County Sports Club Feature BBC Big Challenge Health Works Awards 
In October 2005 the BBC set a national challenge to find the healthiest employer and workforce in the UK. The Lancashire Constabulary was nominated for this award. The nomination was based on a variety of recent and long-term force wide health initiatives coupled with the successes of its long established Sports and Social Club. The nomination was made on behalf of all members of the constabulary who are engaged in the organisation of health initiatives or sport and social activities across the force. The Lancashire Constabulary were pleased to be ‘commended’ in the ‘Healthiest Large Employer’ Category in the BBC Radio Lancashire area. A formal presentation of the award was made on Radio Lancashire on the 30 January 2006. 
Club secretary PC Steve Broadbent with the 'Big Challenge Award' at the force Inter-Divisional Cross Country Championships on 22 February 2006 Our Case Study  Background
Lancashire Constabulary has a long tradition of fully supporting its employee’s health, fitness and welfare. This tradition has become very much a culture among its employees and the Constabulary has always regarded welfare, health and fitness as a high priority. Need There are currently 5663 full and part-time employees of which 3586 are police officers and 2077 are police staff. In recent years high levels of sickness absence, a squeeze on funding, with pressure to find innovative means of getting officers back onto front-line operational policing, has prompted Lancashire Constabulary to take further positive action. The Constabulary wanted to:  Reduce the levels of sickness absence
Assist people to return to work to their role, ultimately with no limitations or restrictions Appropriately manage health problems within the workplace Improve the physical and psychological health of the Constabulary’s staff Reduce the number of reportable accidents. Continuously improve the management of health and safety. Action The Constabulary also operates numerous facilities and programmes aimed at improving employee health. They range from occupational health and welfare facilities that include on-site annual health checks, health and safety training and induction, canteen facilities offering ‘healthy option’ meals to its customers, water coolers and rest areas. All police stations and vehicles are designated non-smoking. Two police convalescence homes are available to all serving and retired police officers. The facility is available for two weeks a year to members who require convalescent, respite or physiotherapy treatment following illness or injury on or off duty. The force developed its own Sports and Social Club in 1952 and since then has supported a series of talented sports men and women including England rugby player, Wade Dooley. In the last decade, the Club decided that they needed to attract as many members of staff to participate in as many sports as possible. It wanted to take away the stigma of ‘County police sport’ being considered in any way ‘elitist’ - though one aim is still to attract the best players - equally – the aim is to encourage its ordinary members to play in as many sports as possible including retired employees who are also able engage in many the club activities. Lancashire Constabulary introduced initiatives which included a Quality of Working Life stress audit, a Sickness Process Review, a health study to consider the impact on health of the use of the AIRWAVE radio technology and a ‘Fast Track’ medical intervention scheme through which staff can access private medical interventions when the NHS solution will lead to an unnecessary delay in diagnosis. Benefits The successful implementation activities and initiatives with the theme of intervention have resulted in impressive results. In 2005 the rate of sickness is running at 7.90 lost working days, per police officer, per year - a reduction of over 17% on the previous year, and a 21% reduction on 2003/04, with police staff rates at 8.18 days, a reduction of over 20% on the previous year, and a reduction of 27% on 2003/04. The rate of police officers retiring on ill health has reduced from 39 in 2001/2002 to 6 in 2005/2006 and police staff from 12.5 to 4 in the same periods. The Constabulary’s Sport and Social Club now has 3870 members in the Sports and Social Club with 26 sports sections covering 39 defined sports and activities supported by the Club. The Lancashire force allows between four hours’ and one-day time off duty to play recognised County or National police sport competitions. Conclusion Despite ever increasing pressures of life in the 21st Century the Lancashire Constabulary continue to provide the best possible support of its entire staff including retired staff. We believe we rate as the best police organisation in the UK and one of the best large organisations in the Country to offer its employees a first class service in respect of health, fitness and welfare. Acting Chief Constable Steve Finnigan said, “Lancashire Constabulary is proud of its achievements across the full spectrum of health issues. A healthy workforce is the result of the collective contribution from all members of the Constabulary and it is pleasing to see that measures of performance, such as sickness levels and ill health retirement rates, are positive indicators that support this view.” Lancashire Constabulary Sports Club secretary, PC Steve Broadbent says: “Lancashire Constabulary remains one of the few police forces in the UK to allow time-off facilities to its employees. This clearly shows that health and fitness among its workforce is paramount. The Club has gone from strength to strength in the last decade with more members engaging in more sport and recreation activities than ever before”.  | 
