case study
20 Jun 2007 - 16:08: Christie Hospital NHS Trust
Working with Christie's
Employee number: 1,750
Industry sector: NHS
Year EAP started: 2000
Company objective: Improving Working Lives initiative
Background
Christie Hospital NHS Trust introduced the PPC Employee Assistance Programme in February 2000. The Trust is an international leader in cancer research and development and is the largest cancer treatment centre of its kind in Europe.
The initial objective of the EAP was to provide a benefit to staff as well as assist the organisation in fulfilling its duty of care obligations as laid down by the Health and Safety Executive. The service also provides managers with specific assistance and referral options with person management issues.
EAP Package
Counselling
Legal Advice
Financial Advice
Manager Support
General Information Service
Child and dependant care (1-6 Sessions)
Telephone Counselling
Objective
Christie Hospital Trust launched their ‘Improving Working Lives’ (IWL) initiative, with the main aim of providing a 24-hour counselling service for all staff and an additional tool for managers in supporting staff. The key area of the IWL was the Healthy Working element.
In support of the IWL initiative, the EAP was introduced to demonstrate the duty of care to the staff as well as providing a practical benefit. The HR department can be coached through specific situations via easy phone access to the management consultation service. In addition, access to counselling services through the EAP has enhanced the capabilities of the Occupational Health (OH) department and reduced the workload on the OH staff.
The EAP was included within the assessment and referenced in the IWL report.
Implementation
Responding to a need identified by Christie Hospital Trust management, PPC provided an in-depth mediation/facilitation exercise within a specific department. The outcomes included actions, advice and recommendations for improvement and development within the department. Feedback indicated that the mediation had a positive influence on the culture of the department and had greatly improved the working lives of employees.
Following the positive outcomes of the mediation, PPC provided another facilitation for a different department, together with a supportive consultation process with the Training Manager and Deputy Head of HR.
PPC has worked in partnership with the Trust on promotional and communication projects, including an EAP Attitude Survey. The PPC Account Manager met with the Communications Director to discuss ways of enhancing the EAP message, which included an extensive interview for the Trust newsletter.
Evaluation
Juliette Wilson, Head of HR Support for Christie Hospital NHS Trust, believes their EAP is part of the hospital’s duty of care to staff. 50 of the NHS trusts’ 1800 members of staff have received counselling in the last 12 months, and 7 have returned to work following long term absence, following counselling. This is an excellent result for both staff and employer. Juliette Wilson states that ‘The EAP enables us to support a staff member’s phased return to work and it helps them to feel confident’.