Counselling support

Our team of professionally trained, qualified and BACP Accredited Counsellors are available 24/7 to offer support for personal or workplace related issues. As well as the headline issues surrounding mental health, our Care first counsellors are also trained in dealing with both work and home grievances, bullying & harassment issues, domestic violence, relationships at both home and at work and much more. No matter how big or small the problem may be, our counsellors are here for you to provide you with unbiased support away from the situation. Everyone has very individual needs for support, Care first provides short term focussed counselling, so the Care first Counsellor will assess your circumstances when you call to establish what the most appropriate form of support will be for you. It might be that you just need a brief conversation with the Counsellor that day, or you may benefit from a few more sessions.

Information Specialists

As control, or the lack of it, can be an influencing factor on the impact of stress. Many individuals identify stress as emotional, however, a lack of control around practical issues can be just as impactful. We have expert advisors that have been trained by Citizens Advice who can provide you with comprehensive answers and assistance on a wide range of practical issues which can affect our daily life, these include but are not limited to; redundancy, advice on funerals and probate, legal information, housing and tenancy issues, childcare, eldercare, health, consumer issues, employment, travel and education. Our Information Specialists are also money trained experts and can provide support with a variety of financial queries such as help with budgeting finances and advice with benefits. You can speak with one of our Information Specialists confidentially Monday-Friday between 8am-8pm.

Management Support

If you are a manager, have leadership responsibilities, or look after a team within your organisation, it is as important as ever that your colleagues are made aware of the range of support available from Care first. As well as supporting you to signpost your colleagues to the Care first service effectively to maintain your managerial boundaries, Care first can also provide you with support within your role as a manager. Care first Counsellors are all management trained and can provide support with issues such as if the organisation is going through a period of redundancy, managing change and difficult conversations, workplace performance, remote working, absence management and disciplinary.

Care first Lifestyle

Through the Care first lifestyle site you can access a wide range of supportive information, read helpful articles published by our team, view Webinars covering a variety of well-being topics and even speak with a Care first Counsellor in real-time via our online counselling facility.

You can log into your account by visiting www.carefirst-lifestyle.co.uk and logging in using your organisation’s unique log in details. If you are unsure what these details are then please contact your line manager or HR department. The Care first Lifestyle website is great place to go to learn more about Care first and the different areas that we can support in.

How all of these above services link together

As you can see from the above table, all the services that we offer complement each other to ultimately encompass an individual’s overall mental and physical wellbeing, which enables individuals to access professional and clinically proven support.

Our counselling support is available 24/7 to help individuals with any emotional issues that they may have. Our Information Specialists can help individuals with practical information and advice. This practical support is so important because if an individual is concerned about a practical issue, then this can cause detrimental effects to their emotional wellbeing. By getting some support from an Information Specialist this will provide the individual with some clarity on that particular issue, which may help them to feel more in control of a situation and relieve some anxiety.

The Care first Lifestyle site can help individuals who are concerned about an issue. The individual may not know where to start and they can have a look at the resources on our Lifestyle website which may be enough to help them. The Lifestyle website is a great starting place to learn about the types of issues that Care first can support with. The individual can also access our online counselling tool through the Lifestyle website which is an alternative way to access support from a counsellor. By an individual looking through all the resources on our Lifestyle website this can help them to get answers about an issue they may be having. Again by getting some clarity on their issue this may have a positive effect on their mental wellbeing.

If you would like to learn more about ‘How Care first can support you’ then please join our webinar on Wednesday 1st February at 12pm using the details below –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7670559681117957466

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.

If you wish to contact the Care first telephone counselling and information line then please don’t hesitate to call the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

Monday  January 30th, 2023  at 12pm – Time To Talk

This webinar highlights how talking over how we are feeling about certain situations and life events can improve our overall wellbeing. In association with Time to Talk Day.

Please use the following link to register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7658158289486174043

Wednesday February 1st, 2023 at 12pm – How Care First Can Support You

A webinar for awareness and how to access the EAP service provided by Care First.

Please use the following link to register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7670559681117957466

Friday February 3rd, 2023 at 12pm – Your Counselling Call To Care First

This webinar provides an overview of what you can expect when making a call
to the counselling help line

Please use the following link to register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4764938576530785623

You Are Not Alone – Support For Managers

Your employer has made an investment in staff wellbeing. Care first provides a confidential service for information, advice and counselling which is available to staff free of charge. As a Manager you may be responsible for compliance with Health & Safety legislation and your ‘duty of care’. Knowing how to make the most of Care first services will help you to help your people.

