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Version 2.3 by Ryan Larkin on 2020/10/13 18:11
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Ryan Larkin 1.1 1 **Washington County Sheriff's Office**
2
3 **ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION**
4
5 Policy Manual
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7
8 Volume: AF
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10 Health and Safety
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12 Chapter: 05
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14 Peer Support Program
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16
17 Replaces and/or Supersedes:
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19 None
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21 Published:
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23 10/15/2020
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25 Review Date:
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27 10/15/2020
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29
30 Sheriff Cory C. Pulsipher
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32 Undersheriff James Standley
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34
35 __**TABLE OF CONTENTS**__
36
37 AF 05_101 Definitions
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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
Ryan Larkin 2.1 50 **AF 05_101 __DEFINITIONS__**
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52 1. WCSO: Washington County Sheriff's Office
53 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.
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Ryan Larkin 2.1 55 **AF 05_102 __REFERENCES__**
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57 1. (((
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59 Utah State Code 78B-5-901
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Ryan Larkin 2.1 62 **AF 05_103 __GENERAL__**
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64 1. Policy:
65 11. (((
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Ryan Larkin 2.1 67 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.
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69 1. (((
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71 Rationale:
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Ryan Larkin 2.2 73 1. 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 in identifying options for problem resolution.
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Ryan Larkin 2.1 77 **AF 05_104 __Services__**
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80 1. Policy:
81 11. (((
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Ryan Larkin 2.3 83 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 is not limited to:
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Ryan Larkin 2.1 85 1. Loss of a loved one;
86 1. Officer-Involved Shooting;
87 1. Work Injury, or;
Ryan Larkin 2.3 88 1. Significant life changes (Retirement, Divorce, etcetera.)
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90 1. (((
91 (% style="margin-bottom: 0in" %)
92 Rationale:
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Ryan Larkin 2.3 94 1. Employees might need to speak in confidence to someone to deal with issues arising from unexpected trauma. The use of a professional may not always be necessary or desireable to the employee. Peer support offers an intermediate level of confidential support.
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Ryan Larkin 2.1 101 **AF 05_105 __Administration__**
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103
104 1. Policy:
Ryan Larkin 2.1 105 11. Under the direction of the Sheriff or designee, the peer support program will be administered by a Peer Support Coordinator. The Peer Support Coordinator will be responsible for:
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108 (% style="background:transparent" %)Chairing any meetings of the Peer Support Team;
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110 111. (((
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Ryan Larkin 2.1 112 (% style="background:transparent" %)Assisting in the selection and removal of Peer Support Team members.(% style="display:none" %) (%%);
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Ryan Larkin 2.1 116 (% style="background:transparent" %)Making recommendations for modifications to the program and providing appropriate information to the Sheriff’s Office administration, and;
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118 111. (((
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120 (% style="background:transparent" %)Other duties as assigned.
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Ryan Larkin 2.3 122 11. (% style="background:transparent" %)Peer Support Team members will be selected by the (%%)Sheriff or designee (% style="background:transparent" %)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.
123 11. (% style="background:transparent" %)Peer Support Team members will be removed from the program for failure to maintain the standards set forth by the Sheriff. An example of this would be if a team member breaches the confidentiality required of a peer support member.
Ryan Larkin 2.2 124 1. (% style="background:transparent" %)Rationale:
Ryan Larkin 2.3 125 11. To be effective the peer support program must be operated in a known and consistent fashion. The Peer Support Coordinator provides a liaison between the program and the Sheriff's Office Administration,
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Ryan Larkin 2.1 128 **AF 05_106 __Privacy and Confidentiality__**
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131 1. Policy:
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134 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:
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Ryan Larkin 2.1 136 1. A Law Enforcement Peer Support Team Member was a witness or a party to the incident that prompted the delivery of peer support services;
137 1. The information received by a Peer Support Team Member is indicative of actual or suspected child abuse, or actual or suspected child neglect;
Ryan Larkin 2.3 138 1. The person receiving peer support is a clear and immediate danger to themself or others;
Ryan Larkin 2.1 139 1. 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;
140 1. 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.
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144 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.
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148 Rationale:
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Ryan Larkin 2.3 150 1. In order for a peer support program to be effective employees seeking peer support must understand that the information they provide will be confidential.
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