case study
14 Jun 2007 - 09:58: NSPCC
EAP for the NSPCC
Employee number: 1,800
Industry sector: Charity
Year EAP started: 1994
Company objective: Managing organisational change
"At the NSPCC we have some 180 sites across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Some of these sites are quite remote and it is really important for us to have a service that is easily accessible by everybody who works for the Society. PPC has supported us by offering a wide range of advice and counselling services over a number of years."
Mary Holley, Head of Organisational Development and Learning.
Supporting change to build a better environment
The NSPCC was founded in 1884 and is the UK's leading charity specialising in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children.
The NSPCC employs more than 1,800 people in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, including those working in 180 child protection teams and projects.
PPC’s Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) was introduced to the NSPCC in 1994. Ten years on, it continues to offer important benefits for employees, and has been a valued source of support during periods of organisational change.
Positive changes
By working in partnership with the NSPCC at many levels, PPC has helped to ensure that the revision of benefits was dealt with in a sensitive and supportive way.
Changes in the pension schemes were supported by access to independent financial advisors for NSPCC employees. PPC was able to provide advisors who had background information about the NSPCC, to ensure that the information and guidance given was accurate in relation to the new policies.
Other benefits changes, such as the car allowance policy, were supported by access to the EAP. The programme also provided support to help employees deal with any personal feelings connected with the changes.
Improving the service to children
Local projects with small, isolated teams have had trouble finding appropriately qualified and experienced cover for absentees. Therefore, any steps to improve absence rates have had a positive impact on the services that are provided to children and young people.
A good use of the counselling service has helped to keep employees at work. Confidential reviews of people attending counselling demonstrate that employees are using the support offered by the EAP to cope with stress and behavioural health issues.
Central support
The EAP provides a centralised resource for the employees, which is essential for the wide geographical spread of the NSPCC workforce. In addition, it ensures that all employees have access to help and support 24 hours a day to complement the NSPCC’s own human resources facility.
Improving employee relations
One important benefit of the EAP being an excellent vehicle for employment relations, where the EAP provides independent and confidential consultation to staff at all levels.
PPC and the NSPCC continue to work together on initiatives to improve the working lives of employees. Both organisations run round–the-clock helplines and are working together to learn more about effective methods and systems of responding quickly and effectively to queries.