The High Sheriff of Hampshire, Mary Montagu-Scott, has honoured the members of the Police Medical Welfare Service with a High Sheriff Award in recognition of providing a unique welfare service to Hampshire Constabulary.
About 100 guests attended the High Sheriff of Hampshire Award Ceremony at the Great Hall in Winchester on Wednesday 14th March 2018. 16 individuals and organisations were presented with an award certificate by the High Sheriff of Hampshire Mrs Mary Montagu-Scott for going beyond the ‘call of duty’. We are delighted that our charity, the Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS), has been awarded for the professional welfare support we have provided to Hampshire Constabulary.
For 75 years, our Welfare Officers have been providing support to the Armed Forces community when they suffer from physical or mental ill health to ensure that no family goes through the worry of illness alone. The positive impact of our support has led to the expansion of our service to new beneficiaries, including the Police for which we have now received the award.
Since June 2016, we have been delivering the Police Medical Welfare Support for Hampshire Constabulary. This offers extra welfare support to sick, injured and assaulted officers with the aim to improve recovery time, wellbeing and resilience across the Force. The project has notably contributed to a reduction in sickness absence, improved the co-ordination and delivery of individual care and considerably enhanced the organisational duty of care obligations. For 3 cases alone, the Police Medical Welfare Service has prevented sickness absence by 218 days, equating to savings of approximately £43,600.
Hampshire Police Federation Representative, PC Adrian Starr said: “I have been absolutely amazed with the face-to-face support provided by DMWS. It’s making a big difference for those who need practical support. It’s a Rolls Royce service, above and beyond what I expected.”
Our Welfare Officers provide a confidential and impartial listening ear, practical assistance, home visits, liaising with the constabulary, and emotional support with cases ranging from police officers with PTSD, loss of limb, family breakdown and home adaptations due to disability.
Speaking about the High Sheriff Award, Jessica Liston, Area Manager for DMWS said: “It is great to be acknowledged for the fantastic job of our welfare officers. As a former Police Officer I believe it is only right to provide support to those who put their lives in harm’s way to protect our communities, when they need additional help.”
We are committed to help our local police force to get back to work to keep our communities safer.
To find out more please visit www.dmws.org.uk
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Notes to editors
For immediate Release
For further information on DMWS please contact Christine Pilbeam, Marketing and PR Manager on 01264 774 270 or email mfo@dmws.org.uk
Registered Charity in England and Wales (1087210) and in Scotland (SC045460)
About St John and Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS)
The St John and Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) has been providing a person-centred medical welfare service to the Armed Forces Community since 1943. In that time we have supported over 1,000 000 patients and their families, ensuring that no one goes through the worry of injury and illness alone. Our highly trained welfare officers provide practical and emotional support to those receiving medical treatment. Recent new projects with organisations such as the police, the NHS and the probation service demonstrates the broad appeal of the organisation and its application to a wide set of frontline services. We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
