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Anyone know anything about depression and working in the police?

6 replies

serotoninbutterfly · 09/11/2011 09:56

Hello all,

I am going to out myself in this. But really need some advice.

I have been signed off work for about 3 weeks (so far - doc doesn't think that I will be back before Christmas). I am suffering from work-related stress due to what i see as being bullied by my superiors. I returned to work last November following the birth of my DS in May, and had some teething troubles (didn't want to be at work, missed my baby, no retraining etc etc) and tool a while to settle. Fast forward to May time, and I get pulled into a meeting about my 'poor performance'. I was not given the option of having someone attend with me (am a member of Unison) or warned that this would essentially be a roasting.

My immediate line manager and my sergeant proceeded to go through a laundry list of all the misdeeds I had done since my return the previous November, and expressed their disgust at my behaviour. (none of the issues impacted on the public in any way - I have only ever had one complaint from the public and that was that I looked 'tired' - no great shock when I am being questioned on my performance and dealing with a toddler...)

They put me on an Action Plan for 3 months. I was absolutely distraught by this, and refused to go on a social evening with my team as I felt they had all been sneaking behind my back and making spurious complaints instead of talking to me about any issues.

After the three months were up, my line manager left but was brought back in to put me on another action plan. This was because I had not completed an action on my previous action plan - I had not noted down contact with about 7 people that we need to speak to once a month, although I had done it I hadn't recorded it so it couldn't be proven. Added to this was a line about 'being appropriate on social media sites' when I put a non-specific moan about not wanting to spend time with people that would stab me in the back (that was unprofessional of me.) there was also an issue of 'work not being handed over correctly' - some of my paperwork ended up in a colleagues tray, and instead of asking me about it they went to the sergeant and had a moan. This led to the sergeant asking 2 other people what was happening (none of them being me) and nothing being said to me until this was brought up in this meeting.

After the first action plan I felt that I was being monitored so made a conscious effort to be professional and mature about this. However, the second has knocked my confidence to the point where I stopped interacting with the public in case I got a complaint because I felt I could not do my job.

On top of this, things at home are particularly strained as my partner lost his job and was struggling to get one, and we are in some debt, with only my part-time wages to live on and pay rent.

Now, I am on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety tablets because I am having panic attacks and I am too scared to drive, and the idea of getting on a train etc scares the life put of me.

I am a police community support officer btw.

Will I be able to return to work in the New Year on anti-depressants/anti-anxiety pills? I think it might have H&S implications although I don't think I could face the public anyway as I am too scared to leave my house on my own...

Sorry this post is so long, thank you for reading and gettin through the garbled nonsense

WWYD? Should I contact my HR and let them know? Should I resign? I'm bloody confused :(

OP posts:
DorcasGailen · 09/11/2011 10:09

Have sent you a PM. Please get back in touch, I have had very similar experience to you in the same area of work. x

serotoninbutterfly · 09/11/2011 10:11

And the depression is getting worse because I don't know where to go from here... Not leaving the house is taking its toll and I am struggling to play with my baby or take any enjoyment from any aspect of my life. It's just horrid.

OP posts:
serotoninbutterfly · 09/11/2011 10:32

Thank you Dorcas I have replied - sorry it is all so disjointed, I am not thinking straight at all Blush

OP posts:
lisaro · 15/11/2011 23:50

I have to be honest - although you are obviously very unhappy, and I feel for you, you don't seem to be doing yourself any favours. You work in a professional environment - you are paid to be professional. This doesn't sound to be the case, and blaming your colleagues is the worst thing you can do. That could turn a minor problem into a very, very large one. Take a few days to look at this from everyone else's point of view. Then take a deep breath and start again. If people see you've got a grip and you're trying they will come round.

serotoninbutterfly · 17/11/2011 11:52

In all honesty, I could have understood the need for an Action Plan within a couple of weeks of returning as I admitted my work was under par at that time. By April, my PDR was signed off by my superiors as fine, and it was even commented on that my attitude/work ethos had improved greatly. Then, in May, with no mention of such a thing before, I was given the first step in the Poor Performance disciplined procedure (after being told that I had improved so greatly...)
This follwed a request to cut my hours back as struggling with childcare and balancing home/work.
So although I could see it from their pov when I first came back, now it feels like they want me to leave so the can get a full-time PCSO and that my face no longer fits. Which is discouraging to say the least, and in all honesty I just don't think I have the confidence to do that job any more. If the management set up was different then I could see myself getting back (with the right support iyswim - I need a bit of retraining and confidence building though!)

OP posts:
BerylStreep · 17/11/2011 23:30

It sounds like it is becoming a bit of a feeding frenzy. Is there an experienced and trusted colleague you could speak to who could give you some honest feedback on your performance?

If your DH has lost his job, then tbh, it's unlikely that resigning your job is a realistic option. It sounds like you need to take a bit of time out for yourself, then, if possible, go back to work with a determination to perform to the best of your abilities.

There must be some reason why you decided to become a PCSO in the first place - helping people, contributing towards the community, making a difference - so it's a matter of getting back on track and remembering why you joined in the first place.

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