There is no shortage of officers who are prepared to serve with their hearts and to stand by their fellow officers in need of help. The Carelinks Cadre has received about 100 applications in response to its recent recruitment drive for "Carelinkers" - an encouraging response to Cadre Chairman, Chief Inspector Gilbert Wong.

At present, the Cadre has 50 "Carelinkers" to help it achieve the mission of "Making the Hong Kong Police a Caring Workplace". "With a view to providing better and more services to Force members, the Cadre hopes to train up 30 to 40 more Carelinkers this year. Selection of the applicants will start soon," said CIP Wong.

The Psychological Services Group (PSG) set up the Carelinks Cadre on July 9, 2005. The name "Carelinks Cadre" exemplifies the spirits of "Care", "Linkage" and "Esprit de Corps". The Cadre is composed of Force volunteers - disciplined and civilian officers at all ranks - who are appointed as "Carelinkers" to help promote positive living in the Force, build a caring Force and render peer support to Force members.

"Carelinkers" will help Force members enhance their psychological well-being with a wide range of peer support services such as self-development groups for Recruit Police Constables at the Police College, stress management workshops and sharing sessions for different units, etc.

The Cadre is also planning to extend peer support services by, among others, setting up a Peer Support Hotline for Force members and by responding to critical incidents in the capacity of "Critical Incident Peer Supporter" to assist PSG in dealing with stress of critical incidents.

More Carelinkers are on the way to provide peer support