In this issue:
- CMO Update
- Mental health nurses in policing
- Good Practice Hub - new documents
- OH standards and data updates.
- RESET U app launch.
- The National Senior Police Staff Network
- Events and dates for diaries
- OK 2026 Conference and awards
Update from our Chief Medical Officer
Well, we have passed the spring equinox, and we can look forward to lighter mornings and longer evenings. I always look forward to seeing the daffodils and the crocuses and to getting out into the garden. For me, it is also a time for reflection about the possibilities of the year ahead. For occupational health, we have created a framework for change that has the potential to develop and establish an occupational health function across policing that will meet its needs. There are lots of narratives about policing – some good, some uncomfortable – and you will be aware of the recent publication of the White Paper (From Local to National: A New Model for Policing White paper: From local to national: a new model for policing) This was widely trailed as a stepping stone towards increased national grip on aspects of policing, including workforce. It was gratifying to see a section on supported wellbeing (Sections 275 – 278). Whilst this might seem insufficient, it should be recognised that there was a lot of competition to achieve any inclusion in the paper. Since the publication, I have attended three ministerial roundtable discussions; one was on wellbeing, one was about the Police Covenant and the third was about suicide data reporting. I have been impressed that there is a real desire, at government level, to use police reform as a lever for improved wellbeing.
I was particularly pleased to see the following:
“To consolidate standards set out in the National Police Health and Wellbeing Strategy, we will work closely with the NPWS and the Chief Medical Officer for Policing to set national mandatory standards in policing wellbeing provision, including an enhanced trauma support package and occupational health.”
It is my impression that there is a willingness to use legislation to mandate compliance with wellbeing standards. In occupational health we need to assess how well we are assisting forces to deliver their local health and wellbeing strategies. Good occupational health is an essential component of wellbeing delivery, but it is sometimes seen as being at the margins. The reform police occupational health agenda 2026 will address five key areas:
- Occupational health identity and marketing
- Occupational health demand
- Occupational health and sickness absence management
- Clinical governance of occupational health
- Recruitment and retention of occupational health practitioners, as part of a wider multidisciplinary wellbeing function.
We will take this forward using different working methods – from working groups to force visits. A golden thread running through all this work is data collection, analysis, and insights. You will be aware of the work that Liz and Claire have been doing on collecting occupational health data. We are in discussion with the two main providers of occupational health software – through the user groups – to explore how we can make better use of this. We are also talking to national leads for the national digital policing strategy, who acknowledge the importance of ensuring that occupational health is inside the tent for this important initiative.
We often refer to the green shoots of spring as the first signs of new life, renewal, and growth. I am optimistic that the same can be said of police occupational health.
Professor John Harrison
National Police CMO for England and Wales.
Mental health nurses in occupational health
Managing mental health in policing is a hot topic; however it is also an issue with many complexities. Occupational health as the only clinical discipline in policing is integral to the mental wellbeing agenda and the management of people at work who have mental health issues; however, it cannot be the repository for acute mental health problems or crisis. Some forces are considering their wider OH team, skills, and multidisciplinary ways of working to complement their services. Mental health nurses could add to the range of services. At the present time they are few in number around 14 in 11 forces across England and Wales; however, it is expected that this number will increase.
In the Network we have instigated a group for Mental Health Nurses, to be able to discuss and share practice and experiences. With such a small number it is particularly useful to have professional “buddies” and contacts. A concern of the group was that the role could be misunderstood, with unrealistic expectations. So one of the first jobs of the Group was to develop a Scope of Practice/ competency matrix for Mental Health Nurses and this is due to be formally published in May. It is hoped that this will aid forces considering employing a mental health nurse.
We hear from Lynn Bate, a mental health nurse with Thames Valley Police, about her role as a mental health nurse.
I am one of three mental health nurses that work in Occupational Health within Thames Valley Police. The role has evolved considerably in the (nearly) 15 years that I have worked here. My role primarily involves supporting police officers and police staff that have been referred into Occupational Health due to their mental health problems. Following triage, an appointment is arranged with the employee with the aim of providing support, advice and if needed, work adjustments to help both the manager and individual with managing their mental health issue(s) within the workplace.
Another big part of my role is psychological screening. Unfortunately, the nature of policing requires officers and staff to be exposed to traumatic events and incidents. The psychological screening helps monitor any traumatic impact on employees and can indicate if further support is needed.
Throughout my role, I work alongside psychologists, OHA (Occupational Health Advisors) Occupational Health Doctors and Welfare Officers. I am also regularly at our training centre providing Hep B vaccinations to our new recruits in training so there is quite a variety in what I do.
After (nearly) 15 years in the role, I still enjoy the job and find it rewarding.
