Page 9 - WMPF Federation DEC 2019-flip

Don’t bury your head Protecting officers
Don’ t bury your
in the sand

head in the sand
when it comes to your finances. Call for safety training
Y our financial future

could depend on it. to include more

hands-on practice

fficers need to undertake more “A hands-on approach is needed for
personal safety training with an officer safety training. We would previously
Oemphasis on hands-on practice, have a two-day course and then at the end a
according to West Midlands Police half day ‘scenario’ session where the officers
Federation. would be asked to demonstrate what they
The Force has reduced the former two had learned.”
and half day package of training in 2017 He gives the example of the fact that
down to a one-day course but half of that officers are taught several different methods
day is spent on first aid training. of restraining someone on the floor but now
they are just asked to show one they can
Federation workplace representative Jase
Let the Federation help you with See what your colleagues say: Sayers, a former personal safety training remember.
Let the Federation help you with

“There are several different options for a
a free confidential one-to-one instructor and the deputy secretary of the reason and officers need to be able to know
a free confidential one-to-one
Federation’s health, safety and welfare
which method to use in a given situation. If
support on any issues that may "I am very grateful for Caroline's support. committee, says this is not enough. officers only know one of the options, they
Financial MOT.
“The Force has a duty under health and
She could see I found the whole situation

are not going to have that range of different
safety legislation to ensure the safety of its
stressful but she took that pressure from
me and was wonderful. She's a fantastic people and personally I do not think it is approaches to try,” Jase says.

Jase is also concerned that while officers
doing that right now,” he explains.
Your meeting could help you manage the financial issues lady" Serving police officer, 2019 “But I will say that the Force is listening go through refresher training there is
that may arise throughout your police career and into to what we are saying, taking on board our actually no test to assess they have taken on
retirement. "Not only did she help me to understand concerns and trying to take things forward.” Federation workplace representative Jase board what they have been taught.
“You have got to be tested. To my

how the new pension will affect me but One of Jase’s particular concerns is that a Sayers. knowledge in the last 10 years no officer has
If you're struggling to understand what workplace she also helped save me money!" former session spent training officers in and cannot be learned by watching a video failed personal safety refresher training, I
vehicles skills – how to contain a car, how to
benefits are available to you and your dependents, Serving police officer Bennett, 2019 get people out of a car – has now been or simply being told how to do it. For me, don’t think this can be right,” he explains,
George Burrows could help. They have arranged for removed from the practical training there is an over-reliance on NCALT adding that some officers, including those in
Caroline Harris, a financial welfare specialist with "Visiting Caroline Harris was well worth the programme. throughout the training that is now CID, now only do two days’ officer safety
training every two years.
“I worked as a personal safety training
over 25 years' experience, to work alongside the time. She helped put my mind at rest with instructor with the Force for eight years. For provided. It is easy to send a link to an online “Two years is a long time between
tutorial but this can seem like a tick box
police Federation and provide detailed information on informed information rather than guess this session, we would have a car and use it exercise. refresher training when your role does not
the range of pensions and schemes available to you. work" Serving police officer Skidmore, 2019 to fully demonstrate the techniques officers “There is no one-size fits all for safety require you to use the skill set on a daily
can use to either forcibly keep someone in a training but for me, and I know many others basis.”
car or to take them out if necessary,” he who are the same, I learn far better if Jase, who is National Examination Board
to one and find out how the Police Federations scheme "Caroline cleared up any doubts about my explains. someone shows me how to do it and then Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH)
could help you. pension and helped me understand my “These are really important techniques watches as I repeat what I have been shown. trained, is working closely with Chief
Contact the Federation to arrange your tax code better, which has resulted in a Inspector Allan Green, who is the head of
To book simply call: tax refund. I highly recommend any officer “ There is no one-size fits all for safety learning and development, to try to bring
free, confidential one to one support.
about improvements to the way officers are
who is close to retirement come and
trained.
training but for me, and I know many
0121 752 4900 speak to her." Serving police officer Shippam, 2019 others who are the same, I learn far better to see changed is the separate courses for
One element of the training Jase wants
Taser and officer safety training. He believes
Appointments take place at Guardians House if someone shows me how to do it and there needs to be an overlap between the
two.
Appointments take place at Guardians House
“These two subject matters are closely
then watches as I repeat what I have linked but are trained completely
West Midlands Police Federation is an Appointed Representative of George Burrows. George Burrows been shown. separately,” he says.
Replace with: West Midlands Police Federation is an Appointed Representative of George Burrows.
is a trading name of Arthur J Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited, which is authorized and regulated by “
George Burrows is a trading name of Arthur J Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited, which is authorised
the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Spectrum Building, 7th Floor, 55 Blythswood Street,
and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Spectrum Building, 7th Floor, 55
Glasgow, Glasgow, G2 7AT. Registered in Scotland. Company Number: SC108909.
Blythswood Street, Glasgow, Glasgow, G2 7AT. Registered in Scotland. Company Number: SC108909.
www.ajg.com/uk www.polfed.org/westmids federation December 2019/January 2020 09
GB1432/FP459-2019/V3