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Version 1.1 by Ryan Larkin on 2020/10/07 20:06
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1 **Washington County Sheriff's Office**
2
3 **ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION**
4
5 Policy Manual
6
7
8 Volume: AF
9
10 Health and Safety
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12 Chapter: 05
13
14 Peer Support Program
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16
17 Replaces and/or Supersedes:
18
19 None
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21 Published:
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23 10/15/2020
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25 Review Date:
26
27 10/15/2020
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29
30 Sheriff Cory C. Pulsipher
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32 Undersheriff James Standley
33
34
35 __**TABLE OF CONTENTS**__
36
37 AF 05_101 Definitions
38
39 AF 05_102 References
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41 AF 05_103 General
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43 AF 05_104 Services
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45 AF 05_105 Administration
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47 AF 05_106 Privacy and Confidentiality
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49
50
51 **AB 01_101 __DEFINITIONS__**
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53 1. WCSO: Washington County Sheriff's Office
54 1. PEER SUPPORT TEAM MEMBER: Any employee who has been trained and certified as per Utah law to provide emotional and moral support to other employees, and whose selection to the Peer Support Team has been approved by the Sheriff or designee.
55
56 **AB 01_102 __REFERENCES__**
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58 1. (((
59 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
60 Utah State Code 78B-5-901
61 )))
62
63 **AB 01_103 __GENERAL__**
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65 1. Policy:
66 11. (((
67 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
68 The Washington County Sheriff’s Office recognizes that there is a need for employees to have support for both personal and professional crisis situations and general work stressors which may affect their daily lives as well as their work habits. The Peer Support Program is designed to offer voluntary and confidential support for employees for personal and job related circumstances.
69 )))
70 1. (((
71 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
72 Rationale:
73
74 1.
75
76 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
77 The Peer Support Program is designed for employees to assist fellow employees in dealing with stress, emotional difficulties or other personal circumstances. These circumstances could have an impact on the employee, and in some cases could present a danger to the welfare and safety of the employee, his or her family, the public, and other employees. Peer Support Team Members are trained to be effective listeners and provide feedback to employees, clarify issues and assist employees identifying options for problem resolution.
78 )))
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80 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
81 **AB 01_104 __Services__**
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83
84 1. Policy:
85 11. (((
86 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
87 Peer Support Team members are to be easily accessible to employees who need their services. A list of members will be made available to all employees. Peer Support sessions will be confidential. Examples of where Peer Support may be utilized may include but not limited to:
88
89 1.
90
91 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
92 Loss of a loved one;
93
94 1.
95
96 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
97 Officer Involved Shooting;
98
99 1.
100
101 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
102 Work Injury, or;
103
104 1.
105
106 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
107 Large life changes (Retirement, Divorce, etcettera.)
108 )))
109 1. (((
110 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
111 Rationale:
112
113 1.
114
115 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
116
117 )))
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119 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
120 **AB 01_105 __Administration__**
121
122
123 1. Policy:
124 11. Under the direction of the Sheriff or designee, the peer support program will be administered by a Peer Support Coordinator. Such coordinator will be responsible for:
125 111. (((
126 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
127 (% style="background:transparent" %)Chairing any meetings of the Peer Support Team;
128 )))
129 111. (((
130 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
131 (% style="background:transparent" %)Assisting in selection and removal of Peer Support Team members.(% style="display:none" %) (%%);
132 )))
133 111. (((
134 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
135 (% style="background:transparent" %)Making recommendations for modifications to the program and providing appropriate information to Sheriff’s Office administration, and;
136 )))
137 111. (((
138 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
139 (% style="background:transparent" %)Other duties as assigned.
140 )))
141 11. (% style="background:transparent" %)Peer Support Team members will be selected based upon their character, integrity, interpersonal communication skills and a history of solid decision making and wisdom. Upon successful completion of training hours candidates will serve as Peer Support Team members. These members will then be involved in ongoing training and supervision under the direction of the Peer Support Coordinator.
142 11. (% style="background:transparent" %)Peer Support Team members will be removed from the program for failure to maintain the standards for team members set forth by the Sheriff. An example of this would be if a team member breaches the confidentiality required of a peer support member.
143
144 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
145 **AB 01_106 __Privacy and Confidentiality__**
146
147
148 1. Policy:
149 11. (((
150 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
151 In accordance with Utah State Code 78B-5-901 “Public Safety Peer Counseling” all information discussed in a Peer Support Role is confidential except for the following situations:
152
153 1.
154
155 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
156 A Law Enforcement Peer Support Team Member was a witness or a party to the incident that prompted the delivery of peer support services;
157
158 1.
159
160 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
161 The information received by a Peer Support Team Member is indicative of actual or suspected child abuse, or actual or suspected child neglect;
162
163 1.
164
165 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
166 The person receiving peer support is a clear and immediate danger to the person’s self or others;
167
168 1.
169
170 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
171 The communication to a Peer Support Team Member establishes reasonable cause for the Peer Support Team Member to believe that the person receiving peer support services is mentally or emotionally unfit for duty, or;
172
173 1.
174
175 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
176 The communication to the Peer Support Team Member provides evidence that the person who is receiving the peer support services has committed a crime, plans to commit a crime, or intends to conceal a crime.
177 )))
178 11. (((
179 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
180 Peer Support Team members will make no written record of the details of support sessions. Employees who seek assistance through the Peer Support Program must be made aware that Peer Support Team members will maintain confidentiality by not disclosing any information developed in Peer Support sessions, except in accordance with this policy.
181 )))
182 1. (((
183 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
184 Rationale:
185
186 1.
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188 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
189 In order for a peer support program to be effective employees seeking peer support must believet that the information they provide will be confidential.
190 )))
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