WELLBEING 7 INCLUSION

Q4/ END OF YEAR WELLBEING REPORT
Members considered the paper which provided oversight of Police Scotland/SPA health and wellbeing activity during Q4 and from across the financial year 2023/24. Katy Miller (KMiller) highlighted a number of key points as detailed in the paper.
In discussion the following matters were raised:
• Members were informed that it was not possible to separate physiological work and life reasons for those retiring under ill health as often they were intertwined.
• Members referred to the average ill health retirement age being 48, noting it was a young age to be deemed not fit for work. The Committee Chair suggested that the forthcoming joint meeting with the Legal committee could look at the end stage of health and wellbeing of the workforce in more detail. KMiller advised that she read every assessment for ill health retiral, and the cumulative reason was the effects of policing roles and trauma. KMiller emphasised that the retirals are based on being unfit for officer duties, as opposed to unfit for work. Before an Officer is retired, the organisation works hard to find alternatives whilst abiding by the medical assessments.
• Both Trade Union representatives shared their disappointment that the paper mainly covered Officer detail and urged future reports to provide detail on staff. Staff Association representatives commented that the ill health retiral numbers and ages were indicative of greater pressures on fewer officers. An ageing workforce and a greater number on modified duties can acerbate the problems of the operational workforce being smaller.
• KMiller offered to undertake a deep dive of staff injury on duty and provide the Committee with the outcomes.
• Vicki Morton confirmed Forensic Services utilise various wellbeing mechanisms and use effectively. Modified duties are also considered for Forensic Services staff and ill health retirals are low.
The Committee RESOLVED to:
• NOTE the report.
• AGREE the following action:
A deep dive of staff and Officer injury on duty to be undertaken, with outcomes provided to the Committee.
PC – 20240530- 001

ILL HEALTH RETUREMENT REVIEW CLOSURE REPORT
Members considered the paper which provided an update on ill health retirement and injury on duty considerations. Jackie Kydd highlighted a number of key points as detailed in the paper, confirming the paper specifically covered Officers due to Chief Executive Officer delegations.
Members had no follow up questions.
The Committee RESOLVED to:
• NOTE the report.

HMICS REVIEW OF CULTURE IN POLICE SCOTLAND – POLICE SCOTLAND RESPONSE
ACC Stuart Houston (ACCHouston) provided a progress update in relation to Police Scotland’s response to the HMICS report. A Short Life Working Group has been established and has met a number of times, whilst also engaging with business areas to understand any crossovers with other HMICS reports. Meetings between Police Scotland and HMICS have taken place where actions have been mapped out. A draft recommendation improvement plan has been circulated to business leads and feedback will be incorporated, as well as learning from the MET culture change programme. The next step is the Organisational Culture and Improvement Plan where progress will be reported through the Police Scotland People Board and will be presented to the SPA People Committee in August.
Members emphasised the importance of milestones against activity being included in improvement plans, to which ACCHouston advised that culture dashboards were assisting with this work.
The Committee RESOLVED to:
• NOTE the report.

YOUR VOICE MATTERS BI-ANNUAL UPDATE
Members considered the paper which provided an update on closing the remaining actions from the 2021 Your Voice Matters survey and the next organisational survey which will take place this summer. Barry Donnachie (BDonnachie) highlighted a number of key points as detailed in the paper.
In discussion the following matters were raised:
• Members were assured that future surveys will assist measuring the impact and will be relatable to the action plan.
• Members were advised the report covered Police Scotland, SPA and Forensic Services.
• The Committee Chair noted that the paper included a lot of narrative of intention but little on what actions have been taken against the workforce voice. BDonnachie responded that the last paper included the ‘you said, we did’ narrative but this has not been included in the report in order to look at longer term ambitions. Stakeholder engagement will involve seeking views and learning on how surveys are communicated and deployed.
• Chief Superintendent Rob Hay (CSHay) encouraged the service to ask the same questions twice to allow direct comparison, as well as timeous publication of results with disaggregate results to meaningful level. BDonnachie confirmed these areas points would be considered for future surveys.

The Committee RESOLVED to:
• NOTE the report.

HMICS FRONT LINE FOCUS – WELLBEING
Members considered the HMICS Front Line Focus – wellbeing report. Mark Hargreaves provided a detailed summary of the key findings noted in the paper.
In discussion the following matters were raised:
• The Committee Chair questioned whether the wellbeing impact assessment is routinely completed across the UK. Jill Hargreaves (JHargreaves) responded that HMCIS tried to identify where they were being used but struggled to do so. Notwithstanding, JHargreaves commented that there was still value in pursuing the assessments in terms of identifying impacts and determining how they can be mitigated.
• On behalf of Unite, Brian Jones (BJones) commented that the report was welcomed, and the outcomes corroborate with what their membership are reporting.
• Members heard HMICS are expecting an action plan from Police Scotland by mid-July.
The Committee RESOLVED to:
• NOTE the report.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING PROGRAMME – THE WAY FORWARD
Members considered the paper which provided an update on key findings and recommendations from the recent independent review of Police Scotland’s Health and Wellbeing programme and the HMICS Frontline Focus – Wellbeing inspection. KMiller highlighted a number of key points as detailed in the paper.
In discussion the following matters were raised:
• Members sought clarity on the definition of the theory of change and heard it was making connections between aspirations and what the reality is.
• Trade Union and Staff Association representatives welcomed the report and the approach taken by HMICS. CSHay commented that the report appeared to indicate a renewed focus on the front line. DFerguson added that Unions had raised concerns in relation to the Operational Base Levels (OBL).
• The Committee Chair requested clarity on the definition of OBL and the impact of the workforce not being to take annual leave as a result of it.
The Committee RESOLVED to:
• NOTE the report.
• AGREE the following action:
Members to be provided clarity on the definition of OBL and the impact of the workforce not being to take annual leave as a result of it.
PC – 20240530- 002

POLICING TOGETHER BI-ANNUAL UPDATE
Members considered the paper which provided an overview of the Policing Together 6 Monthly Performance Report. Tina MacLucas highlighted a number of key points as detailed in the paper.
Members had no follow up questions.
The Committee RESOLVED to:
• NOTE the report.

SEX EQUALITY AND TACKLING MISOGYNY IMPACT MEASURES
Paper Withdrawn