Services

All staff have access to the following services:

• Freephone advice, information and counselling service
• 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year
• Care first Lifestyle site

Managers have access to additional help:

• Support and information service for Managers
• Management consultancy
• Management referral to initiate counselling for an employee

The level of support a Manager is able to give will depend on the nature of the problem and the time available. Help from Care first may also be appropriate.

There are a number of options:

Self-Referral

Encourage the individual to contact Care first on the dedicated Freephone helpline number – a confidential service which is available 24 hours a day. The person who answers will be a Counsellor and the employee only needs to identify the organisation they work for. The caller can maintain contact with one Care first telephone counsellor at a mutually agreed time over a period of weeks or they can be referred for structured telephone or face-to-face counselling if appropriate.

Management Support

If the problem is unfamiliar or complex – or if the employee is denying the problem and resisting the opportunity to seek help – you may find it useful to talk to Care first yourself. We can discuss the wider implications and likely effects, and explore options for appropriate management of the employee. However, in view of confidentiality, we will not confirm or deny whether an employee has called Care first.

Informal Management Referral

If the situation is unusually sensitive or the employee is extremely distressed, with the consent of the employee, you can make an Informal Management Referral. You will be asked to hand the phone over to the employee who is seeking support, so you will need to be with the employee in person and in a position to do this. You can then leave the area to
allow the individual to have their initial call with Care first. Any further support agreed will not be disclosed to the Manager.

Management Consultancy

Care first provides professional management consultancy to deal effectively with a wide range of people problems. If you want to discuss your approach to sickness absence, bullying or harassment, grievances, disciplinary action or any other difficulties you are having with your staff, just call the freephone number for informed advice.

Noticing problems

Both workplace and personal problems can affect the performance of an employee at work. For some, the combination of workplace difficulties with personal concerns can lead to a deterioration of performance at work. Change can be a major source of pressure: even changes that are positive, such as responses to innovation and improvements in efficiency, can provoke negative reactions among employees.

For some individuals it will not be possible to contain their anxiety and work effectively. As a Manager, you may be the first to identify those who are not coping well. Indicators that somebody may not be coping include:

• Poor workplace relations
• Poor time-keeping
• Becoming withdrawn
• Increased errors or accidents
• Tensions and conflict in workplace
• Reduced work output
• Loss of motivation and commitment
• Deterioration in personal standards
• Increased sickness absence
• Emotional outbursts

More information and Management support is available by accessing the Manager’s Area on the Care first Lifestyle site.

https://carefirst-lifestyle.co.uk/extranet/managers-area

*Your log-in details will be unique to your organisation and available from you HR department.

MHFA (Mental health First Aider) Support Service

Care first supports the MHFA’s from your customer organisation by making available, the use of the help line to offer immediate support should you have a difficult conversation with someone which has impacted you. A call to Care first is not supervision. It is a one off support call to help you within your role as an MHFA.

More information and MHFA support is available by accessing the below link on the Care first Lifestyle site.

https://carefirst-lifestyle.co.uk/extranet/health/mental-health/mental-health-first-aid

*Your log-in details will be unique to your organisation and available from you HR department.

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Care first Management and MHFA (Mental Health First Aider) Support Service’ this is being delivered live on Friday 27th January at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2370743210798743644

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.

Counselling support

Our team of professionally trained, qualified and BACP Accredited Counsellors are available 24/7 to offer support for personal or workplace related issues. As well as the headline issues surrounding mental health, our Care first counsellors are also trained in dealing with both work and home grievances, bullying & harassment issues, domestic violence, relationships at both home and at work and much more. No matter how big or small the problem may be, our counsellors are here for you to provide you with unbiased support away from the situation. Everyone has very individual needs for support, Care first provides short term focussed counselling, so the Care first Counsellor will assess your circumstances when you call to establish what the most appropriate form of support will be for you. It might be that you just need a brief conversation with the Counsellor that day, or you may benefit from a few more sessions.

