Staffordshire Police Federation wellbeing lead Phil Jones has welcomed a National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) week of action aimed at recognising and celebrating the work of response police officers.
And Phil, who is also branch chair, says he is particularly pleased the NPCC is putting a special emphasis on officer wellbeing and that it wants to help raise awareness of the support available to officers.
“Response policing can be challenging and demanding,” said Phil, after the launch of the week of action yesterday (15 March).
“Those working in response policing are subjected to repeated exposure to traumatic incidents and, while it is clearly part of their role, it doesn’t mean that they are not affected on a human level. Over time, it can have a profound impact on an officers’ mental wellbeing.
“The Federation has long campaigned for more action to be taken to promote officer wellbeing. We want officers to feel comfortable speaking up if they are struggling and we want them to be aware that when they do they will be given help and support.
“Officer wellbeing has to be taken seriously by all parts of the police service. Police officers are dedicated to serving their communities but we also need to ensure that their health and wellbeing remains a priority, not just during a week of action but throughout all 52 weeks of the year.”
The NPCC has worked with Oscar Kilo, the National Police Wellbeing Service (NPWS), the College of Policing and the Police Federation to deliver a range of wellbeing and resilience initiatives, co-ordinated specifically for response officers’ needs, during this week.
Wellbeing vans will be deployed across the UK and wellbeing dogs will be available to some forces, along with a series of Oscar Kilo webinars around sleep, fatigue and resilience and toolkits for self-care and compassion.
A number of engagement opportunities for frontline officers will take place, including a #WECOPS response policing conversation with NPCC wellbeing lead Chief Constable Andy Rhodes and response policing lead Deputy Chief Constable Serena Kennedy.
DCC Kennedy said: “The aim of the week of action is for response officers to be heard and valued, to see their workplace successes celebrated, to know that their wellbeing is important and to understand how and where to seek support when it is needed.
“These officers routinely face and deal with some of the most challenging and difficult situations in society. They are frequently the first on the scene whenever an incident occurs, and they are often the first and only contact that many ever have with the police service. It is only right that they feel supported in the work they do.
“I encourage all senior leaders in policing to get involved with this initiative and to ensure that every opportunity is taken to recognise and celebrate the incredible work these officers do every day.”
Chief Constable Rhodes added: “It is important to know that this is not just a one-off event; we want to use this week as an opportunity to let officers know that support is available to them and to their forces, all year round. The wellbeing of officers and staff is a priority for all police chiefs. We are always listening and support will always be there for those who need it.”
