Since 2011, psychologists at the University of Birmingham have been researching the psychological wellbeing of staff in the criminal justice system who are exposed to traumatic material on a regular basis. To further progress this work, we have collaborated with the Investigator Wellbeing working group to bring together colleagues from across the UK as part of a Secondary Investigator and Analyst Wellbeing group.
The purpose of the group is to support existing and emerging research, identifying key themes and interventions, with an aim to developing a single, overarching steer for forces on how best to support those who are involved within investigations in a professional capacity. To do this, we work to:
- Raise awareness of the key issues that have an impact upon the wellbeing.
- Consider key triggers and concerns raised by colleagues as well as the growing academic research.
- Consider and identify best practices and meaningful interventions that positively impact the resilience and wellbeing of those concerned.
- Identify appropriate interventions that impact recruitment and retention of those concerned.
Organisational & Supervisory Checklists
As part of this work, we have developed two checklists, which aim to provide practical guidance to policy leads and supervisors to help highlight key areas of support that can be put in place to ensure staff wellbeing is supported. The checklists are separated into two key areas:
Organisational Support – encouraging the embedding into policy of practical steps into recruitment, induction and beyond
Supervisory Support – practical steps that supervisors should take to ensure staff are supported day to day in the workplace.
Organisations are encouraged to review the checklists and apply the recommendations to help support staff from recruitment right through to their exit from role.
Findings and recent publications
Woodhams, J., Duran, F. (2024) A model for secondary traumatic stress following workplace exposure to traumatic material in analytical staff. Nature, Communication Psychology, 2, 13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-024-00060-1
Duran, F., Woodhams, J. Impact of Traumatic Material on Professionals in Analytical and Secondary Investigative Roles Working in Criminal Justice Settings: a Qualitative Approach. Journal of Police Criminal Psychology (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-022-09532-8
Duran, F., Woodhams, J. & Bishopp, D. (2019). An Interview Study of the Experiences of Police Officers in Regard to Psychological Contract and Wellbeing. Journal of Police Criminal Psychology, 34, 184–198. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-018-9275-z
Duran, F., Woodhams, J. & Bishopp, D. An Interview Study of the Experiences of Firefighters in Regard to Psychological Contract and Stressors. Employee Responsibilities Rights Journal, 30, 203–226 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10672-018-9314-z
Duran, F., Woodhams, J., & Bishopp, D. (2019), Relationships between psychological contract violation, stress and well-being in firefighters, International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 12(3), 120-133. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-09-2018-0114
Duran, F., Woodhams, J., & Bishopp, D. (2021). The relationships between psychological contract violation, occupational stress, and well-being in police officers. International Journal of Stress Management, 28(2), 141–146. https://doi.org/10.1037/str0000214
Duran, F., & Woodhams, J. (2022). Impact of the current pandemic on intelligence and analytical professionals working in police and law enforcement organizations. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001221
Duran, F., & Woodhams, J. (2023). Associations between individual cognitive factors, mode of exposure and depression symptoms in practitioners working with aversive crime material, European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 14:2. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2264612