CNC strengthens wellbeing commitment through Police Covenant
The CNC has reinforced its wellbeing focus through the Police Covenant, helping shape national best practice and earning recognition for its health initiatives.
Chief Constable Simon Chesterman undergoes a routine medical exam.
The Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) has reaffirmed its commitment to the health, safety and wellbeing of its workforce through its ongoing implementation of the Police Covenant – an important national pledge recognising the bravery, commitment and sacrifices of those who serve, or have served, in policing.
The Police Covenant, which the CNC signed last year, aims to ensure policing personnel across England and Wales are not disadvantaged due to the unique demands of their roles. As one of the three non-Home Office forces, the CNC works closely with the British Transport Police (BTP) and Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) as co-founders and co-chairs of the Non-Home Office Police Covenant Group. This group feeds directly into the national Police Covenant Delivery Group and is responsible for providing annual progress updates to government, helping to ensure the covenant drives tangible improvements for policing communities.
A significant part of delivering the covenant’s ambitions is led by the National Police Wellbeing Service (NPWS). The NPWS develops and provides practical wellbeing tools, guidance and support for officers and staff across the UK. For the CNC, this partnership is especially valuable as the force plays an active role on a number of national NPWS working groups, helping to shape best practice across key occupational health and wellbeing themes.
Emma Aldred, CNC’s Head of Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing, said the force’s involvement places it “at the forefront of developing national approaches that directly support the police workforce.”
She added: “We are in a privileged position. By contributing to national NPWS workstreams, we can ensure the CNC is aligned with emerging best practice and able to deliver a service that continually evolves to meet the needs of our people.”
NPWS
The NPWS, delivered annually by Oscar Kilo, is a core mechanism for driving the covenant’s work. Emma noted the strong engagement from CNC personnel in this year’s survey and was pleased to see results placed overall CNC wellbeing above the national policing average.
She said: “This does not mean we should become complacent. The survey results help us understand our strengths but also highlight where we can do more. They will shape our priorities for the year ahead as we continue to strengthen our wellbeing culture.”
CNC recognised at Oscar Kilo Conference and Awards
In November, Emma attended the Oscar Kilo Conference and Awards 2025, held under the theme Connecting the dots – people, wellbeing and data in policing. Delegates heard from Andy Rhodes, NPWS Director, who underscored that wellbeing is no longer a peripheral issue, it is a strategic policing priority.
Emma said: “For the CNC, this has been true for many years. We have long recognised that investment in health, safety and wellbeing is essential to supporting a productive, healthy and resilient workforce. Our approach is now considered an exemplar in national policing.”
The CNC’s commitment was further recognised during the awards ceremony, where the force was named runner-up in both the Occupational Health and Healthy Living categories. Oscar Kilo praised the CNC’s innovative, multi-disciplinary occupational health model, its proactive support across the employee lifecycle, and its leadership in national wellbeing projects. The CNC’s physical fitness and healthy living programmes – supported by on-site gyms, specialist training, dedicated fitness time and rapid-access physiotherapy – were also highlighted as among the best in UK policing.
Looking ahead
Emma described the conference as a timely reminder of both the CNC’s achievements and its ongoing responsibility to evolve.
She said: “My key takeaway is that while we are in an enviable position in terms of strategic commitment, there is always more we can do. In 2026, we will maintain our focus on understanding the diverse health needs of our workforce so we can tailor our support even more effectively. We will be actively seeking feedback and ideas, which are vital in helping us strengthen the services we provide.”
Emma also thanked all CNC personnel – those working in occupational health, safety and wellbeing roles, those prioritising their personal wellbeing, and the many volunteers in the force’s extensive peer support network – for their continued dedication.
She added: “The CNC is incredibly proud of its people. Our culture of wellbeing exists because of the collective commitment of everyone across the organisation.”