Information Specialists

As control, or the lack of it, can be an influencing factor on the impact of stress. Many individuals identify stress as emotional, however, a lack of control around practical issues can be just as impactful. We have expert advisors that have been trained by Citizens Advice who can provide you with comprehensive answers and assistance on a wide range of practical issues which can affect our daily life, these include but are not limited to; redundancy, advice on funerals and probate, legal information, housing and tenancy issues, childcare, eldercare, health, consumer issues, employment, travel and education. Our Information Specialists are also money trained experts and can provide support with a variety of financial queries such as help with budgeting finances and advice with benefits. You can speak with one of our Information Specialists confidentially Monday-Friday between 8am-8pm.

Management Support

If you are a manager, have leadership responsibilities, or look after a team within your organisation, it is as important as ever that your colleagues are made aware of the range of support available from Care first. As well as supporting you to signpost your colleagues to the Care first service effectively to maintain your managerial boundaries, Care first can also provide you with support within your role as a manager. Care first Counsellors are all management trained and can provide support with issues such as if the organisation is going through a period of redundancy, managing change and difficult conversations, workplace performance, remote working, absence management and disciplinary.

Care first Lifestyle

Through the Care first lifestyle site you can access a wide range of supportive information, read helpful articles published by our team, view Webinars covering a variety of well-being topics and even speak with a Care first Counsellor in real-time via our online counselling facility.

You can log into your account by visiting www.carefirst-lifestyle.co.uk and logging in using your organisation’s unique log in details. If you are unsure what these details are then please contact your line manager or HR department. The Care first Lifestyle website is great place to go to learn more about Care first and the different areas that we can support in.

How all of these above services link together

As you can see from the above table, all the services that we offer complement each other to ultimately encompass an individual’s overall mental and physical wellbeing, which enables individuals to access professional and clinically proven support.

Our counselling support is available 24/7 to help individuals with any emotional issues that they may have. Our Information Specialists can help individuals with practical information and advice. This practical support is so important because if an individual is concerned about a practical issue, then this can cause detrimental effects to their emotional wellbeing. By getting some support from an Information Specialist this will provide the individual with some clarity on that particular issue, which may help them to feel more in control of a situation and relieve some anxiety.

The Care first Lifestyle site can help individuals who are concerned about an issue. The individual may not know where to start and they can have a look at the resources on our Lifestyle website which may be enough to help them. The Lifestyle website is a great starting place to learn about the types of issues that Care first can support with. The individual can also access our online counselling tool through the Lifestyle website which is an alternative way to access support from a counsellor. By an individual looking through all the resources on our Lifestyle website this can help them to get answers about an issue they may be having. Again by getting some clarity on their issue this may have a positive effect on their mental wellbeing.

If you would like to learn more about ‘How Care first can support you’ then please join our webinar on Wednesday 25th January at 12pm using the details below –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/771032957222658134

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.

If you wish to contact the Care first telephone counselling and information line then please don’t hesitate to call the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

National Grief Awareness Week ran from December 2nd until December 8th in 2022 and the information for this article is taken from the National Grief Awareness Week website which is accessed via http://nationalgriefawarenessweek.org/ Here you will find information that is both interesting and practical in terms of posters and campaigns. The aim is to reduce the stigma around talking about death and grief, encouraging those who have been bereaved to come forward and share their stories.

DISTANCE SHOULDN’T MEAN WE CAN’T SHARE OUR GRIEF

2020 the year of the Global Pandemic will always be remembered as a year of challenge, uncertainty, fear, disbelief, helplessness and change. We have all had to begin to think and act differently. Our work environment and method of working has changed enormously for most people with “working from home” the new normal for many. Safety and caution have taken on new meaning as people struggle with what are often confusing guidelines and instructions from the different leaders across the UK. One of the most challenging things has been the rule of “distance” where we have at times been unable to meet with loved ones, friends or colleagues, but have had to learn to “manage” these meetings virtually. Festivals, weddings and family gatherings have been discouraged causing great disappointment and heartache for many. Never more so than a bereavement, the death of a loved one, family member or friend. Those who have been bereaved have not been able to have the usual comfort of a hug, a reassuring touch or the human connection vital to the grieving process. For many this has caused a good deal of distress, making the grief so much more difficult to manage. However, distance should not stop us from connecting and reaching out to others in whatever way we can.

