Employee Assistance Program

Introduction

The University provides free, confidential and professional assistance to employees and to other persons whose care is the responsibility of the employee, through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

The service providers who currently offer the programme on behalf of the University are:

Objectives

The Employee Assistance Program provides confidential and professional assistance for employees, and to other persons whose care is the responsibility of the employee, who are experiencing difficulties of a personal or work-related nature. The EAP provides assistance for issues such as:

• difficulties in relationships with work colleagues
• coping with organisational change
• mediation
• harassment
• stress with work
• career issues
• alcohol and substance misuse
• relationships and family issues
• emotional stress
• concerns about children
• financial and legal problems
• grief and bereavement
• health and lifestyle issues
• trauma and critical incidents

• coaching and mentoring for managers and supervisors.

The University provides this service in order to promote a satisfying, safe and healthy work environment.

Staff, and as necessary, other persons whose care is the responsibility of the employee, are entitled to access the program.

Managers and supervisors are expected to support and encourage the use of the program by staff.

Services

The service provides the following:

• confidential and professional advice
• feedback to the University on general organisational issues
• assistance to the University in ongoing organisational development
• assistance to senior staff to develop skills in employee management
• quarterly statistics to the University for review of policies and procedures

The service providers role is to provide a short term intervention service for issues that can generally be dealt within six (6) sessions or less. Further sessions may be made available upon a request to the University from the service provider.

Also provided is the Managers Hotline Service. This provides same day telephone consultation for managers or supervisors, in dealing with difficult people issues, e.g. when you are faced with a difficult staff/student management situation and would value the opportunity to talk it over and perhaps come away with some fresh ideas on how to manage it. EAP is a confidental service. All staff members who act in a supervisory role can access the Managers Hotline.

Procedures

Self-referral

A university employee, or a person whose care is the responsibility of the employee, may contact the service provider directly and arrange an appointment when there are issues to be discussed in a private and confidential setting without anyone in the University being involved. This is the typical way of accessing the EAP.

On-line

PPC Worldwide offers PPC Online, email@ssist, exec@ssist. To obtain the login and password contact UWA Safety and Health on 64988 3938 or refer to a recent EAP brochure.

Suggested referral

The manager or supervisor may inform a staff member of the services provided by the EAP and suggest that the employee may benefit from using these services. Safety and Health Representatives, Equity and Diversity Advisers, or any other University employee may become aware of developing situations where EAP services could benefit fellow staff members and may suggest self-referral (in confidence) at an early stage. It should be noted that employees are not obliged to use the services of the EAP following such suggestions.

Group Conflict Resolution

Where incidents or workplace conflict arise, and where managers or supervisors believe group facilitation will be effective, then involvement with an EAP service provider may be desirable. Attendance may be either as an individuals or as a group. Group sessions, are additional to individual entitlements. Central funding of up to $1,000 is available to assist with group conflict resolution service provision.

Trauma or Critical Incident

The manager or supervisor should be aware of the possible emotional impact of a work-related trauma or critical incident and referral options available to employees. Refer to the Critical Incident Counselling Procedure.

Specialist Assistance

A person using the EAP may be referred to an appropriate agency where the nature of the problem is such that further professional help is considered desirable. The service provider may, upon referral to the specialist provider, liaise with them and continue to act as point of contact for the specialist provider. It should be noted that the University does not meet the cost for such additional specialist services.

Attendance

EAP services are available during work time and after hours through PPC Worldwide.

Arrangements for time off during working hours to attend sessions will be the same as that which exists between supervisors and staff members for any other form of time off work. This may include an application for short leave or sick leave with the provision of the usual certificate requirements where necessary. The University expects that supervisors would be supportive of employees wishing to use the EAP and where practicable, provide flexibility for the employee to attend during work time.

Confidentiality

Persons who utilise the EAP are assured that discussions with the service provider will remain confidential. There are a few exceptions to this which will be explained in the consultation. Staff members may decide that it will assist them if their supervisor is informed about their situation and how it is affecting their work. In such a case the staff member must give written permission to the service provider for a specified person to be contacted.

Contacts

Review of Policy

UWA Safety and Health is responsible for reviewing this policy periodically and reviewing the contract with the service providers.