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The BC Employee and Family Assistance Program, also known as EFAP, is
a service that provides professional assistance to employees and their
families to resolve problems that affect their personal lives and, in
some cases, their job performance. EFAP also offers services that seek
to optimize employee health/mental health and productivity, including
family support, child and eldercare referrals, financial and legal
guidance and healthy living concerns. Through EFAP, BC Public Service
employees and their family members can receive professional assistance
with counselling, advice or referrals.
EFAP Services
Counselling – these short-term, solution-focused,
counselling services address a range of concerns, including
relationships, depression/anxiety, work-related issues, work-life
integration, grief/bereavement, addiction, trauma and suicide threat.
These services have a strong focus on assessment, goal-setting and
resolution.
Advisory/referral – these work-life advisory and
referral services can encompass a range of issues, including legal,
financial, family support (child care, parenting, elder care),
pre-retirement, work-life balance and healthy living.
Manager/supervisor advice line – this is a resource
designed for managers, supervisors or bargaining unit representatives
who seek consultation when a workplace situation arises that requires a
professional opinion. Situations may include employee conflict, how to
assist employees or strategies for dealing with unusual employee
behaviour. These consultations are designed to be available on an
immediate, as-needed basis.
Critical incident response services –
Ministries/organizations can access these services through EFAP.
How the program works
When you contact EFAP, some basic information will be obtained,
allowing intake staff to determine the most appropriate service for each
employee. If this includes counselling, an appointment will be set up
with a counsellor that best fits an employee’s needs. Subsequent
appointments with that counsellor will include conducting an initial
assessment, setting mutually agreed upon goals, and working together to
meet these goals. Counselling sessions typically run for an hour.
EFAP is voluntary and completely confidential. Human Solutions, the
program’s contracted service provider, maintains separate and secure
files and your reason for calling will not be shared with anyone without
your written permission.
Services are provided at no cost to employees and family members who
normally reside with the employee.
Session entitlement
In the past, EFAP users were able to access a maximum of six sessions
per year, but as of April 1, 2010, the number of sessions is no longer
capped. The number of required sessions is now determined by a
professional assessment of need, through a strong focus on individual
assess-ment and goal-setting. Services can also be re-accessed
throughout the year for different issues.
Eligibility
All BC Public Service employees, including auxiliary employees,
whether at work or recovering from an illness/injury, are now eligible
to access EFAP. Family members who normally reside with an eligible
employee can also use the program.
Family members of a deceased (eligible) employee are eligible for
grief counselling if they initiate contact with EFAP within 60 days of
the date of the employee’s death.
Scheduling appointments
The BCGEU Master Agreement regarding medical leave applies to all
appointments with an EFAP counsellor where it is not possible to
schedule the appointment outside regularly scheduled work hours. A
similar provision applies to the other union/association collective
agreements. Excluded employees receive a similar entitlement.
Contacting EFAP
Call toll-free:1-800-655-5004. This number is
answered 24 hours per day, every day of the year.
For more information, review the Q&A and overview documents also
posted on this website.
And, we encourage you to download any EFAP poster(s) to display in
your office/work area.
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