David Maslen-Jones from Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust asks:

“1.Following a recent incident where a client took his own life, do you have an in-house counselling service in addition or instead of an EAP?

2: If you have an in-house provision are your counsellors directly employed by your Trust/health board or are they privately contracted as individuals or provided by a separate company?

3: What arrangements do you have for clinical supervision, external or internal, funded or unfunded?

4: Where are you counsellors clinical notes recorded i.e. paper/trust systems/in house OH system?

5: Do you have a specific policy or SOP on access to the service or guidance for OHAs as to how to access the service?

6: If your Trust provide mental health services, what relationship does your counselling service have with mainstream mental health services such as IAPT?  Does a senior clinician have oversight of the OH counselling service?

7: Finally what is your process for referral to the counsellors?”

Please respond direct to d.maslenjones@nhs.net and cc. to admin@nhshealthatwork.co.uk