Boca Raton Police Services Department Peer Support Team (PST) PDF

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 46.15 PEER SUPPORT TEAM (PST) Revised: October 20, 2020 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to provide guidelines on the composition, administration, and use of the Peer Support Team (PST). II. DEFINI...

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 46.15 PEER SUPPORT TEAM (PST) Revised: October 20, 2020 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to provide guidelines on the composition, administration, and use of the Peer Support Team (PST). II. DEFINITIONS: Critical Incident: Any situation that has such a profound emotional impact that it has the potential to interfere with the employee’s ability to function. Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Protocol: A formal process used to assist employees who have been involved in a traumatic event to return to or maintain an effective level of functioning. Debriefing: A confidential meeting, not an operational critique, between the employees involved in a critical incident and members of the PST that utilize the CISM Protocol to inform and educate the participants in stress management techniques. Defusing: A brief, confidential discussion between an involved employee and a PST member immediately following a critical incident to restore the involved employee’s cognitive functioning and prepare him/her for the future stress reactions resulting from the incident. First Responder: Any law enforcement officer as defined in FSS 112.1815 and/or any 911 public safety telecommunicator as defined in FSS 401.465. Involved Employees: Any employee who is directly affected by a critical incident. Peer Support Team Member: A member of the Department, defined as a First Responder, who has undergone a minimum of 24 hours of approved training in peer support methods and who is currently listed on the department intranet or wellness application. Peer Support Team Coordinator: A person appointed by the chief of police or his/her designee who performs the administrative duties of the Peer Support Team and manages the team’s operation. Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP): An individual who is licensed as a mental health professional and has an in-depth understanding of trauma-related disorders and the law enforcement culture. Effective: October 1, 1989 Revised: October 20, 2020 Peer Support Team (PST) SOP No. 46.15 Page 1 of 5 III. PROCEDURE: A. ORGANIZATION: 1. TEAM MEMBERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: a. The Peer Support Team consists of a PST coordinator and PST members, who provide stress education to his/her co-workers and handle most of the oneon-one contacts, as well as defusing sessions and follow-up contact. b. The PST coordinator shall be responsible for: i. Maintaining an updated list of PST members eligible to provide peer support on the Department Intranet and wellness application c. ii. Ensuring that all PST members receive appropriate training iii. Conducting team meetings as needed iv. Recommending a QMHP when a vacancy exists v. Liaison to the QMHP and chaplains as needed PST members shall be responsible for: i. Notifying the PST coordinator of activations as soon as practical ii. Being available when needed for callouts iii. Attending meetings and training at the discretion of the PST coordinator d. The QMHP and chaplains wishing to participate will be included in the training and activities of the team. 2. SELECTION PROCESS: a. PST members shall receive and maintain an Exceeds Expectations score on an employee’s most recent performance evaluation. b. PST members shall be appointed by the PST coordinator with the approval of the chief of police or his/her designee. c. PST members shall complete a minimum of 24 hours training in group and individual CISM protocols within one year of becoming a team member. 3. TRAINING: a. Effective: October 1, 1989 Revised: October 20, 2020 PST members shall attend two team meetings per year. Peer Support Team (PST) SOP No. 46.15 Page 2 of 5 b. PST members are encouraged to take advanced courses in suicide prevention, resiliency, and peer intervention. B. TEAM ACTIVATION: 1. The PST shall be utilized to provide employees with information on reactions to the trauma associated with critical incidents and assist in the deterrence of negative responses. 2. The PST will take immediate action after critical incidents to safeguard the continued mental well-being of all involved personnel. 3. It shall be the responsibility of the watch commander, through the Communications Section, to notify the PST coordinator of the following types of incidents: a. Suicide, homicide, death, or serious bodily injury to an employee b. Any police-related shooting or death c. Any mass casualty incidents, e.g. plane crash, bus crash, etc. d. Death of, violence to, or serious bodily injury to a minor e. Any incident in which the circumstances were so unusual or the sights and sounds so distressing as to produce a high level of immediate or delayed emotional reaction 4. Any involved employee may request peer support or a debriefing by contacting a PST member; however, the PST member shall notify the PST coordinator as soon as practical. 5. A roster of PST members shall be available via the Department Intranet and wellness application. 6. PST members directly involved in an incident shall not be utilized unless authorized by the PST coordinator. 7. PST notifications made shall not be included in CAD notes or any case reports. 8. PST members will be compensated in accordance with established City policy and the Agreement between the City of Boca Raton and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35. C. DEBRIEFINGS AND DEFUSINGS: 1. It shall be the responsibility of the PST coordinator and the PST’s QMHP to determine if a debriefing is necessary and when the debriefing will occur. 2. Debriefings should follow the CISM Protocol for structure and continuity. Effective: October 1, 1989 Revised: October 20, 2020 Peer Support Team (PST) SOP No. 46.15 Page 3 of 5 a. A defusing should occur within 12 hours after a critical incident occurs. b. A debriefing should occur within 12-72 hours post critical incident. 3. All employees involved in the critical incident will be permitted to attend the debriefing. Any non-involved employees will be required to leave the debriefing. D. PEER TO PEER SUPPORT: 1. PST communication confidentiality applies only to law enforcement officers and public safety call takers and dispatchers. 2. Peer support communication shall be conducted in private, at a time and location appropriate, to prevent any unintended party from hearing or interrupting the session. PST members must be aware that any communication heard by a third party is not considered confidential and may compromise the communication. E. FOLLOW-UP: 1. PST members may follow up with involved employees as needed or requested. 2. Any employee in need of professional assistance shall be referred to the QMHP, EAP, or a police chaplain. F. CONFIDENTIALITY: 1. The PST is not an investigative unit. 2. The Department will not question PST members regarding peer support communication, facts of a CISM debriefing, or the individuals involved. 3. It shall be the duty and obligation of the PST members to maintain strict confidentiality and any statement or discussion with a PST member while fulfilling his/her role on the PST will remain confidential. 4. Any employee having information regarding a breach of confidentiality shall inform the PST coordinator who shall initiate an investigation into the matter. A breach of confidentiality will result in dismissal of the PST member from the PST and may result in disciplinary action. G. LEGAL OBLIGATIONS (FSS 111.09): 1. PST members may become aware of the following information during Peer Support communication that cannot remain confidential: a. There is reason to believe that an involved employee presents a danger to himself/herself or others. Effective: October 1, 1989 Revised: October 20, 2020 Peer Support Team (PST) SOP No. 46.15 Page 4 of 5 b. There is reason to believe that an involved employee may have committed or intends to commit a criminal act. c. There is reason to believe that an involved employee has committed child or spousal abuse. 2. Exceptions to the confidentiality rule will be stated clearly to the involved employees before engaging in peer support communication or a CISM Protocol. 3. PST members having knowledge of one of the exceptions shall not discuss the matter with anyone except the PST coordinator. It will be the responsibility of the PST coordinator to notify the chief of police or his/her designee. Approved: Michele Miuccio Chief of Police Effective: October 1, 1989 Revised: October 20, 2020 Date: Peer Support Team (PST) SOP No. 46.15 Page 5 of 5