Page 23 - WMPF Federation Magazine February / March 2018

Areas for improvement
The HMICFRS legitimacy review said the Numbers using Welfare Support Programme
Force should: increase as rising demands put officers
l E nsure that all members of the
workforce understand the concept of under pressure
unconscious bias and realise how it can
undermine good decision-making, and More officers are struggling to cope with the greater and that has been well-
support them in providing a bias-free demands placed on them during the course documented in recent times.
service. of their duties. “While we continually strive for more
l Ensure, in respect of the use of force, That is the stark reality of policing, support from the Government to help our
that: according to the latest figures from the dedicated officers do their job to the best of
l Front-line officers and staff have a Welfare Support Programme (WSP). their ability, the pressure on those officers
thorough understanding of the fair, The WSP was set up in June 2015 as part increases in many ways.
legal and professional use of coercive of a joint initiative between the Police “Sometimes, that pressure can manifest
powers particularly in relation to Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) and itself in the development of ill-health or
handcuffing and conducting strip Police Firearms Officers’ Association (PFOA), problems with mental health and that is
searches of people in custody; and offers year-round support to officers and where the WSP can offer such valuable
l Officers and staff routinely record all their immediate families. help.”
use of force; In the last three years, 857 officers and The use of the WSP varies across forces.
l It introduces processes to enable their family members have registered on the Some do not use the programme at all,
effective and robust scrutiny of data; programme. while others refer people on a weekly basis.
and West Midlands Police Federation chair Over the last 12 months, the WSP has
l It uses individual and organisational Tom Cuddeford said: “The demands being made 2,856 contacts with officers and their
learning from the scrutiny of placed on our officers are getting greater and family members.
information and data about the use of B-Well offers free counselling service
force to improve the way the workforce
treats people. Officers and staff have access to a free, project by the Force’s People and
l Ensure that its published gifts and 24/7 confidential counselling and support Organisation Development (POD)
hospitality register is routinely kept up service provided by the Force through its department and is part of the People Deal
to date. Employee Assistance Programme. – the Force’s promise to its people.
l Ensure it introduces a robust process for B-Well is delivered through an external Sarah Cavendish, the Force’s mental
effective vetting ‘renewals’ provider to offer 24/7 access to a variety of health lead, said last year: “Occupational
arrangements so that all members of support and resources inclusive of health and B-Well are the two main
the workforce have up-to-date vetting counselling, financial advice, line manager avenues of support that I would
checks. support, an online CBT programme and a recommend people explore, however, we
l Review how it promotes access to its lifestyle app. know that support is personal to the
complaints system (including the “This is a great service for our officers individual and it may be that officers and
distribution of printed information and staff,” says Tom Cuddeford, chair of staff need to ‘try out’ different options
about how to make a complaint), in line West Midlands Police Federation, “It can before they find what works for them.
with IPCC statutory guidance, the offer a life-line in people’s hour of need. “This may include support from the
support it is able to offer people who We appreciate there is no ‘one size fits all’ chaplaincy, the Police Federation, the staff
may need additional assistance to make service that will work for everyone so it is association groups, the Benevolent Fund or
a complaint, and how it promotes the pleasing to see an increased range of Police Mutual and so on. For anyone who is
complaints process in communities that support on offer and we welcome the fact feeling stressed or anxious or dealing with
have less trust and confidence in the that the Force launched B-Well last year in mental health issues I would always advise
police. response to concerns about officer and to seek support internally, in the first
l Improve the quality and timeliness of staff welfare.” instance from your line manager and
updates to all complainants and other Other than anonymised data about externally, from your GP.
parties involved, in line with IPCC the numbers of people using the service, “They will be best placed to signpost to
statutory guidance. the details of those who use the service other forms of support and resources and
l Ensure that all allegations which meet and what they discuss with counsellors is will have a personal relationship with you.
the mandatory criteria for referral to the kept entirely confidential. Other avenues like B-Well or occupational
IPCC are so referred. WMP B-Well was the first major health can then be considered.”
l Ensure it has effective arrangements in Blue Light Programme - support for emergency services
place to support all individuals involved
in any grievance and that all grievances Independent research by Mind shows that search and rescue services across England
are properly identified, investigated and members of the emergency services are and Wales.
speedily resolved. even more at risk of experiencing a mental Thousands of staff and volunteers
l Ensure that its supervisors are able to health problem than the general across these services have actively
recognise warning signs, intervene early population, but are less likely to seek challenged mental health stigma, learnt
and provide support to members of the support. more about mental health and made
workforce whose wellbeing is at risk. Mind is delivering the Blue Light positive changes in their approach to
l Ensure that its workforce is aware of the Programme to provide mental health wellbeing with the support of the Blue
wellbeing support that is available and support for emergency services staff and Light Programme so far.
how to access it. volunteers from ambulance, fire, police and You can find out more at mind.org.uk

www.westmidspolfed.com federation February/March 2018 23