Self referral Any staff member or their immediate family can contact OCAR for help with a problem. Arrangements for an appointment can be made directly by telephoning the number at the back of this brochure. Arrangements can be made to see a counsellor during working hours, or the appointment may be made in your own time. You will not be required to give your supervisor any details of personal problems. There may be occasions where management considers it appropriate to offer the option of counselling.
Staff retain the right to either use or refuse the offer of counselling assistance.
As union representatives, personnel officers or colleagues often have close ties with staff members, they may be aware of situations where the OCAR counselling service could benefit fellow employees and may be able to assist by recommending OCAR to staff. When staff refer themselves without taking time off work, no-one need be informed. If time off work is required, no information need be given to the supervisor other than confirming a person's attendance at counselling sessions, or other leave required, as applicable. In some cases, a staff member will decide that it may help if their supervisor is informed about the situation and how it is affecting their work. When this is the case, the staff member may give written permission for the counsellor to contact a specified person.