Page 25 - WMPF Federation DEC 2019-flip_Neat

‘There is more to the role

than helping officers in

trouble’

ulie Fleming put much and needs to consider balancing their with supporting them with their health and
herself forward to needs with that of the organisation.” personal needs, such as flexible working
Jbe a Federation Since becoming a rep, Julie, who is applications and looking at suitability for
workplace rep as she currently a neighbourhood officer at Stoke roles.
needed a challenge and Wyken, in Coventry, has completed “I also have found that sickness
and a change to her numerous training courses including sometimes stems from a clash at work with
working life. equality practitioners’ course and the health a colleague or supervisor. While this is often
She joined West and safety reps’ course. a minor incident in itself it can have grown
Midlands Police In the new year she would like to attend to cause real stress for all parties.
Federation when she the mental health first aid course, saying: “I Sometimes this is a case of just trying to
became a PC in 2002 deal with a lot of officers who are suffering mediate and allow for each party to have a
as it was suggested ‘you need the with anxiety or have other mental health voice and understand each other’s
Federation to be there if you ever get in needs and I feel a better understanding of perspective, find some common ground and
trouble’. this will assist me greatly in supporting a way to move forward.
While, thankfully, this has never them.” “I have also supported members through
happened to Julie, she decided, in April One area she feels the Force needs to the ill-health retirement process which can
2017, she wanted to help others. improve is ensuring supervisors have be lengthy and understandably quite
“I had a sergeant at the time who was a sufficient training regarding flexible working emotional at times.”
Fed rep and I came to realise there was more patterns, reasonable adjustment passports As part of her role, Julie meets with Chief
to the role than just helping officers who and the attendance policy as she has seen Superintendent Mike O’Hara on a regular
are in trouble,” she explains. how misunderstanding can cause ‘conflict in basis to discuss local issues and concerns.
“I saw that you can help to be a already difficult times’. She explains: “He is very supportive of
mediator and advisor in difficult times. “I specialise in the equality side of the efforts we make to improve the working
Officers just sometimes don’t realise their Federation work and I have conducted a lot environment for our members, resolving
entitlements or rights. of work guiding and supporting officers at issues and keeping the workforce happy and
“On the other side of this you attendance meetings where they are looking healthy.”
sometimes have to advise people that the at returning to work after a bout of Moving forward, she says the challenges
organisation is right in certain decisions and sickness,” she explains. for the Federation and policing locally and
“ role as a Federation rep but have been
nationally are less officers, more work and
“These meetings often raise challenges

that the officer is asking or expecting too
the impact on mental health.
I specialise in the equality side of Federation
She concludes: “Overall, I really enjoy my
work and I have conducted a lot of work guiding,
surprised just how much work this brings. I
and supporting officers at attendance meetings
hope to continue building on my knowledge
in order to continue supporting our valuable
where they are looking at returning to work after
workforce in future. Policing is not easy at
times and we all need to take care of
a bout of sickness. “ ourselves and those around us.”

www.polfed.org/westmids federation December 2019/January 2020 25