Aug 3, 2020
COVID-19 update: New counselling service launched to manage mental health
A new on-site counseling service has launched for 6000 Sodexo healthcare employees to help them deal with the pressures of working through the COVID-19 pandemic. The service has been designed to support frontline keyworkers, predominantly based at acute hospitals, and improve their quality of life.
Posted on August 3rd, 2020 | By Neil Nixon
It was launched at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust by an experienced counsellor and psychotherapist in June. A team of dedicated counsellors will be available for face to face sessions with staff who request an appointment.
Stuart Winters, Sodexo Healthcare UK and Ireland CEO, said: “Our staff perform their jobs at the highest level in the face of an unprecedented situation. Our on-site HR and learning and development teams recognised the negative impact COVID-19 was and continues to have on both the psychological and emotional health of our employees. This new service, along with our existing range of health and wellbeing tools, should help to alleviate some of the pressure of working through a global pandemic.”
The counselling approach was developed following a review into the global pandemic response of Sodexo. It has been designed to respond to the needs of frontline, supervisory and management employees. The service will be available at all large and medium acute hospitals, as well as a select number of smaller contracts, alongside Sodexo’s existing suite of wellbeing tools. Initially launching on a three-month trial, the new counselling provision will be evaluated and expanded depending on its success.