Supporting You

• coaching and mentoring support
• Developing Potential Programme
• Support for Study
• Training courses

• contributory pension scheme
• debt management support
• group insurance scheme
• savings scheme

• chaplaincy
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• flexible working
• discounted gym membership
• Mind Blue Light support
• Occupational Health services
• reimbursed eye tests for VDU users
• welfare services
• workplace needs assessments and support

• Help to buy
• key worker
• rental
• single accommodation

• bus concessions
• cycle to work scheme

TVP utilises two main platforms for e-learning – NCALT and Moodle. These provide all of our officers and staff convenient and flexible access to learning.

In addition to the wide variety of internal courses available, TVP may be able to offer financial assistance and/or study time to pursue external qualifications.

The DPP is aimed at employees up to and including Inspectors and Broad Band 4 staff. It is a two year self-directed programme designed to help raise self-awareness, develop key skills, network with others and seek out opportunities and experiences for further development.

Leadership coaches provide one-to-one coaching services. Mentoring is a developmental relationship in which a more experienced individual helps a less experienced colleague and falls outside that of the line management relationship.

The CLP has been developed by the College of Policing and by the Personal Development and Leadership team at TVP to improve the leadership and management skills of first and second line managers.

TVP’s PDR programme involves regular reviews throughout the year and gives individuals the opportunity to reflect on their level of performance, achievement and development. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is required to ensure learning is an ongoing process throughout your career.

Staff and officers are encouraged to make use of a wide variety of self-assessment personality and profile tools including Myers-Briggs, Personal Profile Analysis (PPA), Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue) and 360 degree analysis. These provide deeper insight into your strengths and weaknesses and explore your preferences for taking in information and making decisions.

The CPA offers great encouragement to people wanting to explore the Christian faith and to people just beginning their journey of faith. The CPA also provides opportunities for members to meet together, and provide prayer support for all members of Thames Valley Police.

The Thames Valley Disability Support Network (DSN) supports officers, staff, volunteers and families who are affected by any type of disability, illness and injury. The DSN also supports the Force to provide the best possible service to members of the public who identify as disabled.

The DSN has a strong network of volunteer officer and staff representatives across the Force who can offer confidential support on a wide range of disabilities and other conditions, using their personal experience and knowledge to help wherever possible for any members of TVP who feel they need advice or support.

The Gypsy Roma Traveller Police Association (GRTPA) is a support network for all members of TVP from a GRT background. The GRTPA aims to unite and support all police officers and staff from GRT backgrounds and to create strong relationships between the police and GRT communities. TVP’s branch for the GRT works closely with the national association whose ethos is based upon fairness, respect, solidarity and a determination to improve the working conditions of GRT police officers and staff.

The GRTPA understands that many staff members from GRT communities are anxious and concerned about revealing their identities and the GRTPA is here for all, regardless of background. They work with all colleagues and partners to ensure support and equality is provided for anyone who is from a GRT background, along with vitally improving service provision to our communities.

The Thames Valley Muslim Police Association (TVMPA) supports Muslim Police officers and staff in professional development as well creating a support network for its members. The TVMPA works towards developing both the understanding of Islam within Thames Valley Police and a better understanding of culture between the police and the Muslim community. Membership is open to anyone who is employed by, contracted to or volunteer for the Thames Valley Police.

• British Association of Women in Police
• National Association of Muslim Police
• National Black Police Association
• National Christian Police Association
• National Trans Police Association
• National Disabled Police Association
• National Police Autism Association
• National Sikh Police Association

SAME is the support network working towards helping the organisation become more representative of its diverse communities. SAME aims to promote fairness and equality for all with one of its key functions being to support TVP colleagues from ethnic minorities and helping them maximise their individual potential.

Some of the aims of SAME are to: advice staff who are suffering harassment or discrimination, improve communication and understanding of cultural differences, organise or raise awareness of development opportunities for BME staff and to assist TVP in improving and developing policies and procedures which take full account of the needs of staff and communities from minority ethnic groups.

SAME fully recognises the importance of BAME recruitment, retention and community engagement and supports the force strategy to increase representation of BAME officers and staff. They also engage with all officers, staff and members of the community to expand the support and to promote awareness across Thames Valley Police.

We have recently caught up with newly elected Chair DI Quoc Vo and Deputy Chair DC Zoe Luno to find out more about them and their vision for the SAME Network moving forward. Read the blog.

UNISON is the largest public sector trade union in the UK with over 1 million members and is the only trade union TVP recognise to support and advise police staff. As well as offering a wide range of support and assistance to UNISON members, the local UNISON branch also represents all TVP police staff for the purposes of collective bargaining over pay and terms and conditions of employment.

UNISON members can receive support in various ways, including representing you at meetings/hearings should you find yourself facing disciplinary action or investigation, providing legal assistance at inquests, providing general advice and support regarding employment law and TVP policies/procedures. For members experiencing financial difficulties, UNISON can provide financial support through their welfare charity ‘There For You’. Find out more about the support available by visiting the website of TVP’s branch of UNISON.

Our Menopause Action group was established by Inspector Natalie Beresford, who was inspired to help others following her own experience.
With more women choosing to pursue a policing career and a growing female workforce, as an employer we want to ensure we provide the best support possible to our colleagues.
Launched in October 2022 we have come a long way but we know there’s more we can do. Ongoing training, awareness and guidance can help us to properly support those experiencing menopause symptoms. Which is why we’ve committed to being menopause friendly, taking our support through an accreditation process. When we’ve been assessed, we can display the Menopause Friendly employer badge.