Executive summary

On this page, you will find the four stands of the executive summary which have helped to shape this toolkit. Each strand includes an overview of the summary, key findings, recommendations, downloadable resources, and details of the research team.

Page updated on 31 October 2022

Strand 1 - Evidence base

Overview

Use reliable data sources and evidence bases to identify and understand principal issues that negatively and positively impact on the wellbeing of investigators across UK policing, taking learning to inform future toolkits.  

A systematised review of the literature was conducted to identify relevant articles with 16 social science and medical electronic databases individually searched. Relevant but non peer reviewed material was also included from ‘trusted sources’ such as the Police Federation.

Eligibility criteria included the need to:

  • contain empirical research on causes of either secondary trauma or PTSD
  • relate to police officers within the United Kingdom (UK)
  • be peer reviewed or from ‘trusted sources’

Key findings

  • Nature of work is impacting on wellbeing (high levels of responsibility, high-risk roles, exposure to trauma, workload).
  • Negative culture and stigma regarding seeking help is impacting on officer wellbeing.
  • Lower ranks suffer from poorer wellbeing than higher ranks.
  • Mixed results on levels of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and secondary traumatic stress.
  • Mixed results on the significance of gender and trauma.
  • Mixed results on the impact of tenure in the role.

Key recommendations

  • The importance of supportive management (link to culture).     
  • Identification of high-risk roles and adequate support measures (such as psychological screening, counselling provision)     
  • Use of volunteers for key/high-risk roles.     
  • The importance of social /peer support.     
  • There needs to be time for decompression.      
  • There needs to be adequate debriefing after a traumatic event (or ongoing/regular support in high-risk role).      
  • The importance of training and development.      
  • The importance of increasing physical activity.
  • Organisational justice’ approaches as a route to improving wellbeing.    
  • Mindfulness/resilience training.

Resources

Team details

  • Det. Supt Jim Foley (MPS)
  • Det Con. Karen Stephens (Police Federation)
  • T/Det. Chief Supt Elliott Judge (Essex Police)
  • Det. Supt Richard McDonagh (MPS)
  • Dr Ian Hesketh (College of Policing, SRO for Oscar Kilo, National Police Wellbeing Service)

Strand 2 - High risk roles

Overview

Strand 2 were tasked to identify from point of entry on to a detective career pathway, the higher risk roles, ranks and specialisms that may require or benefit from bespoke wellbeing support and identify those factors/tasks that could negatively impact on a persons wellbeing due to the accumulative effect or the whether the matter was a one-off. We also looked at interventions that could assist in improving wellbeing.

The members of this strand attended two virtual workshops. Workshop 1 aimed to identify those roles benefitting from support and the risks factors that would elevate them. Workshop 2 aimed to understand the additional interventions in addition to those offered by force occupational health teams. We had two guest speakers – one from South Wales Police PSD welfare support and Occupational Health Advisor Liz Eades from Oscar Kilo regarding future plans.

Key findings

  • Appendix A lists the roles and people identified as high risk who would benefit from additional support. This document also lists the factors which elevate the risk which include demand, external scrutiny, long term management of risk and lack of mentors.
  • It is evident there are a number of national products in existence (such as OK, Red Arc TRiM) but depending on force priorities some roles are already in receipt of annual mandatory debriefs or specific funding requests are made for bespoke support such as PTSD counselling.
  • A comprehensive high risk role risk assessment has been developed by colleagues nationally to assist in ensuring consistency when identifying high risk roles and to help forces identify those roles that require additional support.

Key recommendations

  • A baseline set of minimum standards should be agreed for roles. For example, a POLIT officer anywhere in England and Wales should receive the same support.
  • Baseline support should be enshrined in a policy document provided by the College of Policing.
  • As APP is reviewed, agreed wellbeing support must be included for example psychological assessment, mandatory counselling.
  • Any new wellbeing support provisions should be centrally co-ordinated. We have identified the PSD welfare support as good practice along with the creation of an ACE’s peer support group for officers and staff. Oscar Kilo must be sighted before anything new is agreed as there may be work on-going.

