How to promote the Care first service virtually
This article will explore tips and ideas for how to effectively promote the Care first Employee Assistance Programme to your employee’s virtually.
Whilst this article is aimed at HR, Managers, Team Leaders and other members of staff tasked with promoting organisational wellbeing, this article will also contain a lot of relevant information for employees also.
What is an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)?
First of all it would be useful to outline exactly who we are and what an EAP is. Care first is an independent provider of 24/7 support, counselling and information to your organisation. As an external provider we provide confidential support to employees for both work and personal issues.
What are some of the benefits of an EAP?
For employees the EAP service is a confidential and impartial place to speak to professionally trained counsellors and information specialists about issues at home or at work. As the Care first service is 24/7 we can provide immediate support in the moment which can offer swift access to support when staff really need it. The support provided by Care first can help staff increase their productivity at work, help them return to work quicker if they are absent, or help them remain at work.
What are some of the common misconceptions about the Care first EAP?
As Care first provide 24/7 support through our helpline, sometimes an employee may call the service expecting that they will need to book an appointment, or can only access structured counselling and are often unaware that they have got through to a professionally qualified Counsellor who can start supporting them immediately in the moment. Alternatively, if you require practical advice you may wish to speak with a Care first Information Specialist (available Monday-Friday 8am-8pm) who are all Citizens Advice Bureau trained and are all Money trained experts. Employees are able to contact us as many times as they need to for in the moment support at any time of the day.
In some cases an individual may require longer term counselling which falls outside of the short term model that Care first provides. In this instance Care first will signpost the employee to where they may be able to obtain the most clinically appropriate form of support for them, whilst also reminding the employee that they can still call us whenever they need to for 24/7 in the moment support.
How can you promote the service effectively to your organisation, team or colleagues virtually?
There are many simple but very effective ways in which you can promote the Care first service effectively throughout your organisation or team virtually. These can include:
- Regular conversations with staff and colleagues both in person (where possible) and virtually to remind them of the support available
- Including the Care first details in your email signature
- Promoting the Care first service in electronic newsletters or all staff email communications
- Promote the Care first webinars to your staff. These can be found on your Lifestyle website.
- Adding Care first posters, information and webinars to your Intranet, you may also want to consider creating a wellbeing area on your intranet to include this content.
- Including leaflets or adding a section into electronic payslips
- Include Care first information in virtual induction packs/training
- Director endorsement in organisation or departments virtual briefings
- Uploading Care first information to screensavers or monitors within your building
- Running virtual lunch & learn sessions or wellbeing events about the service and other wellbeing benefits
More information
If you feel you may need some support, you can contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first and our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.
If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘How to promote the Care first service virtually’ this is being delivered live on Wednesday 28th April at 12pm, please use the following link to register for this session –
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5775871334480553483
If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.