should be encouraging our officers to grow but in fact, it looks like we’re doing the opposite.

“Don’t get me wrong, I recognise the need for a portfolio but I think there needs to be that protected learning time in place. Having protected learning time will give officers that time at home or in a different place of work - where nobody knows them - so they can get their portfolio done without any distractions.”