Protect every journey
Occupational Health, Wellbeing and Health and Safety
Our Occupational Health, Wellbeing and Health and Safety teams work in unison to ensure that our employees are fit to undertake their roles, provide the necessary resources to support wellbeing and ensure that the workplace is always a safe environment to carry out their roles.
Whether you are interested in a career within Occupational Health, Wellbeing or Health and Safety, you can read more about each area below and hear first-hand from some of our colleagues about a typical day in their role with us.
Occupational Health
Our Occupational Health team promote the highest level of physical, mental and social wellbeing of our employees by proactive management of the interaction between health and work.
We deliver a full range of Occupational Health services across the Force including case management, health assessments and health surveillance. We do this through providing independent, impartial advice to line managers and employees and provide assurance that our employees are fit to undertake their roles and when they are not, provide advice in returning them to work at the right time with the right support.
We also work closely with other teams across the Force such as Wellbeing, Health and Safety and HR teams to maintain the health of our workforce and ensure employees are able to undertake their role safely, effectively and without harm to themselves or others.
Joel Kelly, Occupational Health Practice Nurse
“BTP has a range of roles that require regular medicals to ensure that our Officers remain fit and well, but also meet the standards of health required by the Policing Standards. We also have recruits who are joining BTP either as first-time officers, Special Constables, or who are transferring from other forces, who all require assessment of their fitness to work as a Police Officer. All these elements fall under the care of the Occupational Health Practice Nurses (OHPN) who run the Medical Clinics for the force, whether that be in London, Cardiff, Liverpool, Leeds, or Glasgow.
At the start of my day, I travel to a Clinic location. I am based in Manchester but normally have a clinic in either Liverpool or Leeds, though I sometimes make the journey to Cardiff when a clinic is required there . Once I arrive on site, I will prepare the clinic room; medical devices are set up and calibrated, and any relevant consumables are prepared for the day’s clinic. With my appointments booked in advance by the Occupational Health admin team, I have already had time to prepare for each officer or recruit that I see that day. Though some medicals do not include all elements, on a clinic day I will normally perform tests to assess Blood Pressure and Heart Rate, Vision, Spirometry and Audiometry.
Prior to the day of the medical the OHPNs have begun to undertake the screening of health questionnaires. This involves me talking with officers and candidates to go over details of their health questionnaires, to ensure that we have a full understanding of any declared health issues. Should issues arise at this stage, we are then able to direct the individual on how to obtain and provide further medical evidence which will allow us to better understand and assess their health alongside the screening tests undertaken at the appointment.
All medicals are recorded and information and reports for various tests are uploaded to our Occupational Health database, which I handle.
Should I not have medicals booked in a slot, the work doesn’t stop. OHPNs are also responsible for the assessment of Taser forms, Police Staff health questionnaires during recruitment and other assessments such as annual Night worker assessments, all of which we also ensure are recorded and submitted forms and related documents are uploaded to our Occupational Health database.
As part of the role of Practice Nurse, my learning and development is supported by the wonderful Occupational Health team. Be it the Line Managers or the experienced Occupational Health Advisors (OHA), I have ample opportunity to discuss cases with my senior colleagues and develop my knowledge and understanding in Occupational Health, as well as look towards opportunities such as training to become an OHA myself. With weekly team meetings, as well as one-to-one support, I feel confident in being able to grow as a professional”.
Wellbeing
Our Wellbeing team deliver a range of support services across the Force from providing wellbeing training to management and expert advice and guidance to employees to effectively support issues relating to employee emotional, mental, financial and physical wellbeing to delivering engagement sessions and activities to promote wellbeing topics. This can be in the form of digital content to wellbeing roadshows across our sites.
Beth Wagland, Wellbeing Advisor
“Working as a Wellbeing Advisor in the Wellbeing team at BTP is a really varied role as no two days are the same. The nature of Policing means that both Staff and Officers experience more traumatic events than the average person and may find it harder to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviours due to shift patterns etc. I therefore find it really rewarding to work in supporting colleagues to improve their wellbeing.
A typical day looks something like this:
I’ll log in to my laptop and check in with the team. We are spread out nationally so we like to keep in touch over email, meetings, and Teams. Often, there will be an update on an incident that may have happened and a discussion on how we can support.