YOUR STORY COULD BECOME SOMEONE’S HOPE

During the COVID-19 Pandemic those who have experienced a bereavement whether COVID related or not, have felt even more lonely and isolated than would usually be expected. They have not been able to share their grief with others, often grieving alone. Funerals have been delayed and there have been only the smallest of gatherings (if any) allowed at funerals. Even these have been conducted differently, often being conducted via a video link so that those not allowed to attend could at least share in some way. Culturally, this has been unsatisfactory as not every culture treats death and bereavement in the same way. However, sharing our stories and experiences may help others to understand some of the impact grief and loss has, hopefully enabling conversations to take place and allow feelings, thoughts and emotions to be aired and shared.

JUST BECAUSE I’M SMILING DOESN’T MEAN I’M NOT GRIEVING

Sometimes, following a bereavement people try to hide their grief from family and friends.
There is a feeling that others won’t be able to cope if they only realised the extent of our own personal feelings at the time. When asked how we are feeling the response is often “I’m fine” or “I’m coping” when in fact we may feel as if we are breaking inside. Sharing those feelings are often felt to be “burdening” others, so we smile and get on with things. This is so often the case particularly if the spouse passes away at a younger age and there are children to consider. The parent left tries to compensate for the missing parent. This of course gives a false message to the children who then struggle to manage their feelings because they do not want to upset the parent. This mean the “normal” pattern and feelings of grief are hidden and that “stiff upper lip” comes into play.

SAY THEIR NAME, I’M THINKING ABOUT THEM ANYWAY

When someone has died there is often an anxiety around mentioning the name of the deceased person. We feel that if we mention the person it will cause upset, when equally not mentioning the person by name can cause upset. This is particularly common in the workplace when someone returns following a bereavement. Colleagues and managers often skirt around the subject without saying the name mainly because they think they are protecting the person, when really it is often because people don’t always know how to best support someone who is grieving. However, talking about the person, remembering them, sharing stories and memories about them can be helpful as it helps to keep the memories alive and demonstrates how much the person was thought of, loved and respected.

THERE’S NO ONE FACE OF GRIEF

Grief shows no respect of age, culture, class, gender or religion. We will all at some point in our lives experience the loss of a loved one. We do know that despite death being the outcome, everyone will experience and deal with loss differently. The pandemic has affected the way in which people grieve and it needs to be recognised that support is still needed. Coping, managing, surviving are all words common to the process, as are shock, disbelief, anger, sadness etc. We will probably experience them all over a period of time.

THERE’S NO SET TIME FOR GRIEVING

We say that we “get over” grief, that we “move on”. Maybe that is a myth in the same way as “time heals” – perhaps it isn’t that time by itself heals, but more what we do with that time that can bring about the healing? There are the general common tasks to be done following a bereavement and this is a time when we are busy, trying to register the death, organise the funeral, contact family, friends and colleagues. People talk about being on “automatic” during this period. Financial issues need to be addressed and this is where information is sent to Probate. What happens though after all these things are completed? There is a belief that the burial (the funeral) itself is the end and people are often heard to say “thank goodness that is over” or “you have done them proud, what a lovely send-off”. Sadly, things just don’t return to normal and this is often when feelings of loneliness, anger and grief can really begin. In fact, people at this point are often in need of the most support. In supporting we need to be able to talk about the deceased person, to acknowledge them and to recognise that there will be events that trigger memories and, these often seem to just happen without warning and that they may come for months or even years to come.

Support ‘Grief awareness week’ by talking about it and sharing your experiences. Remember to be kind to yourself and others in their loss and remember that it is both okay and appropriate to be sad. It is a normal part of the process.

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Grief Awareness’ it is being delivered live on Monday 23rd January at 12pm, please use the following link to register for this session –
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4742442568469228887

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.

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, 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.

Monday  January 23rd, 2023  at 12pm – Managing Grief for Grief Awareness Week

A light touch session on the impact grief can have on us all, offering tips on how you can begin to manage grief with the support available from Care first as well as others.

Please use the following link to register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4742442568469228887

Wednesday January 25th, 2023 at 12pm – How Care First Can Support You

A webinar for awareness and how to access the EAP service provided by Care First.

Please use the following link to register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/771032957222658134

Friday January 27th, 2023 at 12pm – Care First Management and MHFA (Mental Health First Aid) support service

This webinar provides an overview of the support available for managers and
also the mental health first aiders of organisations through the EAP.

