Greater Manchester Police leads the way at national wellbeing awards

GMP was the biggest winner at this year’s national Oscar Kilo Awards, in recognition of our ever-increasing commitment to the wellbeing of our officers, staff members and volunteers.

We were the only force to win two of the award categories, and we also achieved a runner-up accolade. Director of People and Development Emma Ashworth said: “To have been given accolades in two of the seven award categories and to have also won a special award is a tremendous achievement for GMP.

“It is a fitting reward for all the hard work being done across the force to look after our people, inspire our officers, staff and volunteers to support each other and ensure that wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do.

“It also shows that we are innovating and leading the way nationally in this regard.”

Oscar Kilo, the National Police Wellbeing Service, holds the awards every year to recognise standout examples of wellbeing support at police forces across the UK.

The award categories reflect the seven areas of the Blue Light Wellbeing Framework (BLWF). Our remodelled Occupational Health and Wellbeing Service – which has successfully provided improved access to occupational health services, increased awareness and uptake of wellbeing initiatives and a more positive and supportive working environment for GMP employees – won the ‘Absence management’ category.

GMP’s Armed Forces Network –which has been set up to understand our internal armed forces community and improve support for them and for the wider armed forces community – was runner-up in the ‘Creating the environment’ category.

Operation Manteline – a unique welfare support strategy that continues to ensure that officers and staff impacted by the Manchester Arena bombing of May 2017, including those who have now left GMP or retired from the force, can access bespoke psychological support

– won the special ‘Crisis support’ award.

Emma added: “The teams behind these accolades deserve a huge congratulations. They have done, and continue to do, themselves and GMP proud.”

Assistant Chief Constables Chris Sykes and Colin McFarlane, Chief Resource Officer Lee Rawlinson and

Assistant Chief Officer Charlotte Layton attended the awards ceremony, which was held at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester in July.

For more details about the awards and the three accolades given to Greater Manchester Police, check out the ‘Oscar Kilo Awards’ article on the intranet.