May 2000 Volume 81 Number 5 "serving the protectors"
Straight to the Point
By Trevor Haskell  PASA Executive Committee Member

Welfare and Kindred Services

It is some months since the Focus 21 review was completed and the implementation of recommendations commenced. It is no secret that I, and others in our branch, were less than impressed by the review process. However, we have collectively and individually been working to ensure that the changes will be coherent and create the possibility of enhanced services to members.

The review had picked up on some issues around occupational health and safety that had already been dealt with by the OHSW review. The good news is that the new positions have now been taken up, and there is a number of new faces in this area to get to know.

Similarly, claims and rehabilitation staff have been boosted and should provide for improved service provision to those who suffer work-related injury or illness.

The Health, Safety and Welfare Review recommendations included the establishment of an employee assistance section that would be the amalgamation of Welfare, Chaplaincy and Psychology sections. While this is arguably exactly what exists now, it would be formally created and titled the Employee Assistance Section. (It is important to remember this section is separate from and little to do with the SAPOL Employee Assistance Model which is more to do with planned OHSW interaction for major events.)

The members of the sections involved have worked on a revised proposal and some revision of the organization chart to strategically link into this group the current Rehabilitation Section. Just what the wash up will be remains in the air.

The roles of Psychology Section and where they sit is one of interest. Our own review of the multi-faceted roles the section provides raises the question of whether their services are more operationally-based, HR-based or employee-assistance-based. While they sit across all areas, where they are best formally grouped and housed is not a simple question to answer.

Police Chaplaincy is also being reconsidered and a proposal developed to consider ways of building on the existing service provision.

Given that the renamed branch is to be the Occupational Health and Safety Branch, I expect that any changes will be flagged to the Commissioner’s Occupational Health and Safety Consultative Committee and the OHSW committees locally for comment. This is a requirement of the Commissioner’s directive under general order 8540 and I am sure that consultation would occur.

Similarly, the issue of where we will be located is unresolved. The HR director is still keen to have us controlled within the confines of Flinders Central. Those in the sections and the clients we deal with feel that greater privacy is afforded by staying out of the secure Flinders Central. Given that Angas St is to be completely relocated, Property Branch has a lot of reorganizing to do, so it remains uncertain where we might end up.

As part of our review of processes and roles it would be useful for members’ thoughts and ideas to be considered. A key to good service remains the reporting processes, and the current PD 323 system needs reviewing or refining. The implementation of the recommendations will soon be moved out of Focus 21 and into the role of the new Occupational Health and Safety Branch (formerly the Health, Safety and Welfare Branch) manager. Your comments could be provided via the Police Association, or perhaps in writing to the director.

There may be some personnel changes involved in the process, but I am confident that the services provided currently by Welfare Section will be generally continued and hopefully enhanced. Issues of outsourcing and the possible reduction in police staff in the Welfare Section is under the next phase of the implementation, which will be in the new financial year. I continue to look with a new interest at vacancies.

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