Resources

Team details

  • Det. Supt Tim Rowlandson (Hampshire)
  • DCI Tracey Rankine (South Wales)
  • T/DCI Rob Youngman (Avon & Somerset)
  • DI Carol Kirk (North Yorkshire)
  • DCI Chris Walker (GMP)
  • Jo Taylor (College of Policing Investigations Manager)
  • DCI Amber Waywell (GMP)
  • Tony Cook (NCA)
  • DCI Brian Howie (MPS)
  • Supt. Jo Doyle (Norfolk)
  • DI Clare Baldwin (Suffolk)
  • Insp. Neil Collinson (Oscar Kilo National Police Wellbeing Service)

Strand 3 - Partnership working

Overview

The remit of the group was two fold: to identify and work with recognised expert partners who can provide reliable evidence-based solutions, and to identify meaningful interventions from strategic stakeholders with relevant experience of key issues such as trauma, blue light response and public service motivation.

Using the findings from existing reporting on police wellbeing and the findings from colleagues, our task was to identify solutions which can go towards addressing some of these key findings. The group reflected on what solutions we had experience or knowledge of in terms of services and initiatives. We also engaged with colleagues in health, Ministry of Defence, local authorities and the armed forces to identify best practice from their areas of work.

Key findings

  • There is a myriad of available products from a wide range of providers including charities and business.
  • Forces across the country are accessing and using many different providers.
  • The National Police Wellbeing Service (NPWS) offer a range of resources to tackle many of the identified issues including podcasts, webinars, training and the wellbeing vans.
  • The NPWS have a number of key partners they are working closely with to deliver products such as Fortis Therapy and Training.
  • There is confusion as to what is a recommended or an endorsed product or solution and indeed which entity is the starting point to help forces or individuals seek the right help, guidance or support. Strategic stakeholders have a wealth of tried and tested wellbeing practices that can transfer into policing to support our workforce.

Key recommendations

  • Have an approved or endorsed list of products or providers that is coordinated by the NPWS and other relevant charities such as Police Care UK and the police treatment centres.
  • Embed wellbeing training into key detective leadership courses.
  • Create greater opportunities to engage with partners to share best practice and collaborate on developing innovative solutions to shared or comparable issues.

Resources

Team details

  • DCI Peter Thorp (Humberside)
  • D/C Supt.  Mark Kameen (Merseyside)
  • Suzanne Hughes (NPCC Investigator Resilience)
  • Det. Supt. Susan Coombs (Merseyside)
  • DCI Kate Kieran (MPS)
  • Jamie Smith (Cambridgeshire H&W Coordinator)
  • Neil Collinson (Oscar Kilo, the National Police Wellbeing Service)

Strand 4 - SIOs

Overview

The remit of the group was to identify and understand issues specific to senior investigating officer SIO’s and provide reliable evidence-based solutions to form part of a national toolkit.

Whilst no bespoke academic or other research exists, it is believed that SIOs are under a high risk of being vulnerable to mental and physical health issues due to stress and responsibility of a high amount of sensitive, difficult and high profile investigations.

Project found that training to date has often focussed on the SIO support their team rather the SIO. There was no national advice on how to provide support, assistance and expertise in preventing sickness of SIOs or supporting them in crisis.

Key findings

  • It is a ‘high risk’ occupation, but more research needed to support this. This would allow annual psychological assessments and enhanced access to OH.
  • Training needed in PIP ¾ courses and CPD to prevent mental health issues in SIOs. Training is too targeted to supporting team and not looking at identifying stress in themselves. PIP 4 training on how to support SIOs/welfare meetings.
  • Peer to peer support and psychological defence training needed – companies such as Inner Armour are currently being looked at by the Strand and reviewing their work with other police forces.
  • Academic research needed to provide an evidence based approach.
  • Peer support needed during adverse media/complaints.

Key recommendations

  • Continue academic research with Huddersfield University into issues relating to SIO wellbeing.
  • NPCC support in training and classifying the role as ‘high risk’.
  • Support to look into Inner Armour courses and APP to provide peer to peer support and psychological defence training.
  • Review of training and CPD for PIP 3 and PIP 4 ensuring that wellbeing becomes an important part of the timetable.
  • Training and support on adverse media/family.
  • Proposal of SIO support officers during complaints and other.
  • Development of a SIO buddy scheme to support each other in times of need.

Resources

Team details

  • Det. Supt. Cheryl Chatterton (Greater Manchester)
  • Fiona McCormack (Surrey)
  • Gary Tomlinson (College of Policing)
  • DCI Lindsay Fisher (PSNI)
  • DCI Julie Gowan (Essex)
  • Det. Supt. Martin Peters (City of London)
  • DI Annie Clayton (Kent)
  • DI Mark Butler (Cambridgeshire)
  • DCI Paul Joyce (West Midlands)
  • Det. Supt. Susan Coombs (Merseyside)
  • Liam Curran (Huddersfield University)

Back to wellbeing of investigators toolkit