PHIT is a confidential occupational health led check that helps forces spot the early signs of psychological strain in their workforce – and get support to people sooner.
What is the Psychological Health Insight Tool?
The Psychological Health Insight Tool (PHIT) is a short, confidential questionnaire used by Occupational Health to identify the early signs of psychological strain in officers and staff – before they develop into long-term illness.
It replaces our previous approach to psychological risk assessments which was limited to 12 higher-risk roles. PHIT removes that limit. Forces can now include any role group they assess as higher-risk locally, using the HEART risk assessment guidance.
The tool is led by Occupational Health, runs on existing OH provision, and doesn't require a force to employ a psychologist.
If you have landed on this page and you have been invited to take part, there's more information for you below.
What it offers forces
PHIT gives forces an earlier, fairer, and more locally-relevant way to look after the psychological health of the workforce.
- Earlier identification
Spot the early signs of strain across higher-risk roles, before they develop into long-term sickness. - Risk-led inclusion
Cover the role groups your local risk picture actually points to – not a fixed national list of twelve. - Workforce insight
Anonymised, aggregated data shows where pressures are landing across your workforce. Useful for planning training, support and prevention. - Confidential and trusted
PHIT is owned by Occupational Health, with the same protections as any other medical information. Responses are not shared without consent. - Supportable with existing capacity
OH receives a risk-based breakdown of responses and follows up as it would any other referral. No additional clinical staff are needed. - Contributes to the national picture
Anonymised data feeds the National Police Wellbeing Service's understanding of workforce trends – helping target support and resources across policing.
How it works
At a high level, PHIT runs in five steps. The communications toolkit and OH guidance cover each in more detail.
- Identify the role groups
The force uses the HEART risk assessment to decide which role groups are in scope locally. Risk varies by population, geography and demand, so the groups vary too. - Set up the assessment
Occupational Health creates the assessment in the PHIT portal and adds participants from the in-scope role groups. - Communicate to the workforce
The force lets people know what to expect – an all-staff announcement, a heads-up from line managers, then a personal invitation with a unique link. - Individuals complete a short confidential check
Around 20–30 minutes of questions on recent health, work pressures, sleep, mood, anxiety, trauma and coping. Responses are medically confidential and not shared without consent. - OH reviews and follows up
OH receives individual responses and a risk-based breakdown. Most people need no further contact; a small number are invited to a supportive conversation. Anonymised, aggregated data informs wider workforce planning.
How forces access PHIT
During the soft launch phase
PHIT is currently available only to the four pilot forces. We're using this phase to refine the platform, the supporting OH and technical guidance, and the communications toolkit, so that wider rollout lands well.
For forces not yet onboarded
You can register your force's interest in PHIT for the next phase of rollout. We'll be able to talk you through timelines and what your force will need to have in place.
What comes with PHIT
Forces using PHIT receive supporting materials covering setup, scoring, communications and follow-up:
- Technical guidance for force administrators
- Scoring guidance for Occupational Health
- A communications toolkit for force comms leads
- FAQs and supporting materials for line managers and participants
- A supportive follow-up meeting format for OH advisers
If you've been invited to take part
This page is mainly for forces, but if you've had an email inviting you to complete the check, here's what's going on and why.
Why we do this
Policing is a job that asks a lot of people. The pressures of the role can build up gradually, often without anyone noticing. The point of the check is to spot those early signs and get support to people sooner – before something difficult becomes a long-term problem. It is not a test. There's no pass or fail.
Why you've been invited
You've been invited because of the kind of work your role involves – not because of anything about you personally. Your force has identified your role group through a local risk assessment. Everyone in the group is being invited; you haven't been singled out.
What you'll be asked
The check takes around 20 to 30 minutes. It asks how you've been over recent months – questions about your health, work pressures, sleep, mood, anxiety, the impact of trauma, and how you've been coping. You can save your answers and come back to it later if you need to.
What stays confidential
Three things to know:
- Only authorised occupational health staff see your answers. A small number of people, nobody else.
- Your line manager doesn't see anything. Not your answers, not a report, not a summary of what you said.
- Your answers are not shared without your consent. They are medically confidential, held to the same standards as any other health information about you.
What happens after you submit
Most people will hear nothing further – they've taken the check, and that's it for this cycle. A small number will be invited to a supportive conversation with an occupational health adviser, to make sure the right support reaches them. If that's you, it isn't because you've done anything wrong. It's the system working as intended.
Where to find the specifics for your force
The details that are specific to your force – the closing date, the link to the check, who to ask if you have questions – are in the email you've been sent. Your invitation has the contact details for your force's occupational health team. They're the right people to speak to about anything not covered here.
If you need support right now
You don't need to wait for the check to get support. Speak to a peer supporter or your occupational health team, or try some of the resources on our 'for individuals' page.
The 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line is an independent and confidential service for anyone working in policing experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts. If you’re in crisis, and need help now, call 0300 131 2789
Want to know more?
If you would like to know more about PHIT, please contact us via our contact form and a member of the team will be in touch.