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Police Covenant Consultation Group minutes 23 Nov 2022

Updated 15 January 2024

Overview

The group discussed several issues relating to mental health with participants focussing on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mental health support for families and peer support.

Mental health standards

• Sam Smith, Green Ribbon Policing, suggested clearly defined mandatory mental health standards to be implemented for all forces collectively. This would create a standardised provision of mental health resources, so everyone can access the support they require.
• Currently, charities have been contributing significantly to the provision of support for police, such as supporting police families, creating programmes for officers facing retirement due to ill health and offering officers with PTSD therapy (including cognitive behavioural therapy / eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy). Participants agreed that services currently provided by the third sector should exist in addition to force’s own support system, not as the sole support system.

Direct support for workforce

• It was highlighted that the support offer for police officers and staff with life-long physical health conditions and neurodiversity needs to be improved, including raising awareness of their requirements.
• Police Care UK highlighted that their recent study suggested as many as 1 in 5 police officers suffer with PTSD. ^{[footnote 1]}
• A system of peer support is currently being implemented in some forces, mainly in the North of England. The reports from those involved suggested that they have been positive and the group were keen to see this expanded to all forces.

Risk factors and mental health

• The group raised concerns about the impact of single crewing on levels of stress and anxiety and the importance of ensuring access to immediate support structures.
• The need to acknowledge the specific experiences of under-represented groups within police and the additional impact on mental health was also raised.
• The group noted an urgent need for improved line management / supervisory support in many cases, and for existing support systems to be made more easily accessible. Current experiences prevented officers and staff from being able to highlight and discuss ongoing issues. They also reported that staff networks have limited capacity to absorb some of this demand.
• Workloads and organisational hindrance stressors were identified as a major issue which put pressure on time, for example for management to do wellness checks, or for colleagues to engage in positive extra-curricular activities.
• Using performance reviews for wellbeing checks was suggested as a way for management to support their staff and provide a point where prevention tools could be deployed.

Funding and support

• Police Care UK, along with other charities and associations, explained that they are generally funded by staff membership, fundraising or donations, which presents challenges in terms of the support they can provide given rising presentation of need particularly around mental health. ^{[footnote 2] [footnote 3]}

Outcome - Consultation Group suggestions

Suggestion

Explore the potential for wellbeing and mental health (MH) checks (psychological tests) to be included as part of performance reviews, every 6-12 months.

In addition, checks during recruitment and promotion processes to ensure applicants have mental resilience to fulfil role safely.

Follow up

Whilst acknowledging wider concerns around ensuring that wellbeing checks are separate from formal performance conversations, NPWS are expanding existing work looking at regular mental health check-ups to ensure a more holistic and regular (annual) approach.

Suggestion

Mental health and resilience training (self-help / early signs) included as part of pre-deployment training.

Follow up

NPWS has confirmed that this is captured under the current training model. They are looking at ways to include this in the wider curriculum where possible.

Suggestion

One centralised point for signposting to all MH resources.

Follow up

Home Office to discuss with the College of Policing / Oscar Kilo on where the best place for online resources would be.

Suggestion

Standardised direct MH resources available to all, no matter the police force or level.

Follow up

NPWS has confirmed from April 2023 onwards, occupational health standards and Operation Hampshire will be added to PEEL assessments, meaning forces will be formally assessed in these areas.

Chief Medical Officer will be considering whether the therapy offered to officers can be improved to allow for ongoing support.

Suggestion

To expand awareness of options available for treating / preventing trauma / PTSD / complex PTSD and the different applications and benefits of each.

Follow up

NPWS confirmed that interim Chief Medical Officer (iCMO) is engaged with Police Care UK on an innovative PTSD recovery intervention - NPWS funded the initial pilot last year. Police Care UK will fund hereafter.

Suggestion

Police having priority in NHS psychotherapy (prevention of complex PTSD)

Follow up

NPWS are currently working with interim CMO on NHS engagement to find potential pathways / solutions for police.

Chief Medical Officer to engage with the NHS on potential signposting and tailored support for the police.

Suggestion

Peer support networks to be supported to expand into more forces and teams (8 peer supports per 1 peer champion)

Follow up

NPWS confirmed 40 forces have received OK (Oscar Kilo) peer training, which includes 300 superintendents and CPOSA ranks. There are also OK9 dogs and handlers who provide free and available peer support across England and Wales.

Suggestion

Buddy system for officers with similar conditions / situations

Follow up

NPWS and the College of Policing to be asked about the feasibility of a buddy system in policing (with support from local forces and Home Office).

Suggestion

Disability and reasonable adjustments toolkit.

Follow up

College of Policing are currently working on creating a reasonable adjustments toolkit. NPWS to signpost this toolkit once published.

Suggestion

Training to inform colleagues and management of neurodivergence and protected characteristics to improve tolerance and understanding of needs.

Follow up

College of Policing - the reasonable adjustments toolkit (mentioned above) should reference further guidance for leadership on neurodiversity and protected characteristics.

Suggestion

Create a set rules (not guidance) to hold management accountable for staff wellbeing.

Follow up

NPWS is looking into approved professional practice (APP) being put in place for officer and staff wellbeing.

Footnotes

1. Police Care UK; Cambridge University (2020) Police workforce: almost one in five suffer with a form of PTSD ↩

2. Police Care UK Injury on duty research 2016 ↩

3. Police Care UK (2022) Ill health retirement commitment ↩