Workplace and Community Bullying and Harassment Advice, Counselling and Support Service

Introduction

The Workplace and Community Bullying and Harassment Advice, Counselling and Support Service has been set up following the recommendations made after the results of the 2010 Bullying Survey that the Trust carried out. (Further details of the survey can be found on our main bullying page.)

About the Service

The aim of the service is to provide a professional, advice, counselling and support service, to all members of the community.

If you have experienced bullying or harrassment in any setting such as the workplace, care environments, your neighbourhood /community or social networking sites we would ask you to contact us. In fact we would encourage you to contact us wherever the bullying has taken place. It doesn't matter whether the bullying incident(s) happened a long time ago or is still happening you can still talk to our service.

You can also access our service if you are not being bullied or harrassed yourself but have witnessed or are being affected by the bullying or harrassment of somebody you know.

Do you feel that you are being Bullied / Harrassed? Not Sure? Here are some examples of Bullying behaviour:

• Ridiculing, demeaning, humiliating someone, including spreading rumours or making individuals feel left out.
• Unwelcome sexual advances - touching, standing too close, display of offensive materials.
• Making threats or comments about job security without foundation.
• Overbearing supervision or other misuse of power or position.
• Preventing inidviduals progressing by intentionally blocking or training opportunities.

Things to think about;

Has the behaviour happened more than once?

Does the behaviour have a negative impact on you?

Some examples of negative impact:

• Anxiety / depression / or stress related illness
• Humiliation
• Loss of Confidence / Self Esteem
• Absence from work both short or long term
• Accident Prone - more than before the bullying started
• Anger / Frustration/ Tearfulness

Who does Bullying/ Harassment happen to?

It can happen to anybody irrelevant of age, gender, race, ability, disability, religion, sexuality or any other factor.

If you feel you are being bullied / harassed then there is no need to feel ashamed, embarrassed or alone. We would encourage you to take action and make contact with us. 

What is Counselling?

Counselling is a talking therapy that takes place in a safe, confidential setting between a professionally qualified counsellor and a client. Clients meet with the same counsellor and sessions usually take place on the same day and at the same time each week.

Counselling is sharing your difficulties and feelings, in order to help you to find understanding of what has been happening and to enable change to take place.

We are able to offer an assessment session to help you decide if counselling is appropriate for you. This can be followed by up to six free counselling sessions. Your counsellor will be professionally qualified and a member of BACP.