Context
Dedicated Space is an employee assistance programme (EAP) designed specifically to support smaller third sector organisations. Most EAPs link to the world of business or largescale agencies and are priced accordingly at £45/hour or more. This is beyond the reach of smaller charitable providers who often:
- Have limited resources
- Work in high stress sectors
- Have small staff and volunteer teams
Everyone is at risk from life experiences causing levels of distress – these work related vulnerabilities can create heightened risk of stress-related ill health. These in turn undermine healthy relationships and impact on professional effectiveness. The lowered productivity, diminished practice quality, and increased absence from work linked to mental ill health can have a devastating effect on small organisations. Limited budgets make high staff turnover, impeded effectiveness, lack of sickness cover and service disruption more likely and in turn creates further pressure on a small team and the service it provides.
The Offer
Dedicated Space offers affordable counselling specifically to the employees and volunteers of third sector organisations with a turnover of less than £1,000,000. Sessions are delivered by fully insured, Diploma level qualified counsellors who are members of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. Support is offered to individuals, for couples with relationship difficulties or colleagues in conflict, and to enable staff teams to solve relational difficulties in a safe environment.
The Setting
Dedicated Space operates in partnership with mental health charity and third sector hub Sheffield Flourish. Face to face sessions take place in their office base in central Sheffield. Meanwhile, online and telephone counselling is available at a national level.
Costs
Individual Therapy £30/session (with free assessment)
Relationship Work £35/session (with free assessment)
Group Work Contact to discuss needs
The Provider
Dedicated Space is delivered by the provider and also on a sessional basis by a range of skilled, experienced, suitably qualified, insured, and supervised therapists recruited by Andy Whitehouse. Andy qualified as a Registered Mental Nurse in 1991 having started his career in mental health as a pastoral volunteer on an inner-city estate in the mid-1980s. He has worked in mental health and community development in both statutory and voluntary sector settings ever since. In addition, he has managed community based residential provision for young adults with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour, and created award winning and nationally recognised socially inclusive arts and health and performance arts initiatives. He is a qualified psychotherapist in both private practice and as an Associate of the Sheffield Central Counselling agency and is a passionate believer in the importance of small scale third sector organisations in community care and development.
In light of current concerns regarding the safety of face to face work indoors, for now all Dedicated Space work will be delivered either by phone or online. This will be discussed with you at first contact.
Contact
For further information contact Andy Whitehouse on 07947 178360 or [email protected], or find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DedicatedSpace