Please use the following link to register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2370743210798743644

In line with ‘Cycle to work day’ which is taking place on the 6th August 2022, our aim is to encourage individuals to incorporate cycling in to their daily lives and routines.

Whether you haven’t cycled in years, have never cycled at all, or usually ride as a leisure activity but want to try cycle commuting; this literature and accompanying webinar will give you 20 reasons why you should dust off that old bike.

1. Reduce risk of COVID-19 contagion
In traffic congested parts of London, the current advice from the Department for Transport is to cycle or walk when you can. There is a greater circulation of air and less risk you will come in to contact with others when you cycle to work.

2. It is good for the economy
Cyclists are better for the local and national economy than motorists. Cyclists are more likely to stop and shop, benefiting local retailers. If cycle use increases from 2% of all journeys (current levels) to 10% by 2025 and 25% by 2050, the cumulative benefits would be worth £248bn between now and 2050 for England – yielding annual benefits in 2050
worth £42bn.

3. Trim up and lose weight
Cycling to work can be a great way to lose weight, whether you’re just starting out or are looking to use your cycling as a way to trim up and shift a few pounds. It’s a low impact, adaptable exercise that can burn calories at a rate of 400-750 calories an hour, depending on the weight of the rider, speed and type of cycling you’re doing.

4. Reduce your carbon footprint
Considering the average road use of European car drivers, different fuel types, average occupation, and adding emissions from production, driving a car emits about 271g CO2 per passenger-kilometre. Taking the bus will cut your emissions by more than half. But if you wanted to reduce your emissions even further, try a bicycle.

5. You will get fitter
It should be no surprise that cycling will improve your fitness. If you don’t currently exercise regularly, the improvements will be even more dramatic and the benefits greater, and cycling is a great low-impact, low to moderate intensity way to get more active.

6. Cleaner air and reduced pollution
Getting out of the car and cycling contributes to cleaner, healthier air. At present, every year in the UK, outdoor pollution is linked to around 40,000 deaths. By cycling, you are helping to reduce the harmful and deadly emissions, effectively saving lives and making the world a healthier place to live.

7. It will save time
For some, cycling can often be a quicker way to get around than travelling by car or public transport. If you live and work in a city, or travel in heavily congested areas, you may find cycling to work saves you time.

8. Explore around you
If you take public transport you likely have no choice, if you drive it’s probably habitual, but chances are you take the same journey day after day. By cycling to work you give yourself the opportunity to take a different route, to explore around you. You might find a new beauty spot, or perhaps even a shortcut. Travelling by bike gives you far more
opportunity to stop and take photos, turn and look back, or even disappear up an interesting side street.

9. Mental health benefits
A Cycling UK survey of more than 11,000 people found that 91% of participants rated off-road cycling as fairly or very important for their mental health – strong evidence that heading out on the bike is a good way to de-stress and clear the mind. Whether your route to work is on or off road, it’s likely to help you clear your mind, boost your mental wellbeing and lead to long term mental health benefits.

10. Slow down and look around
For most people, riding a bike is likely to be a slower and more sedate way to travel. Embrace it, take the chance to look about and take in your environment. Whether the city streets or a countryside route, riding a bike is an opportunity to see more of what’s going on. Enjoy the slower pace, see more of the world around you and appreciate
your surroundings.

11. Save yourself some money
While there may be some expenses involved in cycling to work, the cost of maintaining a bike is far lower than the equivalent costs of running a car. Swap to cycling and you’ll save money every time you commute. Cyclescheme estimates a saving of around £3000 a year if you cycle to work every day.

12. An easy way to fit exercise into your day
One of the most common reasons for not exercising is a lack of time. Not being able to fit activity in to a day is difficult for a lot of us who are busy with work, home and social lives that are increasingly time-stretched. An easy way to keep fit and healthy is to use active travel – a 15 minute cycle to work each way would mean you meet the government
recommended guidelines for exercise of 150 minutes a week without having to lace up a pair of trainers or head to the gym.

13. It’ll make you smarter
Just one bout of moderate intensity aerobic exercise for as little as 30 minutes has been found to improve some aspects of cognition, including your memory, reasoning and ability to plan – including shortening the time it takes to complete tasks. Sounds like a good reason to cycle to work.

