Project aiming to understand if implementing a centralised prevention hub enhances staff perception of organisational justice, wellbeing, job satisfaction and performance as opposed to a non-centralised structure.
| Lead institution | |
|---|---|
| Principal researcher(s) |
Heather Maelor
|
| Police region |
East Midlands
|
| Collaboration and partnership |
This project is supported by the College of Policing Bursary Scheme. |
| Level of research |
Masters
|
| Project start date |
|
| Date due for completion |
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Research context
In July 2022, the National Prevention Coordination Committee (NPCC), under the National Police Chiefs' Council published the National Policing Prevention Strategy. The aims of the strategy are to achieve fewer victims, fewer offences, and less demand on policing achieved by addressing underlying causes and using partnership-oriented problem solving.
The thesis will seek to evaluate the impact of a newly formed prevention department (the prevention hub) in Police Force A, using a mixed-methodology study. The aim of this study is to understand if implementing a centralised prevention hub enhances departmental staff perception of organisational justice, wellbeing, job satisfaction and performance as opposed to a non-centralised structure.
The study has a focus on the following outcome objectives:
- To explore prevention hub staff perception of organisational culture and any changes attributed to departmental design.
- To explore prevention hub staff perception of personal satisfaction and any changes attributed to departmental design.
- To explore prevention hub staff perception of personal growth and any changes attributed to departmental design.
- To explore prevention hub staff perception of work-life balance and any changes attributed to departmental design.
The mixed methodology used consists of a systematic literature review, face-to-face interviews, and pre and post-implementation surveys using Microsoft Forms, to help to identify themes.
This is an important study as more police forces are moving towards a whole force prevention model, therefore, the impact of such a change is extremely relevant. The findings of the study will provide an in-depth understanding of the topic, which can inform forces' implementation of a prevention-based approach and prevent costly mistakes, therefore, spending the public's money wisely.
Research methodology
A mixed method research methodology will be employed, which includes:
- Phase 1 – systematic literature review
- Phase 2 and 3 – pre and post-implementation survey
- Phase 4 – face-to-face interviews
The initial literature review of this area has shown there is a gap in existing research, thus comparative services will need to be explored, such as policing outside of the UK, the prison service and other government services. Research, needing further exploration suggests that leadership styles are significant in staff wellbeing (Santa Maria and others, 2021).
Qualitative primary research methodology has already been undertaken, as a pre-implementation survey was completed. A post-implementation comparative survey will be completed, followed by face-to-face interviews.
The survey will use Microsoft Forms to pose the questions, capture answers and allow for rich, detailed analysis. Face-to-face interviews will be completed across a small range of ranks and teams to give a fair representation of views. This review will take place after the second survey and will allow the views of staff to be further examined.
The proposed research design takes note of the teachings by Bell and others (2022) particularly around planning and formulating research questions. Consideration will be given to the concerns raised around interview subjects modifying their behaviours in knowledge of the aims of the study. The proposed approach is credible and effective, referred to as responded validation by Bryman (2015). The data will be analysed and critically compared against the systematic literature review to make an informed conclusion.
All data collected will be processed and stored in compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2016/679. The collected data will be deleted once the study is published.
References
Bell E and others. (2022). 'Business research methods'. 6th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Bryman A. (2015) 'Social research methods'. 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Santa Maria A and others. (2021). 'Reducing work-related burnout among police officers: The impact of job rewards and health-oriented leadership'. The Police Journal, 94(3), pp 406–421