Dyfed Powys Police: mental health training for student officers

Background

Mind’s (2007) report ‘Another Assault’ highlighted that people with mental health problems said they are often treated poorly by the police. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC)(2008) carried out extensive research into mental health and policing and noted that mental health is a factor in many of the most serious cases of police misconduct investigated by the IPCC.  Knowledge among the police of complex mental health legislation is poor (Lynch et al, 2002). It has been recommended that officers have adequate training to recognise the symptoms of mental disorders and understand their powers under the Mental Health Act (Mind, 2007; IPCC, 2008).

Cwm Seren, a mental health unit for adults in Carmarthen, recognised this, and through discussions with Dyfed Powys Police, the Nursing Team agreed to develop a mental health training programme. The aim was to improve the quality of learning and development for all student police officers about mental health issues. This would not only enhance the officers’ skills and knowledge, but also aimed to ensure the most appropriate use of mental health resources in a way that best meets the needs of service users. The Police requested a programme that would enable their officers to have a better understanding of mental illness and treatments, relevant legal aspects and practical skills in communicating with people experiencing mental distress.

Current Programme

The programme runs over six days, and operates four times a year for each intake of student Police Officers. These Officers have a two day course on Mental Health First Aid followed by a four day placement in the acute services that their Base Command Unit covers. Service users are involved in the programme planning and delivery and discuss their experiences of mental illness with the Officers. There are opportunities to meet other members of the multidisciplinary team, and to spend time on the unit. The police engage in learning sessions about the prevalence of mental health problems, how these may present and the most appropriate skills to use with people experiencing mental health distress.

Other learning experiences include a short ward placement, role playing essential communication skills, observing various treatment techniques and participating in a simulated voice hearing exercises. Officers also attend ward rounds, spend time with patients, visitors, staff, and patients` advocates; and have attended Mental Health Act Tribunals. They have also accompanied Crisis Resolution Teams (CRT) on home visits and the daily organisation of Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs) in Adult Mental Health, in areas that they would eventually police.

The unit has a draft working protocol which enables the nursing team to work in partnership with the police, which includes nurses being in attendance at the police station until patients are moved to more appropriate settings, giving advice on management of people in distress, and where appropriate administering medication to patients in police custody to prevent a deterioration in their mental health and for their safety.

Evaluation

The Community Police Development Programme has been running successfully for over six years, and over 300 officers have attended. Officers say their views have been challenged. They have found mental health units to be quiet and calm, and that there are a wide range of reasons for people becoming ill, and that patients come from a variety of social, economic and educational backgrounds. Police who have attended the programme have recognised the impact of mental illness, the need to treat people as individuals not criminals, and the difficulty in integrating people with mental health problems back into the community.

Evidence has shown a reduction in the use of Section 136 of the Mental Health Act (Department of Health, 2008), in the local area, and improved partnership working between the Police and Mental Health Services and Service Users. Police Officers have increased knowledge of local policies that have been agreed between the local police, health and social services for putting into practice section 136 of the Act. For example, knowing who to contact at both the local hospital and social services departments.

Positive evaluations have resulted in a Service Level Agreement between Cwm Seren, part of Hywel Dda NHS Trust, and Dyfed Powys Police that all officers attend this training course and experience a mental health placement.

The following comments are taken from evaluation forms:

‘..any opportunity whereby there is a greater understanding of what people with mental health problems go through can only be for the good.’

‘Clients have had the opportunity to engage with the police in a positive manner.’

‘People are very accepting of the training and see it a great benefit to us and them. It has helped to build some bridges between the force and other agencies.’

‘Staff feel they have better links to the police which will enhance communication. This can and will benefit the patient, police, nursing staff and the general public. Patients have expressed a desire for the students to continue to attend the course. The patients believe that it is a positive step to help them when discharged home.’
‘It is therefore encouraging that organisations with a joint and vested interest in mental health issues can positively affect improvements to police officers` professional development that will benefit all stakeholders.’
Future developments

The Community Police Development training is a rolling programme. It is now also delivered to Custody Sergeants, Community Police Support Officers, Gold, Silver and Bronze Commanders in the Firearms Division along with Hostage Negotiators. During November 2009 the firearms officers from Dyfed Powys Police have participate in several training sessions. The Independent Police Complaints Commission in Cardiff have visited the unit, been impressed by the training and have recently participated in this themselves. The programme is pioneering and may be the first nurse-led project that delivers an ongoing mental health training programme to the police in Wales.

Cwm Seren are expanding their links with Swansea University, which places student nurses on the unit during their mental health nurse training programmes, and are currently exploring further ideas for research and development of the programme.

References

Department of Health (2008) ‘Mental Health Act 1983: Code of Practice (2008 Edition) (2008 Revised) London: HMSO

Independent Police Complaint Commission (2008) ‘Police custody as a ‘place of safety’: Examining the use of Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983’ London: Independent Police Complaints Commission

Lynch, R, Simpson, M, Higson, M, Grout P (2002)’ Section 136, The Mental Health Act 1983; levels of knowledge among accident and emergency doctors, senior nurses, and police constables’ Emergency Medicine Journal.  19:295-300

Mind (2007) ‘Another Assault: Mind’s campaign for equal access to justice for people with mental health problems’  London: Mind