New commitment on ill-health retirements

26 October 2022

Police Care UK has launched a new Ill-Health Retirement Commitment for all forces across the country.

The guidance document was developed through feedback and advice from beneficiaries who were seeking support as they went through the ill-health retirement (IHR) and injury on duty process themselves.

Tom Hill, secretary of Nottinghamshire Police Federation, is planning to talk to chief officers and senior leaders to encourage the Force to sign up to the commitment.

It was created in collaboration with a few UK police forces, Federation reps in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and representatives from the Police Superintendents’ Association, the National Association of Retired Police Officers, and the Injury on Duty Pensioners’ Association, all of which have contributed to the ultimate document.

Some respondents talked extensively about not getting the chance to fulfil their vocation while others raised the lengthy assessment and decision-making process that had left them feeling isolated, vulnerable and staring into the unknown.

The Ill-Health Retirement Commitment was designed to be used as a tool to enable individuals and forces involved in the process to better support their colleagues and employees and Police Care UK is encouraging all forces and associations to use it alongside their own ill-health and injury on duty processes.

It comprises four principles with information on how to create a supportive environment for anyone going through the process. Implementing these principles will provide officers undergoing ill-health retirement and/or injury on duty with the best opportunity to feel valued, trusted and supported during what can be a very traumatic stage of their life.

The principles do not seek to change the ill-health retirement or injury on duty processes but rather offer ‘good practice’ options on how to improve engagement and challenge common cultures and stigma around ill-health retirement.

Andy Rhodes, director of the National Police Wellbeing Service, said: “I am delighted to see Police Care UK’s Ill-Health Retirement Commitment and would encourage its application across policing.

“We know from our research that the process can often be put before the person which can have a significant negative health impact on individuals who are already unwell.

“This is such a serious issue that the National Police Wellbeing Service has identified it as a priority for the new Chief Medical Officer funded by the Police Covenant. The Police Care UK Ill-Health Retirement Commitment will be the main reference document for the review.”

Police Care UK chief executive officer Gill Scott-Moore said: “Our experience of supporting people throughout the UK whose careers have been cut short because of a physical psychological injury has highlighted the long lasting damage that can be caused by poorly managed IHR processes to individuals and their families.

“We are grateful to all those who have helped develop and shape this commitment and look forward to working with the National Police Wellbeing Service to implement its recommendations and improve the experience of those going through ill-health retirement during what can be a very scary and uncertain time in their lives.“

Police Care UK supports all UK police officers, staff, volunteers, and their families who suffer harm as a result of their policing role and we continue our mission to reduce the impact of harm experienced as a result of a policing career.

It hopes the spirit of the Ill-Health Retirement Commitment will be incorporated into how UK police forces are assessed in response to the Police Covenant and believe its principles should form part of the framework for assessment.

Download the official Police Care UK Ill-Health Retirement Commitment.