Free new EAP support for an entire sector of workers is announced

Free new EAP support for an entire sector of workers is announced – but it should not simply be a ‘tick box’ exercise, says EAPA chair

Carers have a tough job. One in four social care staff leave the profession every year. The Kings Fund has reported that there are around 110,000 unfilled vacancies at any one time in the home care sector. In 2017, the Health Foundation reported that some 37 per cent of staff had been ill in the previous 12 months due to work stress.

Which is why the announcement in August from care matching service Care Sourcer that it is launching a free health and wellbeing EAP support programme for employees of ALL UK care providers will, we are sure, be very welcome.

With the programme there to support more than 800,000 care workers, it’s a big, bold gesture that recognises the strain put on those whose job it is to look after others … often to the detriment of their own mental and physical health, leading to them taking time of work due to stress, depression, anxiety and sickness.

Care Sourcer says the EAP programme will provide a support network offering expert advice and compassionate guidance 24/7, “covering a range of issues including mental or physical stress, bereavement of clients or residents they have formed close bonds with, money worries, and general low morale”.

Funded for the first 12 months of its operation by Legal & General, Care Sourcer says the new EAP support will improve staff retention.

Our EAPA chair Eugene Farrell says that while the move is certainly a good one, attention should also be paid to the broader wellbeing of care-workers, who are often doing demanding jobs for not very much financial renumeration.

“The care sector has many challenges: staff shortages, pay and benefits, work stress amongst them,” he says. “As demand grows for more social care, then this demand for more workers will increase and pressure too will increase, especially if roles are not filled. Brexit too is going to have a further negative effect upon the sector which relies upon recruiting EU workers. I don’t think I’ve seen an entire sector getting EAP support in this way, and maybe it’s a sign of things to come. Whilst this is really good to see and will have clear benefits to staff, it’s going to be a challenge. Communicating with a diversely spread workforce will be a real challenge and getting workers to understand the role and benefits of having an EAP support is key to attaining a good utilisation level.

“In identifying common themes and issues, how are further support and additional programs going to be done and supported? What is likely to change as a result of having an EAP? It shouldn’t be used as tick box to say: ‘There you go, you have support, now get on with it.’ Organisations need good work and good management in order to survive and thrive. I hope this is also part of the plan.

“The broader wellbeing of workers is also something that needs consideration. Mental health is one part of overall wellbeing. I hope that as part of this undoubtedly welcome initiative, there are plans to assist these essential and valuable workers to attain better health and wellbeing, in its broadest sense.”