Cleveland Police Blue Light Programme Coordinator & Wellbeing Inspector, Phil Spencer has been named as the winner of the SHP Award for Trailblazer in Workplace Wellbeing Award.
New for 2020, SHP Trailblazer Awards celebrate those who are going above and beyond to make a positive difference, the real pioneers of health and safety.
Phil Spencer, Cleveland Police Blue Light Programme Coordinator & Wellbeing Inspector was selected as the winner of SHP’s Trailblazer in Workplace Wellbeing from a list of five finalists, by the SHP Awards judging panel.
Trailblazer in Workplace Wellbeing recognises individuals who have done the most to contribute to people thriving at work, prioritising employees’ wellbeing and mental health.
SHP Trailblazer Awards is brought to you as part of the wider SHP Awards, in collaboration with the HSE and IATP.
Listen to Phil speak on the Safety & Health Podcast at the bottom of this page.
Judges noted how Phil was driven by his desire to support all things workplace wellbeing, due to his own experience of his daughter living with anorexia and social anxiety. His nomination said that he had been a ‘force of nature’ in the police force, driving forward the workplace wellbeing agenda and changing the way mental health is thought about in policing. He has transformed how Cleveland Police supports its staff.
Phil has recently set up a wellbeing podcast at Cleveland Police and delivers training, bringing in other mental health champions from across the police talking about their own experience. He has become a Police Care Ambassador to build skills and knowledge in police wellbeing – sharing this with his networks. Judges also noted Phil’s activity on social media, promoting several wellbeing campaigns and initiatives.
As of October, Phil had 130 blue light champions, 100 supervisors trained in mental health and 50 trim practitioners. Judges noted that what Phil has been doing in his community highlight engaging yet simple ways to encourage the wellbeing conversation.
Phil works with the wider police family and collaborates with other emergency services, charities and volunteer organisations. His aim is to support his colleagues and others, in better understanding of mental health, and how to cope better with the trauma and difficulties of the working environment.
Judges highlighted that he had carried out this work whilst under the strain and pressure of being a frontline worker during a global pandemic.
Phil told SHP: “I am absolutely honoured and humbled to have been picked as the winner for the SHP Trailblazer in Workplace wellbeing award. Although the award may have my name on it, I would like to say a huge thankyou and dedicate it to all of the ‘Blue Light’ & Wellbeing champions, first aid mental health supervisors, our wellbeing team, Trim practitioners and all of our other staff who work within the wellbeing world at Cleveland Police. All of these staff members are the unsung heroes who work tirelessly in the background who allow me to do what I do!
“I also want to dedicate it to all other emergency services personnel across the country who are working on the ‘front line’ and in ‘wellbeing’ as it has been an extremely difficult and testing year and we need to keep improving our wellbeing services to make it a safer environment for our people.
“Wellbeing and mental health has got to be any organisation’s number one priority – it is too important for it not to be. We will be needed more than ever once the pandemic is over and we need to support all of our people and beyond.”
Read the full interview with Phil here, or listen to the podcast episode below.
Phil Spencer with his award and colleague, Force counsellor, Amy Loughran
Hear Phil speak about his career, what drives him and his thoughts on winning the award in this episode of the Safety & Health Podcast.
Subscribe to discover the latest issues facing the health and safety profession, and stay on-top of the developments affecting your role, from working at height, lone working and common workplace hazards, to safety culture, behaviours, occupational health and mental health and wellbeing.
The Safety Conversation with SHP (previously the Safety and Health Podcast) aims to bring you the latest news, insights and legislation updates in the form of interviews, discussions and panel debates from leading figures within the profession.
Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, subscribe and join the conversation today!
