I have been TRIMed. TRIM stands for Trauma Something I can’t Remember Management, and it’s what you get in the Police after an incident where the Force thinks you might sue them for damages.
After ‘The Rich Girls Are Weeping’ it was decided to TRIM all the police officers. The people in the car who nearly got killed and saw their family fatally injured are left to the NHS to sort out; they will probably all get a superbug and die.
After my TRIM assessment, I wish I would get a superbug.
All the TRIM Assessors are the usual bunch of work-shy, training school based, ‘can’t handle confrontation so I’m off to Headquarters’ types. This is because the qualification might be worth something when they retire. Which, let’s face it, can’t be soon enough.
I must LOOK AFTER MYSELF. I must look at useful strategies used for LOOKING AFTER MYSELF. Do I give myself a break, or some kind of ‘treat’ when under stress? Do I know how to relax? Do I talk constructively to myself?
Do I listen to too much Killing Joke? (I made that last one up – actually I once met Big Paul Fergusson from Killing Joke – nice guy, owns a garage now, apparently he’s been ill recently and couldn’t make the tour).
Sorry? Oh yes…. sorry, about LOOKING AFTER MYSELF. Do I eat regularly and have a balanced diet? Yes, I always have salad with my Kebab thanks. (Chilli Sauce my friend?).
If I scored 40% to 60%, I can cope but would benefit from developing further strategies.
I scored 30%, which means I should make definite plans to acquire more LOOKING AFTER MYSELF skills. I think my score is unfair. I mean, I only missed getting 40% because I put a question mark next to the ‘ Do I talk constructively to myself ‘ question.
Sending someone who has never felt a bead of sweat running down the back of her neck (except perhaps last summer in her carefully designed topless swimsuit) to talk to anyone after such an incident is, quite frankly, an insult.
But I keep my mouth shut because I’m in enough trouble already. I don’t feel too well at the moment.
I would consider my introspection constructive if a couple of thousand people a day showed an interest.
What happened the last blog??????????Just when i come up with a witty comment…………..:]
mate, you are good. you need to realise that. but if you are feeling rough take some time off, eh?
Wow. We all pressed the button at the same time. Best thing that happened me all week.
TRiM – Trauma Risk Management, I think it’s called.
Those people are right. You do need to take better care of yourself. I know you think you’re tough, have a shell over you that no one or nothing can penetrate. Believe me, something will penetrate is someday and kick your ass, physically or mentally. We all want to keep you around for a while to tell us more stories. Stay well, my friend.
Somehow or other they always seem to be mad as bats in these departments. We perhaps may be luckier than you, we have a lot of operational types who do the post traumatic incident stuff as well as the hq nutters, but I can honestly say they have never been of any help to me. I prefer to stomp around for a while until it eventually fades away. I tried vodka for a time, that was good but probably not to be recommended. My therapy of four weeks away in the sun at appropriate points in the year just abouut keeps me on track.
PS
Like every other intervention from these people it usually gets around to my health and someone says ‘who ate all the pies’ to me in occupational health speak, I think you have earned a rest mate, you sound a bit frayed around the edges, a week at hq should do it.
sir,
As usual, we share a similar sentiment. I really have trouble taking any form of instruction from people who have spent their time constructively avoiding the very work they teach and/or try to counsell us on afetr we’ve been out there and done it!
Maybe thats why I’ve never had the counselling I mention on my page, and only ever attend courses that doesn’t involve rolling around in mud and ambushing people when I absolutely have to.
I agree that people often need some form of post trauma help, but maybe sounding off to the likes of you, rather than the likes of the station cat would be for more productive.
Here we go, my new promotion idea based on workface based counselling has just popped into my head, be right back, just off to the patents office….. TUPC
6.40 am 02/01/2006. “Morning Noddy” says Control Room Operator to sole Sudden Death department PC. “Happy New Year and all that, but we’ve got a jumper for you, 11th floor job. Wife’s just being brought in to HQ, uniform are at locus,” they continue. “Magic!” I respond realising I cannot be at the locus and see the deceased’s lady at the same time.
6.50 am. Sergeant rolls in for duty and I update him. Off we go to see wife. She’s blind as a bat and somewhat inebriated and not really taking it in. Her equally inebriated friend isn’t making matters any better as she has the IQ of an amoeba. Decide statements are a waste of time and drop them off at friend’s address and attend locus. Deceased is a crumpled mess and is removed by undertakers. Fortunately he didn’t land on his napper so ID by family will be possible.
8 am (ish , notebook not handy) FCR again, “Hello Noddy, can you go up to the A&E and see Staff Nurse Smith about a death there? Family are there wondering how long you will be.” Tempted to say longer than the previous remains, but toddle on up speak to family and get necessary for a death report. Arrange undertakers again for second lodging at the mortuary. Begin to think it might be a bad day.
Follow up original death and speak to slightly more sober family.
