Page 44 - Top Cover Issue 8

44 TOP COVER ISSUE 8

PFOA NEWS

WELFARE

SUPPORT

PROGRAMME

ast year PFOA Training and Police Federation of • Access to other officers involved in DSI or suspended
England & Wales (PFEW) began discussing the from duty.
idea of a welfare support package for officers • A private ‘chat’ forum for officers within the Welfare
involved in death or serious injury incidents (DSI) Support Programme (later in 2015).
or who are suspended from duty. Research had
found, which did not come as a big surprise, that The Programme will initially be a two year pilot. There will be MARK WILLIAMS, RICHIE JONES AND STUART HAYTHORN
officers who find themselves involved in a DSI much to analyse and access, as all parties are keen to make
L investigation or suspended from duty often fall this work and provide much needed support to officers and
victim to stress or depression. There were disturbing statistics their families. The PFEW are funding the Programme with a
around suicides in policing including in one year three firearms contribution from the PFOA to enable PFOA members to access
officers taking their own lives with their service issue weapon. the WSP when required.

I began work with Charlotte Clover-Lambert, Richie Jones, Alex CRITERIA FOR INCLUSION INTO THE WELFARE
Duncan, John Murphy and Carolyn Davies from the PFEW at SUPPORT PROGRAMME
Federation House, Leatherhead. We looked at various ideas • Death or serious injury incident at work that results in a post
around how best to support officers and indeed their families incident investigation
caught up in DSI incidents or suspended. No two officers are • Officer that are suspended from duty
the same and, whilst one officer can deal with stressful situations • Following consultation between the PFEW and PFOA it
with little or no impact on them or their families, others may not is decided if an officer is in need of being placed on the
be as fortunate. Programme

We are delighted to announce that the new Welfare Support WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR PFOA MEMBERS?
Programme will go live in May 2015. PFOA Training, on behalf PFOA members will be able to contact the 24/7 Phone Support
of the Police Federation of England & Wales, will provide the Line anytime they feel they want to speak to someone. This
Programme which will include: support line is not to be used for non-urgent issues. The phone
• 24/7 Phone Support Line staffed by trained personnel support staff cannot help with operational matters or anything
who have attended courses on Police discipline and post relating to duties or workplace complaints, they are there to
incident procedures, mental health first aid and suicide support officers when they are seriously affected by a workplace
awareness. trauma or are feeling depressed.
• A full time Welfare Officer (Stuart Haythorn ex MPS)
working alongside Federation Representatives supporting PFOA members contacting the support line may in addition
officers and their families. benefit, where necessary, from our support network which
• Access to follow up support services such as PFOA NLP includes unlimited counselling, coaching, respite breaks, out of
Coaches and specialist counselling, EMDR and CBT. pocket expenses and much more ■