Sometimes my days are spent out and about, visiting stations in my Division to offer support. This is done through 1-2-1s with colleagues who have requested support or sometimes providing a session to a whole team on a variety of topics such as the importance of taking breaks or to provide insight into the services we offer as a wellbeing team. Often, I can also visit with the wellbeing dog which we’ve found helps colleagues to feel better and reduce their stress levels.
If I’m not out and about, my day will include project work and working on the comms for the initiatives we’re running. I’ll also spend some time designing and developing evidence-based interventions or delivering workshops or sessions on wellbeing topics, for example, I deliver a ‘Support for Stress’ session for the wider force or teams who would like to understand their reasons for stress and develop healthy coping mechanisms to manage or mitigate stress.
Finally, I often get ad-hoc requests for a wellbeing chat from colleagues for a variety of different wellbeing issues. During these conversations, I can support by offering tips and signposting to relevant support services. This element of the job is often the most rewarding as I know it can take a lot for someone to reach out for help”.
Health and Safety
The Health and Safety team ensure that our work practices, facilities and environment are free from danger, hazards and obstacles which may injure or cause ill-health to our people.
We work with leaders, employees and support associations/employee representatives in reducing risk presented to our people resulting from work. We provide competent advice to all internal stakeholders on how to best fulfil this objective whilst supporting the organisation in fulfilling its statutory duties. This covers a multitude of elements but can be summarised into ultimately ensuring that we adopt safe working practices and providing safe places for our people to work.
Vicki Thompson, Health and Safety Advisor
“I enjoy the dynamic, challenging environment of my role, which is different every day! A typical working day involves a mix of office-based tasks and on-site inspections. Days start with reviewing the Safety Management Software which is crucial in a high-risk setting like law enforcement, to ensure compliance with current regulations. This is followed by conducting fire risk assessments, activity risk assessments, health and safety inspections at various police stations, identifying potential hazards and recommending corrective actions.
Throughout the day, we meticulously document findings and prepare reports, which are crucial for maintaining a safe working environment. A keen eye for detail, excellent communication skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving, especially in a fast-paced and unpredictable police environment is crucial. Health and Safety Advisors also spend time educating Officers and Staff on safety protocols and procedures, ensuring everyone is aware of best practices in potentially volatile situations”.
Diversity and Inclusion:
At BTP, diversity, equity and inclusion are at the core of our mission as guardians of the railway. We believe that a diverse team drives innovation, sparks creativity, and leads to better decision-making. Our vacancies are open to every candidate, with appointments based solely on merit. We are committed to working with you to meet your unique needs, ensuring you can reach your full potential. If you share our values and possess the skills and experience, we warmly invite you to join our inclusive team.
Benefits
We’re passionate about recognising and rewarding those who help us protect every journey. It’s you who makes the difference, so our benefits are designed with you in mind. Take a look at what’s on offer:
Pension scheme
We offer a generous pension to our employees. For further information, please contact our Pensions Manager at Pension-Queries@btp.police.uk
Flexible Working
We promote modern and flexible ways of working across many of our roles, empowering people to choose how and where is best to carry out their role.
Blue Light card
A Blue Light Card costs £4.99 for two-years and gives you access to a range of discounts, both online and on the high street
Career Development
Where you start your career journey with us doesn’t have to be where you stay. A range of professions make up the BTP family and we provide you with the opportunities to develop yourself personally and professionally.
Annual leave
Police staff and PCSOs are entitled to 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 30 days with five years of service or more.
Transport Benevolent Fund
A charity to support employees in the public transport industry.
Maternity, paternity and adoption leave
We offer 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave after a qualifying period. Paid paternity leave is also available.
Cycle to work scheme
You’ll have the opportunity to hire a bicycle from us to cycle to work and you won’t pay national insurance or tax contributions on what you spend up to £1,000.
Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice scheme
After six months of employment, you’ll be eligible to lease a new electric vehicle through our tax-efficient salary sacrifice scheme, in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions.
Travel on duty
Staff are able to request travel passes for specific work commitments.
Season Ticket Loan
Police staff may apply for an interest free annual season ticket loan. The cost of the ticket is deducted through equal payments over ten 4-weekly pay periods.
Health and wellbeing benefits
Employee assistance
BTP’s employee assistance programme is a free, confidential service which supports our employees in resolving personal problems and improving their overall wellbeing.
Wellbeing hub
Internal knowledge hub containing news, information and resources on a variety of topics, wellbeing events and details of all our support services.