11.45 am (ish again) “Hello Noddy. Another one for you.” Off I toddle to an unexplained death, male with fractured skull, but no evidence of a crime. Looks accidental. No family at scene. Get remains lodged again. Consider asking undertakers to just follow me all day to speed things up. Sergeant decides Noddy is up to his eyes in paperwork already and says he will take this one. Only thing is could I go tell the family and get the antecedents etc. I did.
2.10 pm “Hello Noddy. What time are you off?” says FCR. “3pm” says I. “But it’ s a public holiday so bring it on, ” I continue. “OK, there’s a hanging for you now,” I’m told. “Oh goody,” I say. “I like variety.”
3.30 pm Relief shift arrive at locus and take over second suicide from me, but guess what I’m asked to go and see the relatives by muppet in FCR. I decline, stating not unreasonably that I have a wee bit of paperwork to catch up on.
Now the point of all that drivel is to highlight the fact that if I attend distressing deaths, I’m supposed to be offered a chance to be referred for counselling by Occupational Health. Was I? Sergeant mentioned something about it in passing, but then he knew me well enough and said I could always self refer. What I would have liked to know was, who is the expert in dealing with death and the bereaved and what would some OH Doctor know about dealing with that kind of workload?
Did a ‘Boss’ approach me and say, “How are you? That was a busy day.”
That would be two Negatives.
Totally Ridiculous Management (TRiM)
Gadget, you get high marks for not mentioning the fact that there was a female “counselling” you, until the very end of your piece. Clearly you have embraced the concept of Equal Opportunities! Well done.
Should constructively talk to yourself? I suppose we, your avid readers, are to blame for this. If we stopped reading your utterances, then you would be complying. (Yea, yea, don’t worry about us, mate).
On a positive note, on my blog, I have suggested a new position for you.
P.S. I found that in times of depression, it paid to look at my “Rundown to demob” calendar.
Dickiebo.
This blog helps you to ‘objectify’ experiences. You know that you are respected and psychologically supported by a large readership. You have a good family. Keep the upper lip stiff and you’ll survive.
Maybe the remarks here –
http://www.bacp.co.uk/media/pr/037b.htm
will help put training bimbos and counsellors into perspective.
Keep doing what you do.
Inspector Gadget, I think all that read your blog have come to care what happens to you. Your recent posts have had a worrying dark undercurrent. Maybe some leave with your lovely Debbie and the kids would help.
What is happening to you seems to me to be the result of a difficult job compounded by a toxic workplace. If you feel there is no place you can be comfortable in your job and you are always having to look over your shoulder and watch your back this will raise your stress levels through the roof.
I have only experienced that sort of toxic workplace myself once, and that was working for a spell at the Home Office. The only “real” people I met there were seconded policemen who at least had a sense of humour!!! After 2 years and an unaddressed complaint about bullying (as I was an outside contractor, read scapegoat) I had to go, but by that time I was wrecked and on prozac. And the job I was doing was trivial, no-one would die if I got it wrong.
Don’t let them get to you. You sound like a leader that your people respect and believe me that is rare these days.
Sorry this has been a bit girly but hey, I am a girly!!
“Do I give myself a break, or some kind of ‘treat’ when under stress?”
Am I correct in guessing that the right answer doesnt involve “Yes, I get a nice bottle of single malt and a night in front of the telly”
I remember a certain motor sport commentator saying “those that can, do. And those that can’t, talk about it”.
I think that applies to Police work too.
pcsouthwest
(and anyone else awake and watching)
the exact gnome (aphorism) should be:
Those that can, do.
Those that can’t, teach.
Those that can’t teach, teach teachers.
Those that can’t teach teachers, become educational psychologists.
I suppose there must be a similar sequence in British Police forces.
William
Put self first, before anything, even family (otherwise how can look after family)?
Put family next.
Put job last, and let them know.
Get better soon.
Now, I lnow it’s not true so dont hate me but I heard somewhere that:-
If you cant use your brain (to make a living) use your body.
If you cant use your body become a copper.
Sorry.
You know I know how you feel boss. I often think that all the counselling in the world can’t make up for someone senior to you turning round and just acknowledging what you’ve done and that it was beyond the norm. This never happens of course because by the time such events come to their attention they’ve been sanitised and condensd down to a nice tidy two page report in the inevitable Police speak.
Doesn’t ‘constructive communication with yourself’ have a definate ring of ‘go away and have a word with yourself’ about it?
What people can’t understand is that it’s not the gore and death that’s stressing people out. It’s the amount of paperwork and bullshit. My bet is there’s more coppers off with stress due to the volume of crap they’ve got to do than there is for having to put bits of body into black plastic sacks.
The concern I have from reading that post which hasn’t been picked up on yet is that last bit- you’re in enough trouble already. Not any mention of that in previous posts. Has this blog been causing waves again. And the choice of saying you don’t feel too good at the moment being paired with that makes me think its the trouble you’re facing at work is what is making you feel not so good.
Here’s hoping I’m wrong.
I think you should sue over being TRIMed. It is clear from your post that your self-esteem has been damaged by the exercise. There has been some research on the efficacy of forced-counseling and the results weren’t favorable; the research is old enough that they should know better. But the best justification is the thought of HQ trying to develop a risk-management program for their risk-management program.