The Good Practice Hub
The Good Practice Hub continues to grow with 50 documents, new documents are added regularly, and everything is reviewed at least every two years. If you see any gaps or have a document, you would like to share please do let us know.
New documents:
- Mental Health Nurses Scope of Practice (May 2026)
- Functional Testing for Hearing Aid Workers
- Colour Vision Clinical Protocol – amended.
- Major Incident Plan for OH amended (May 2026)
- OH Data Pack.
OH Standard Tracker
The latest round of quarterly updates to the standards trackers has just finished and it is good to see that progress continues with the Enhanced Standards. Updated dashboards will be available soon. It is great that forces are using and submitting the standards tracker, it enables us to gain a good picture of compliance as well as areas where we can support and guide. There are now only two home office forces who are not submitting a tracker.
OH Data
John in his piece above says, “A golden thread running through all this work is data collection, analysis and insights.” He also comments in Reforming Police OH “The inability to collect and analyse health-related workforce data is a considerable impediment to driving improvement in workforce optimisation, as well as hindering occupational health performance,” This emphasises the importance of OH data and gaining insights in OH demands and is vital in OH reform. We are currently undertaking a proof of value exercise with a small group of pilot forces. They are collecting and submitting three months of data. The intention is to extend this more widely over the coming months.
RESET U - A new wellbeing app
ResetU, a new digital app focused on sleep, fatigue and recovery in policing, has now launched in a first group of forces across the UK. The app has been developed with officers and staff and is designed to reflect the realities of policing - whether that’s shift work, high workload, sustained pressure, or exposure to difficult incidents.
The app focuses on practical support for:
- Sleep
- Fatigue
- Recovery
- Everyday wellbeing behaviours such as movement, hydration, and nutrition
It provides simple tools people can use before, during or after shifts, alongside personalised guidance, and access to additional support.
Oscar Kilo, the National Police Wellbeing Service, is endorsing the app and supporting forces who choose to adopt ResetU as part of their wider wellbeing offer.
ResetU is not automatically available in all forces. Forces choose whether to adopt the app as part of their local wellbeing offer and so far, as part of phase one sixteen forces are signed up and in the process of launching locally. Check out the Oscar Kilo website for more details.
Need a reset? | Oscar Kilo
The National Senior Police Staff Network
The national Senior Police Staff Network (SPSN), which operates as a development group to advance the inclusion, representation and understanding of police staff, was established in 2021 and now has circa 1900 senior police staff members from across UK policing. Gemma Stannard (ACO, National Police Chiefs’ Council) and Alexis Poole (Chief Officer People, Devon & Cornwall Police) are two very passionate police staff members and are the co-founders and co-chairs of the network.
The network’s vision is for a fully integrated, diverse, and inclusive police workforce where the value and contribution of police staff to all policing services and the effective delivery of the policing mission is understood, recognised, and promoted. To help achieve this, with support from the College of Policing, the SPSN holds quarterly online events and an annual in person event which aim to:
- Actively celebrate and promote the importance of police staff and the breadth of work and roles staff undertake as an inclusive part of the policing family.
- Share skills, experience, and knowledge amongst police staff.
- Support the development and wellbeing of police staff ensuring opportunities for integration contribution to the policing mission are maximised.
- Identify and focus on areas impacting and hindering police staff and help to foster improvements being made.
Consultation conducted with the SPSN members highlights that improvements need to be made to ensure the inclusion of police staff across all of areas of policing and the vital contribution staff make to delivering, enabling, and upholding the value and traditions of British Policing needs to be more widely understood and recognised. Achieving these improvements is a key ambition for the network.
The network is aimed police staff in middle management positions and above and we would encourage anyone interested to find out more details via CPD events – senior and executive leaders | College of Policing and anyone that would like to sign up to join the network can do so by completing this form - Senior Police Staff Network (SPSN)
2026 dates for diaries:
- 30 April 2026 - Suicide Awareness for Occupational Health. This is a virtual CPD day organised by OHNAPS. Please contact [email protected] for more details
- 14 April - Managers forum
- 16 April - Civica User Group
- 16 April - CMO Forum
- 29 April - OHT Group
- 13 May - Mental health Nurses Group
- 14 May - Cority User Group
- 20 May - Practitioner Network meeting
- 26 May - Physio Group
Save the date:
13-14 October Oscar Kilo Conference and Awards. Crewe Hall.
You can register your interest here
The Oscar Kilo awards
The National Police Wellbeing Awards are now open. These awards are your opportunity to recognise work that’s made a real difference to the wellbeing of officers, staff, and volunteers across policing.
If your team, force, or service has delivered something that’s had a clear impact, however big or small, we want to hear about it.
There is an OH category again this year, we were delighted with the number and quality of entries last time, so please think about entering and showcasing what you do, you may be a winner!
Please visit the OK website for more details Oscar Kilo awards | Oscar Kilo
