IAWP 2013 Awards Program CIVILIAN ACHIEVEMENT

Transcription

1 IAWP 2013 Awards Program CIVILIAN ACHIEVEMENT Nominee Bio Susan Double is the Administrator of the Victim Services Branch-the only 24/7 crisis intervention in the community and is responsible for its strategic and operational direction as well as providing direct counseling and consultation to clients. She administers the recruitment, training and supervision of approximately 100 Victim Services Branch volunteers. Through this job responsibility, Susan contributes to the core of volunteers who support the citizens of the City of Hamilton by teaching values, ethics, skills, and behaviours. Through her leadership, she was a contributor to the Hamilton Police Service being awarded the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteers Programs Award for 2011 that recognizes excellence in leadership through the implementation of an effective, high-quality volunteer program that successfully integrates volunteers into overall organizational operations. Susan is actively engaged with her colleague network of police based and community based victim services providers in Ontario and has taken a leadership role in developing innovative programs and supports for human trafficking victims, families of homicides, our community s seniors and is currently partnered with and serves as the Secretary on the Board of Directors of the Suicide Prevention Community Council of Hamilton. She has volunteered her time with Mohawk College as a guest presenter in the Social Service Worker Program. She is also a presenter with Hamilton Police Service s in-service training program and offers sessions that she developed on Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma for officers along with other topics. Susan has been with the Victim Services Branch of the Hamilton Police Service since Susan was the Coordinator responsible for the development and delivery of programs for police response to victims issues. She has held positions with the Ministry of the Attorney General-Victim Witness Assistance Program and the Ministry of Community and Social Services in probation and parole, Ontario Disability Support Program, and as a youth correctional officer. A graduate of McMaster University with a B.A. in Sociology, she holds certificates in trauma counseling from Hincks Dellcrest Institute. She is the recent recipient of the Chief s PRIDE Award for her efforts in the Hero s Program and was presented with the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) Victim Assistance Committee Award. The award recognizes contributions made by Hamilton Police Service Victim Services Branch in partnership with Lean On Me for efforts in helping family members affected by homicide. She received the Imperial Order of Daughters of the Empire (IODE) Police Community Relations Award in March Susan was given the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Susan is the Chair of the Board for Project Concern, the HPS in-house charity and volunteers with the Haldimand Youth Soccer Club. She is an avid marathon runner. Nomination Susan Double Nomination for Civilian Achievement The Hamilton Police Service relies on the efforts of its volunteers in order to serve people in the City of Hamilton and expects all volunteers to meet the highest standard of professional and ethical conduct. The Hamilton Police Service has staff and volunteer policies that specify the organization s expectations regarding conduct, describe its authority and define its values and standards. This is accomplished through Susan's leadership skills. She manages 80+ volunteers at any given time to provide this service. The incidents and calls for service have also evolved and become more complex requiring a different set of expectations and training for volunteers. Susan's values and ethics and leadership style along with Susan ensuring that VSB's core values are maintained are paramount to all of this. The HPS has a volunteer-culture with one of its goals devoted to increasing further volunteer involvement and HPS's value of "Sensitivity to Victims", Susan's responsibilities in this area are significant to ensure it

2 all unfolds as it should so that the Chief, Commanders and the members of HPS are proud of VSB volunteers and no harm is done to victims. The following are examples of how Susan both personally and professionally demonstrates excellence in performance: Represented victims issues at the business plan sessions at Redeemer College University. embraces, navigates and aligns local, provincial, national, international victimology and volunteer engagement issues and ideas and successfully transitions these to the demographics of her organization and community. remains current; attended the National Organization of Victim Assistance (NOVA) annual conference along with attendance at the following workshops: DV Symposium; Human Trafficking; Lean on Me Homicide Conference; and DV Research and New Trends; received monthly clinical supervision via the Hincks-Dellcrest Institute in Toronto. Under her leadership since 2004, has contributed to the successes of the Victim Services Branch and the Hamilton Police Service and has been the recipient of the following: 2005 OACP Victim Assistance Committee Award contribution to the Homicide Unit working with families of homicide; 2007 OACP Victim Assistance Committee Award presented to HPS VSB and Family Violence Resource Unit and Community Advisory Team for its contribution in working with high risk domestic violence; through her leadership contributed to the 2011 IACP Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award; 2011 OACP Victim Assistance Committee Award presented to HPS VSB and community agency Lean on Me for its contribution in working with families of homicides. member of the Suicide Prevention Community Council Board of Directors; Susan has assisted in the development and implementation of the Hamilton Suicide Prevention Strategy. devotes off duty hours to volunteer work in our communities as well as on a provincial and federal level, e.g. Hamilton Police Service Heroes Program. Community service and good citizenship instilled within Susan/siblings as children by their parents as one of their family values. And she continues to uphold service above self by volunteering in the communities as a family unit. willingly engaged and offers to exchange/share ideas, volunteer training manuals/orientation/recruitment processes/ideas, etc., with her colleague police based and community based victim services who are receptive to her outreach/knowledge; some of whom are currently modeling Susan s volunteer recruitment and engagement initiatives; the Ministry of the Attorney General s office has expressed appreciation/interest in these documents/initiatives as well. presented on the topic Vicarious Trauma at the Canadian Critical Incident Stress Conference/Training that included emergency responders from across Canada as well as internationally; has been invited to return in The evaluation feedback received was excellent and her workshop was ranked in the top 3 of all the workshops. in conjunction with the Vice Unit, coordinated and hosted an evening presentation from a Peel Detective for both Victim Service Branch volunteers and all Hamilton Police Service members that focused on Human Trafficking education. in conjunction with the Trillium Grant and the Suicide Prevention Community Council of Hamilton, coordinates and hosts safetalk suicide prevention training. As a Hamilton Police Service partner on the grant, she coordinated the attendance of an additional 25 members to receive the 2 day ASIST certification on suicide prevention. supported the McMaster University/Hamilton Police Service partnership providing orientation to 6 students as part of their tour of the Hamilton Police Service and learning experience about the role of policing. excels at volunteer recognition and valuing of volunteers to ensure their readiness, currency and accountability; successfully transitioned quarterly VSB volunteer general meetings to ongoing professional development training that is specialized, current, ongoing and that responds to community demographics. She introduced educational field trips to tour the 3 men s shelters.