That said, I will advise you this: if you haven’t talked to your son about that attempted suicide, do, both for his sake and yours. There may in fact be things going on at school that you, as a parent, need to know about (bullying and such). If nothing else, it’s an opportunity to discuss the affects of suicide: even if that boy were correct in (presumably) believing that no one he knew would give a tinker’s dam about his death, his attempt to kill himself has kept YOU up at night.
As Robbie Williams would say ‘You think that I’m strong , you’re wrong ,you’re wrong’. Never mind Killing Joke these words apply to you.
You are a human being like anyone else but because you speak the truth and know the truth it gets frustrating because you think that no one is listening, but everyone who reads your blog believes in you and wishes you well. Have a look at senior ranks and people who have done well in the last few years. They mirror New Labour, never doing the right things but saying what they think is the right thing. Charm and smarm merchants, image before effectivness. The majority of ACPO would be better off selling second hand cars. You have a soul and you have dignity. Keep your chins up my son.
Trauma RISK Management? Am I correct in inferring that the “risk” aspect is the risk of your suing them if you end up with a nervous breakdown?
TRIM is nothing more than a ‘tick box..avoid litigation later exercise..’ by the Job.
Sadly, when myself and others had to sit through something similar, the two assembled counsellors would not have looked good in a carefully designed topless swimsuit.
Then again, thinking about it, neither would I.
Flippant remarks, apparently, were a sign of repressed anxiety.
In reality, I have either made time to talk things out with those who were there over a few beers…… or took Labrats advice.
I agree with the last bit you posted. I’m a dispatcher in the states and we get the same kind of crowd “helping ” us. Half are preachers and the other half have the expertise of Sally Jesse Rafael. I truly believe that counselling/TRIM is designed to weed out trouble makers. If that’s paranoid, then I can live with that. My only suggestion is what I meant in my earlier post. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND YOUR OWN AND SCREW THE REST!
From the look of it, you and your crew did it right,and I think you and they already know it. Your chain can go and get stuck, for all anyone should care.
I got dragged to a CISD (critical incident stress debriefing) once after being first on scene to a suicide. For about a month, I hated my sergeant for suggesting that I was some sort of crazy, and gradually it dawned on me that it was a good idea.
Granted, that was a debriefing conducted by an actual competant worth-a-damn counselor. TRIM sounds like a poor substitute cobbled together by a guy who needed talking points for his oral promotion exam. I don’t know how you put up with it, but I imagine that your crew and your community are glad that you do.
I’ve got a “Fairness in Action” course coming up. As well as ensuring that I don’t develop into a bigoted, sexist, racist lout, this course now makes me liable for my own actions. The chief constable has provided me sufficient training in the subject and is no longer vicariously liable if I absent mindedly call the lady from the butty shop”love”. If she chooses to sue anyone, it’ll be yours truly.
Does the TRIM course forgive the chief for all the stress the job puts on officers, for all the missed meals and time worked over because you’ve been given some fluffy bunny look-after-yourself training?
Sir,
Since you are a thorn in the side, that will hurt you. It won’t hurt them I am afraid. It’s all in a days work for them.
Twining.
I feel I should jump to the defence of TRIM practicioners. I am one. I work 24/7 shifts. I am not a career copper. I am one of those hairy arsed old school Sergeants.
TRIM was developed by and is used by The Royal Marines. They have practicioners in all of their combat units. No REMFs for them.
TRIM, when used correctly, is a valuable tool. I have been TRIMmed following a nasty incident in custody, and it is a very useful process.
I suspect that your Force decided that the ESSO shiney arses should be the ones to become TRIMers. Bad move I say. To have any credibility the TRIMmers should mostly all be frontline Officers who have regular contact with other frontline Officers.
Please don’t knock TRIM. It is a very valuable process that can help identify those people who are at risk from further emotional difficulty dealing with some form of incident. It isn’t about preventing people suing the job. It is about identifying those people that MIGHT need further help.
Boss, wait till you’ve been given an action plan for having suffered an accident and the action plan asks for your input on ways you can suggest to avoid such a thing happening again!
Or better, you’ve suffered a serious medical condition, lets say a heart attack, and you get told your performance is unsatisfactory due to you being off sick and you get a UPP hearing and another action plan that asks for your input in suggesting ways that such an incident could be avoided!
I wish I was making it up.
Part of the problem, i find, is that when you are the senior officer on duty, every difficult or critical decision comes down to you. You may be able to take advice and delegate tasks, but ultimately you have to make the final decision. Part of this means actually going to the incidents themselves which, in my case, means dealing with pretty much every unpleasant thing that happens during a tour. This is fine – it’s why we get paid but people expect you to make the right decision every time irrespective of the circumstances and this can be pretty stressful. Spare a thought for Gadget – his PCs and Sgts can vent their frustration at him and de-stress a little, but to who can the Inspector vent his frustration? I’m pretty certain that the SMT don’t particularly care. Stay safe..