Managing Sickness Absence in the Police Service

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Managing Sickness Absencein the Police Service

• Mr Joe Stewart, OBE, LLB, FCMI, FCIPD
• ACPO Lead for Health, Safety Welfare.
• Director of Human Resources
• Police Service of Northern Ireland

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Home Office/HSE ReviewManaging Sickness
Absence in the Police Service A review of
current practices

• Seven Forces.
• 3 Small, 1 Medium, 3 Large.
• 3 Urban, 4 Rural.
• Absence levels 3 High, 4 Low.
• Trend 4 Improving, 3 Worsening.

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Summary Findings

• Absence Policies.
• Monitoring Absence.
• Causes of Absence.
• Management of Absence.
• Well-being Initiatives.

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What are the challenges facing Police Services ?
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ACPO Strategy for a Healthy Police Service

• Home Office Strategy for a Healthy Police
  Service.
• Ministerial Task Force for Health, Safety
  productivity Review of Sickness Absence in the
  Public Sector.
• HSC Strategy for Workplace Health Safety in GB
  to 2010 beyond.
• Dept for Works Pensions Health, Work
  Wellbeing Strategy.

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Averaged Hours Lost to Sickness Absence 2006/07
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Absence Policies

• Promote Attendance Culture.
• Address Barriers to Good Attendance.
• Fit for Purpose.
• Collaborative Approach.

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Monitoring Absence

• Learning lessons from Analysis.
• underlying factors.
• alternative routes for absence.
• Benchmarking.
• Internally - Other forces - Private sector
• Looking for Trends.

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Management of Absence

• Everyone has specific responsibilities in
  managing absence.

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Well being initiatives

• Targeted Health Promotion.
• Local Initiatives.
• Fitness Suites.
• Duty Credits for Sports.

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Summary

• Managing Absence is Complex Proper Support v
  Deterring Abuse.
• Analysis of Absences and Causes Defines
  Appropriate Responses.
• Trained Line managers supported by OHW, Senior
  Managers, HR.
• Motivation Promoting Attendance Culture.

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Questions