NORFOLK SUPPORT LINE - Telephone 0800 169 7676

I am pleased to be able to tell you about some important developments concerning the Norfolk Support Line.

As you know, the County Council funds this service centrally, and for some years now, the Support Line has provided free and immediate access to an independent and completely confidential professional counselling service for teaching staff in schools. The contract to provide the Norfolk Support Line has recently been re-tendered and I can now tell you that from 1st April 2005 this service will now be provided by BUPA Wellness.

Whilst the counselling helpline will remain available to enable members of staff to talk through their problems with someone who can provide an objective and informed point of view, the nature of the package of support that will be provided by BUPA Wellness is now much more of an Employee Assistance Programme, so that confidential, independent advice and counselling by telephone is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on a wider range of matters, including: -

• Money management
• Substance misuse
• Legal queries
• Phobias
• Consumer advice information
• Trauma
• Stress
• Bereavement
• Domestic matters
• Emotional problems
• Anxiety/depression
• Support to managers

In addition this service will be available not just for members of staff but also for their family.

The other news that I am pleased to share with you is that from 1st April the Norfolk Support Line will now be provided free by the County Council to all school staff.

You will recall that up to now, schools have been given the opportunity to enrol support staff into the NSL at an additional charge. Many schools took the opportunity to do so, but a significant number of support staff across the County did not have access to this benefit. I am sure you will agree that this is an important and timely development, and one that complements our other staff health and welfare services, such as the Staff Wellbeing Programme.

It is intended to send further information about the Norfolk Support Line to all staff very shortly. In the meantime, I do hope that you will share this news with all your members of staff.