Mental health conditions affect at least 1 in 4 people at some point in their life. As part of the ongoing commitment to the wellbeing of our staff, we offer a range of services that offer support for our employees.
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
We offer an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a confidential employee benefit designed to help you deal with personal and professional problems that could be affecting your home life or work life, health, and general wellbeing.
The EAP service provides a complete support network that offers expert advice and compassionate guidance 24/7, covering a wide range of issues such as:
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life support: Access to counselling for emotional problems
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legal information: For issues that cause anxiety or distress including debt management, consumer, property or neighbour disputes
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bereavement support: Health Assured offers qualified and experienced counsellors who can help with grief plus legal advisors to help with related legal matters
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medical information: Qualified nurses are on hand to offer support on a range of medical or health-related issues offering practical information and advice
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online CBT: to help deal with a range of issues.
Mental health first aiders
As part of the ongoing commitment to the wellbeing of our staff, we have numerous trained mental health first aiders covering all sites to offer confidential support to staff.
The purpose of the mental health first aiders is to:
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provide support to colleagues in regard to mental health issues
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promote mental health in the workplace and work towards ending mental health discrimination.
The team of mental health first aiders work together to provide a continuous source of information, campaigns, support, fundraising and general embedding of mental health awareness in the organisation.
Oasis
In our Pathfinder House building, we have a space called Oasis which contains books (personal development, management and self-care), jigsaws, colouring materials, cards, magazines, personal CD players, meditation CDs, audiobooks. We also have a room in our Eastfield House building where you can go and take some time if needed.
This area is available to all staff, at any time, for when you just need some quiet time or head space.
Menopause
We want to support people experiencing menopause at work and have committed to work on:
- recognising that menopause can be an issue in the workplace and that women need support
- talking openly, positively and respectfully about the menopause
- actively supporting and informing our employees affected by menopause.
As part of this commitment, we have signed up to the Menopause Workplace Pledge.
Domestic abuse
Domestic abuse is a hugely destructive, far-reaching problem which can affect anyone, and it is not just physical violence. It is any type of abuse from someone who is 16 or older with whom you have a personal connection. It does not matter whether the abuse is a single incident or several incidents.
The abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:
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coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation, and control with the use or threat of physical or sexual violence)
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psychological and/or emotional abuse
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physical or sexual abuse
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financial or economic abuse
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harassment and stalking
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online or digital abuse.
We have a collective responsibility to tackle it, Huntingdonshire District Council takes reports of Domestic Abuse very seriously and so, we have therefore made a commitment to achieving the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) Accreditation.
This accreditation is the UK benchmark for how Housing providers and councils should respond to Domestic Abuse and is endorsed by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales.
By becoming DAHA accredited, Huntingdonshire District Council are taking a stand, to ensure they deliver safe and effective responses to domestic abuse for our employees and our residents.
If you are affected by domestic abuse and would like to talk to someone, there are several domestic abuse support champions within HDC who are specially trained and will be happy to speak to you in confidence and will be able to provide help and support.
You can email them at DomesticAbuseSupport@huntingdonshire.gov.uk