EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMES (EAP)
What does an EAP offer?
Workplace stress is the leading cause of stress in the UK, with an estimated 17 million working days taken off due to work related stress. (HSE, Nov 2022). Here at SCC, we understand the importance of creating an environment where employees feel safe and where mental health is taken seriously. We provide EAP packages to organisations and their employees.
We offer tailored packages which include offering individual counselling sessions to employees, access to online resources and various workshops. SCC are a proactive employer genuinely concerned for staff health and wellbeing.
Sometimes people feel therapy or counselling can only be accessed if there is a crisis or something is already perceived to be “broken” in their lives. This is absolutely not the case. Therapy can of course be very effective at these times, but it can be a very powerful tool to ensure there is an opportunity to discuss issues and concerns whilst they are building.
Individual counselling offers confidential and professional support and can address a variety of concerns such as (but not limited to): stress, relationship difficulties, harassment, financial problems, bereavement and redundancy.
This enables organisations to: reduce absenteeism, enhance productivity, alleviate stress, boost staff morale, improve relationships and free up management time.
Why Choose SCC?
We are a charity focused on offering affordable counselling services to all those who need support. We do not seek donations in order to achieve our charitable goals, but instead we look to subsidise our low-cost counselling by offering our services to the wider public. One of the services that we offer in order to help support our low-cost counselling is EAP. We believe that by choosing us, not only are you choosing a professional, confidential and supportive service, you are also helping to support the wider community and expanding the reach of mental health services across the South West.
How do I get in touch?
If you are interested in learning more about how we can help you, our packages or any additional information on the benefits of how EAP can help, please contact info@scctaunton.org.uk or fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page.
What is the process for Employees on a Program?
We simply ask team members to email info@scctaunton.org.uk and use the contract reference number, so that we know they are associated with
a workplace and will not need to pay for the service they receive. They do not need to do this with a work email.
We respond to each client’s contact with us with a request for a date for the first meeting. Once this date has been arranged, we will send a confirmation email along with a personal details form (to ensure both you and we are safeguarded), and a very simple CORE questionnaire – a wellbeing measure, which the therapist will discuss at this first session with the client.
The initial consultation - what is this?
An initial consultation goes through all the key details that you are looking for support or to discuss and get some help – a few background questions to start to frame the picture of support.
It is a session which lasts up to 90 minutes and gives the therapist a good indication of how they can begin and shape the sessions ready to support you.
Only our most experienced counsellors are able to conduct initial consultations. Generally, with the shorter term work as is offered here, we would ensure the client stays with that counsellor for continuity.
For other clients who contact us for longer term work, this initial assessment would be used to identify the most appropriate match of counsellor for their ongoing needs.
What can I expect from the rest of the sessions?
The other sessions are your time. The day and time will be set and are likely to be a constant if at all possible. These sessions are up to 50 minutes and the time is yours, supported by the counsellor. You and the counsellor will decide on the appropriate number at initial consultation. Sometimes a further five sessions is ample, at other times a little longer is needed to support a good outcome for you.
Who will the counsellor be?
We have over 30 counsellors, both male and female and of differing ages, with a variety of experiences and backgrounds who are trained in a diverse range of counselling approaches to meet the needs of our clients.
What can I expect?
There will be a short agreement for each individual to sign once they have completed their initial assessment. This is more around mutual ground rules of engagement.
There is also a GDPR form for the individual to sign.
What about my records and data?
Any consultation records and therapist notes are kept securely in our GDPR compliant system and can only be accessed for specific purposes, such as by the therapist to create them and check previous notes or by the organisational team in response to any GDPR requests, such as SAR (Subject Access Request) by the client or any other statutory requirement if applicable. We have a privacy policy on our website for reference also. We keep records for up to 3 years, after which they are destroyed.
Will the employer know what's discussed in the sessions?
The services we provide are strictly confidential between the service (the counsellor) and the client in the room – regardless of payment. The service we provide to a client will not at any point be discussed with the employer.
Other than making a payment for the service, the employer will not be aware of why you wish to access some short term counselling or the
content of any discussions.
To many employers it is seen as a good thing to have been proactive to have engaged with support such as is being offered here.
Our safeguarding and Roadmap to Risk policies will be enacted if required and will be discussed between the client and counsellor at the time and prior to any diversion.
If for any reason the service needs to consider confidentiality, this will be solely for safeguarding purposes and with the appropriate statutory body only.
Where will these sessions take place?
We offer a safe space and can be flexible to meet the demands of your business.
For 121 Therapy we offer sessions in our Taunton Office or online.
We also offer in-house packages to provide your organisation with a toolkit to help support your employees.