Eye care provision
Computer users are entitled to eye care examinations and glasses paid for by BTP.
CSSC Sports and Leisure
A not-for-profit organisation positively promoting health and wellbeing in the workplace.
Armed Forces Covenant
We are silver accredited under the Armed Forces Covenant and we support Territorial forces reservists, including paid time off to participate in training.
Training
When you join BTP, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to develop both personally and professionally - taking your career in any direction.
Police staff training can vary from online e-learning packages, on the job training, classroom programmes and sponsorship for external qualifications. We contribute towards one professional membership (terms apply). Your line manager will help to keep you on track with regular updates and help you to identify and fill any skill gaps you may have.
The Application Process
Your application will initially be screened to ensure that you meet the minimum eligibility requirements. Once this has been satisfied, the information you have provided in the application form will be assessed.
If you’re successful, you’ll be invited for an interview or assessment. We’ll be looking for evidence of the qualities you have to enable you to carry out your role. If you meet our high standards, you’ll receive a conditional offer and we’ll start your pre-employment checks.
Once you have been given a conditional offer, you will go through the full vetting process. This will include employment reference checks as well as our own baseline vetting. You’ll receive your offer letter or contract once these security checks have been successfully completed.
Eligibility
Before you make the decision to apply, you’ll need to make sure that you meet our eligibility criteria.
It’s important that our Police staff and PCSOs provide the best possible service with the full confidence of the public they serve. That’s why every Police staff and PCSO recruit goes through a thorough vetting check as part of the application process.
To join us, you must have the permanent right to live and work in the UK without any restrictions.
As a minimum, all applicants must have been resident in the UK for the last 3 years. This is required to ensure we can conduct adequate vetting checks and this applies equally to all applicants, regardless of nationality.
You must be a minimum of 18 years old to be employed. There is no maximum age for Police staff and PCSO applications.
You will not be eligible to apply if you have ever received a prison sentence.
All other cautions, convictions and involvement with the police must be declared during the vetting process. This will not necessarily result in your application being withdrawn, as all applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
As part of your checks we will verify your financial position. Employees hold a privileged position and have access to a range of sensitive and valuable information. Potentially, this means employees are a heightened risk of being vulnerable to corruption. This means, applicants must to be free from the pressure of undischarged debts or liabilities and to be able to manage loans and debts sensibly.
Tattoos are considered on a case-by-case basis if:
- They are on your face
- Above the collar line on the front or side of your neck,
- Are large on the back of your neck and cannot be easily covered
- They could be considered in any way offensive, regardless of their location.
Tattoos are considered if:
- Visible tattoos are permissible on other areas of the body including hands, arms, legs, feet and on the back of the neck (providing the tattoo is discreet and behind the ear lobe).
- Discreet tattoos on the ear are also considered acceptable.
- Consideration will be given to tattoos on the face that were necessary following medical procedures or for cosmetic procedures e.g. eyebrows.
You are encouraged to contact the recruitment team if you are at all unsure about your tattoos and we will advise you wherever possible.
You can do this by emailing us.
Contact us
You have to be able to conduct your role and responsibilities impartially and effectively. This means if you are currently, or have even been, associated with any group, society or individuals that could reasonably represent a conflict of interest, then you will not be eligible to apply.
Due to the timescales of our recruitment process, applications from service personnel will only be accepted if you have 12 months or less to serve before being discharged. You will need to attach with your application confirmation of your projected date of discharge. (e.g. a letter from your Commanding officer).
Each role will specify what qualifications are a requirement for appointment. For training and development purposes you may be required to produce examination certificates. If you are still in, or have recently left full-time education, we may also ask for a reference from the relevant institution.
You will need to declare any other employment or business interest you have and intend to maintain so that this can be reviewed to ensure no conflict of interest with the police.
You will not normally be eligible for appointment as a Police officer if you hold any office or employment for hire or gain, or if you carry on any business in addition to being a Police officer.
Our employees may encounter situations that can be stressful, traumatic and at times, physically confrontational. Our people can work long hours and cover rotating shifts, so the role can be physically and mentally demanding. Therefore, it is important our employees are in good health to be able to undertake their duties safely.
To ensure we can support our employees’ wellbeing, we’ll ask you to provide relevant details of your health and medical history in accordance with any questions we have to ask during the application process.
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