Talking #TeamCWPT blog

Tracey Bennett started as the new Local Security Management Specialist at the Trust in August 2025 and is on a mission to support staff when they suffer violence and aggression from patients and the public.

Previously a police officer and trainer for West Midlands Police, a national trainer for the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service and Local Security Management Specialist for Dudley Primary Care Trust, Tracey has over 30 years' experience in the public service, with expert legal and training knowledge.

Tracey's job involves carrying out regular risk assessments across CWPT sites to ensure staff are as safe as possible and compiling data on all violent incidents for various Trust groups so senior leaders can understand the full picture of what staff are experiencing.

Tracey took time out to talk to us about the main focus of her work and her passion - working with staff and encouraging colleagues to report violence.

"Details of incidents of violence and aggression against staff are pulled into an 'unacceptable behaviour' database. So, when I go onto that, it will come up with specific incidents to review. Plus, the Patient Safety Team send daily reports for my attention.

The majority of reports sent for my attention require me to contact the ward managers and the actual staff member(s) involved in the incident, often to get more detail than is on the report, which impacts what action I take.

A lot of staff are worried about putting a complaint in (to the police). They either think it's part of the job, or nobody's going to do anything, or they don't want to go to court.

A lot of our patients are here because they've gone through trauma, are very poorly or may not understand their actions, but staff shouldn't have to suffer.

The police will not investigate when staff are the victims unless the staff member involved agrees to make a formal complaint. If the staff member says no, our hands are tied.

But I do go into staff developmental training days as often as I can, or if I'm on the ward for anything, I will chat to staff all the time and tell them - 'I will fully support you and back you if you take it forward'.

I will support a staff member all the way through to the point if they have to go to court, I will turn up and be there for them and take them through it and talk to them beforehand. But if the statements are good enough, we may get a case to court without staff having to go. I have a habit of being a perfectionist. So even if I don't make perfection, that's what I'm striving for.

Sometimes staff are concerned that the person might be more violent towards them if they find out a complaint has been made. But the reverse is actually true. Often people continue to act aggressively because they don't think any action will be taken against them. It is a preventative measure to take legal action.

A lot of staff also don't realise if you go to court or you make the report to the police, you could be entitled to criminal compensation.

Sometimes a warning can be enough, so where someone has repeatedly been aggressive, with the ward manager's agreement, I might actually go and speak to that person and explain that if it continues, we will be going to the police.

It's not the staff saying it, it's me that's taking it forward. I'll say to the person how our staff are here to look after people. They don't deserve this treatment.

The staff are my priority. They're our biggest asset. So, if there's anything we can do to protect them, we should.

My message to staff is please, please come forward. The only way we can reduce violence is if people come forward. I will back you; I will support you; I'll do everything I can.

My message to the public is, please treat our staff with dignity and respect. They do an incredible job and are passionate about giving the best care possible. They should not have to suffer any form of aggression."