Psychosocial hazards in the workplace continue to produce significant impact upon organisational culture. Workplaces are challenged to establish and embrace a model of therapeutic intervention specific to supporting the psychological health, safety, and wellbeing of staff. In particular, the provision of VCTI support to concerned parties (CPs) in complaints regarding negative workplace behaviours.

During the 2022 Independent Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into responses to Domestic and Family Violence (DFV), it was found that poor DFV responses by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) were underpinned by several thematic behaviours within the organisation itself including sexism, sexual harassment, misogyny, racism, homophobia, and bullying. Coupled with other psychosocial hazards such as poor organisational justice, traumatic material, violence and aggression, and poor workplace relationships, contribute to psychological risk for QPS staff.

The QPS has established the State Case Management Unit (SCMU) within the Ethical Standards Command (ESC) to investigate and address complaints regarding these thematic behaviours. After establishing a link between the negative workplace behaviours and psychosocial risk within the organisation, and in consideration of the psychological impact upon complainants, the QPS embedded a Principal Health Clinician to support CPs in these matters. This is the learnings of that Clinician within a new and developing area of practice; clinical support to recipients of workplace psychosocial hazard victimisation, within a misconduct, complaints/grievance process.

Presentation Key Learnings:
1. The impact of psychosocial hazard (negative workplace behaviours) is significant, frequently traumatic, and correlates with other presentations (e.g. moral injury)

2. Therapeutic approaches to treatment include early intervention CBT and ACT, but ongoing intervention is often required; a large on-referral network, warm clinical handovers, and a VCTI lens are all beneficial

3. Rapid formation of the therapeutic relationship is required. Police are responsive to being “cold called”. This may be mitigating the self-stigma associated with help seeking.