14. You’ll live longer
A recent study looking at commuting found that those that cycle to work have a massive 41% lower risk of dying from all causes. As well as all the other benefits of cycling, you’ll make a huge difference to how long you will be around – and we’re sure that’s a good thing.

15. No more traffic jams – for you, or for everyone else
Fed up of sitting in queues of traffic? It’s not good for your happiness levels, and it’s certainly not good for the environment. If you switch to commuting by bike, you’ll not have to sit in traffic on congested streets and you’ll be helping the planet too by reducing the number of cars on the road. Save time, improve your mood, and benefit others
too.

16. Boost your immune system
On average, cycle commuting employees take one less sick day per year than non-cyclists and save the UK economy almost £83m. As well as being fitter, getting outside on your ride to work will increase your vitamin D levels with benefits to your immune system, brain, bones and protection against numerous diseases and illnesses.

17. It’s really good for your heart and your health
A study of 264,337 people found that cycling to work is linked with a 45% lower risk of developing cancer, and a 46% lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to commuting by car or public transport. As little as 20 miles a week on a bike can reduce your risk of coronary heart disease by half. If that sounds a long way, consider it’s just a two-mile trip each way (assuming you work five days a week).

18. It’ll make you better at work
If you’re fitter, healthier and better off – and cycling will do all that – then you’ll perform well at work. Research shows that those who exercise regularly outperform colleagues who don’t, which is good for you and good for your boss.

19. Save money
This may sound drastic – but if you cycle to work you may no longer need a car (or a second family car). As well as no longer buying petrol, you’ll save on tax, insurance, parking fees and all the other expenses saved when you don’t own a car. Not to mention that if you sell the car, there’s a cash windfall you could spend on new cycling gear.

20. You’ll have better quality sleep
With modern-day stresses, high levels of screen time, disconnecting and falling asleep is a struggle for many people. A study of over 8000 people from the University of Georgia found a strong correlation between cardio-respiratory fitness and sleep patterns: a lower level of fitness was linked to both an inability to fall asleep and poor sleep quality. The answer could be cycling – regular moderate cardiovascular exercise like cycling boosts fitness and makes it easier to fall and stay asleep.

Useful sources & more information:

Some of the information sourced for this article was originally published by cyclinguk.org, to access this and more information please visit the links below –

https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/20-reasons-cycle-work
https://www.cyclinguk.org/campaigning/views-and-briefings/health-and-cycling

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Be active – In Association with Cycle to Work Day’ this is being delivered live on Friday 5th August at 12pm, join us on the day or register now by clicking on the link below to ensure your place:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/949508979329268493

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.

If you feel you may need some support you can also 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, 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.

Counselling support

Our team of professionally trained, qualified and BACP Accredited Counsellors are available 24/7 to offer support for personal or workplace related issues. As well as the headline issues surrounding mental health, our Care first counsellors are also trained in dealing with both work and home grievances, bullying & harassment issues, domestic violence, relationships at both home and at work and much more. No matter how big or small the problem may be, our counsellors are here for you to provide you with unbiased support away from the situation. Everyone has very individual needs for support, Care first provides short term focussed counselling, so the Care first Counsellor will assess your circumstances when you call to establish what the most appropriate form of support will be for you. It might be that you just need a brief conversation with the Counsellor that day, or you may benefit from a few more sessions.

Information Specialists

As control, or the lack of it, can be an influencing factor on the impact of stress. Many individuals identify stress as emotional, however, a lack of control around practical issues can be just as impactful. We have expert advisors that have been trained by Citizens Advice who can provide you with comprehensive answers and assistance on a wide range of practical issues which can affect our daily life, these include but are not limited to; redundancy, advice on funerals and probate, legal information, housing and tenancy issues, childcare, eldercare, health, consumer issues, employment, travel and education. Our Information Specialists are also money trained experts and can provide support with a variety of financial queries such as help with budgeting finances and advice with benefits. You can speak with one of our Information Specialists confidentially Monday-Friday between 8am-8pm.

Management Support

If you are a manager, have leadership responsibilities, or look after a team within your organisation, it is as important as ever that your colleagues are made aware of the range of support available from Care first. As well as supporting you to signpost your colleagues to the Care first service effectively to maintain your managerial boundaries, Care first can also provide you with support within your role as a manager. Care first Counsellors are all management trained and can provide support with issues such as if the organisation is going through a period of redundancy, managing change and difficult conversations, workplace performance, remote working, absence management and disciplinary.