3 researched, advocated for and implemented a new computer Online Scheduling System program in July 2012 to assist the over 80 VSB volunteers with their scheduling of shifts and training; was the leader in bringing the scheduling software to the Hamilton Police Service which is now also utilized by the Auxiliary Branch and will be used by the Community Policing Centres in future. The response of the volunteers has been extremely positive; has resulted in efficiencies for the corporation, enhanced services and valuing experiences for our volunteers and that will further benefit the corporation if you consider that the Auxiliary Branch, the Community Policing Centres in addition to the Victim Services Branch will be contributing to these efficiencies through the use of Online Scheduling and messaging for all volunteers in these 3 areas; Susan and the Victim Services Branch made a significant contribution in providing a solid base or foundation for the online scheduling systems developed for the Auxiliary Branch and the Community Policing Centres. Susan had this vision and started the process 4 years prior to it becoming a reality. developed new partnerships, initiatives and promotional materials designed to increase Officer and public awareness and knowledge of resources and services available to victims of crime as directed in the 1996 legislation, the Victims Bill of Rights. Victim Services Branch provided the new OACP DVD on Victim Assistance to the Training Branch and advocated for its viewing on block training during presented educational workshops for Hamilton Police Service members on human trafficking and suicide prevention; community educational workshops on victimization as part of National Victims of Crime Awareness Week; 60 internal Victim Services Branch presentations to Hamilton Police Service members on the topics of working with victims, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma and suicidal callers; under her leadership, was successful at introducing VSB as an integral component to block training; prior to Susan becoming administrator, VSB was not included during block training for officers. training for communications operators on vicarious trauma/compassion fatigue and suicide callers. launched a new annual Victim Services Branch Award of Distinction open to any member for excellence in working with victims. Special Constable Justin Faulkner was the 2012 recipient at the annual Police Awards Night. organizes/develops in-house and community educational workshops on victimization as part of National Victims of Crime Awareness Week. In particular, her leadership made a significant and timely contribution to HPS s training program in providing support, resources and training on the topic of working with the 4 generations. The following is a quote from an HPS member regarding this training: Susan did an excellent job of putting this together, she sought out a great resource and helped make sure the training would be on point and relevant to the audience. I know she spent a tremendous amount of time, creativity and energy pulling this whole week together, her efforts are truly reflected in the training I saw today. Her effort truly reflects a commitment to leading a learning organization. In 2013, Susan is taking the lead in the NVCAW grant submission and has successfully partnered with 8 other Victim Services organizations across the Central West Region of Ontario. This is the first time that both Police based and Community based victim organizations have come together in a partnership of this magnitude. The Victim Services Branch through Susan s leadership is the host for this event in Hamilton. The grant was approved. Susan is organizing the 4th annual NVCAW ceremony honouring victims of crime and plaque rededication at Division 1, where the Chief of Police, Police Services Board Chair, victims and volunteers speak highlighting the message that we all have a role. In 2013, she was instrumental in bringing the Victim Quick Response Program (VQRP) to Hamilton and setting up the program s operation at HPS. In 2004, Susan was receptive to developing a one page format of helpful info that was distributed to volunteers...called "Did You Know..." in 2014, this one pager will celebrate 10 years...it is a multi-page newsletter-style under her leadership. Did You Know now celebrates and values volunteers, communicates protocols, professional training opportunities, etc.

4 In 2004, there was one small manual given to volunteers. In 2013, there is a set of companion volunteer Manuals (Volunteer Orientation Manual; Resource Manual; Team Leader Manual) that "protect" the corporation, and hold the volunteer accountable. These manuals are willingly shared with other police based and community based victim services. In 2004, the volunteer training program was 10 weeks in duration with some guest speakers invited to training. In 2013, training is 12 weeks consisting of 13 sessions, includes an evening of case scenario role play; a 3 hour telephone practicum, a written evaluation tool, and includes guest speakers. In 2004, there were 4 "general volunteer meetings" a year with no specific focus, low participation. In 2013, there are quarterly Professional Development Training with specific content, guest speakers and includes a December Professional Development volunteer dinner to celebrate the volunteers and their accomplishments/contributions/efforts. This is in addition to other internal and external PD training opportunities that are offered to volunteers throughout the year. In 2004, recruitment of volunteers went from the interview process with appropriate reference/police checks to being invited to training; in 2013, the recruitment process involves a mandatory orientation evening and follows "applicant-to-volunteer" guidelines. Susan is a proven and qualified leader, trainer, administrator and counselor with 21 years of victimology experience within the policing, criminal justice systems and volunteer management professions. She is committed to supporting and empowering victims of crime and trauma with compassion, ethics, and good judgment and has a core value of sharing expertise and knowledge with colleagues and engaging community and provincial partners to promote excellence in service to victims. Susan models herself in getting the job done as is illustrated through the demonstrated examples in this nomination. She has clearly demonstrated excellence in performance and is a proud Hamilton Police Service member. For Susan, every victim matters.

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