Care first Lifestyle

Through the Care first lifestyle site you can access a wide range of supportive information, read helpful articles published by our team, view Webinars covering a variety of well-being topics and even speak with a Care first Counsellor in real-time via our online counselling facility.

You can log into your account by visiting www.carefirst-lifestyle.co.uk and logging in using your organisation’s unique log in details. If you are unsure what these details are then please contact your line manager or HR department. The Care first Lifestyle website is great place to go to learn more about Care first and the different areas that we can support in.

How all of these above services link together

As you can see from the above table, all the services that we offer complement each other to ultimately encompass an individual’s overall mental and physical wellbeing, which enables individuals to access professional and clinically proven support.

Our counselling support is available 24/7 to help individuals with any emotional issues that they may have. Our Information Specialists can help individuals with practical information and advice. This practical support is so important because if an individual is concerned about a practical issue, then this can cause detrimental effects to their emotional wellbeing. By getting some support from an Information Specialist this will provide the individual with some clarity on that particular issue, which may help them to feel more in control of a situation and relieve some anxiety.

The Care first Lifestyle site can help individuals who are concerned about an issue. The individual may not know where to start and they can have a look at the resources on our Lifestyle website which may be enough to help them. The Lifestyle website is a great starting place to learn about the types of issues that Care first can support with. The individual can also access our online counselling tool through the Lifestyle website which is an alternative way to access support from a counsellor. By an individual looking through all the resources on our Lifestyle website this can help them to get answers about an issue they may be having. Again by getting some clarity on their issue this may have a positive effect on their mental wellbeing.

If you would like to learn more about ‘How Care first can support you’ then please join our webinar on Wednesday 3rd August at 12pm using the details below –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3576877775806875661

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.

If you wish to contact the Care first telephone counselling and information line then please don’t hesitate to call the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

The slow season for campaigns continues throughout August. Here are links to a couple of event days which are notable to me but are possibly more frivolous than warranting a mention below: International Cat Day 08/08; International Left-Handers Day 13.08. However, there are some more noteworthy initiatives in the UK and internationally for this month:

• National Fishing Month: the aim of this initiative is to ignite a passion for fishing in people and tempt people to learn more or give it a go at a series of family-friendly events across the country. Anyone who’s enjoyed Mortimer and Whitehouse Gone Fishing on TV probably appreciate the benefits from this hobby
• National Road Victim Month: this initiative is organised by roadpeace.org. August was chosen as the month for victim remembrance because the first death of a person caused by a motor vehicle was in the month in 1896 and to commemorate the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997
• World Breastfeeding Week, 01-07 August: this event is organised by the World Alliance for Breast-feeding Action. World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is a global campaign to raise awareness and galvanise action on themes related to breastfeeding. It highlights the huge benefits that breastfeeding can bring to both the health and welfare of babies, as well as a wider push for maternal health, focusing on good nutrition, poverty reduction and food security.
• International Women’s Day, 03 August: this year’s theme is #BreakTheBias.
• Playday 03 August 2022: a campaign held to celebrate the importance of play in children’s lives. The theme this year is to celebrate a Summer of Play. Follow the link to access information on events near you.
• Cycle to Work Day, 04 August: now an institution in the health events calendar and celebrating its 10^th Anniversary this year. Cycling to work is a great way to get fit! Deserves some serious consideration this year with parking at a premium during the Lambeth Conference
• National Allotments Week, 08-14 August: another great way to get fit – gardening! This year’s theme is ‘Bigs, Bees and Broccoli’. The National Society for Allotments and Keaisure Gardeners have teamed up with Buglife and are promoting a survey of insect life. Definitely of interest for nature lovers and those among us with green fingers!
• International Youth Day, 12 August: promoted by the United Nations. The theme for this year is ‘Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages’.
• Never Give Up Day, 18 August: this is an international promotion where the focus of this day is all about cultivating a mindset of determination, which can help us to get through the difficult challenges that life throws our way.
• World Humanitarian Day, 19 August: another promotion day founded by the United Nations, its purpose is to raise awareness of the plight of civilians around the world who have become caught up in conflicts and honour and raise support for the humanitarian workers who risk, and sometimes lose, their lives to help. This year’s strapline is #RealLifeHeroes.