We wanted to extend a big congratulations to the members of Counsellors Together UK.
As you may be aware, a lot of our work involves admin engaging in discussions online with members of the public, counsellors, membership bodies and other organisations.
On the 16th March 2020, Glenna wrote a tweet about the way some Employment Assistant Programs (EAPs) were reducing payments to their counsellors who needed to use telecounselling as clients started self isolating.
On the 18th March 2020, Glenna then posted in our Facebook group to seek further information on how EAPs were responding to the covid-19 pandemic and the national isolation and social distancing measures being taken as a consequence.
Almost immediately members began sharing how they were being asked to continue with clients via telecounselling but that their rates had now been cut to those telecounselling rates from what was previously agreed for face-2-face work. With some EAPs this would mean a pay cut of more than 50% per session.
Glenna asked members to contact their EAPs via email and they did. Then admin, and CTUK members, took the campaign back to Twitter where over a number of days we actively called out such EAPs and began tagging in interested parties such as membership bodies, EAPs and other interested parties like the Partners for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
By the 24th March 2020 we were hearing confirmation from our members and across social media platforms that those EAPs who had reduced rates had now reversed that policy.
We are a strong group that has been effecting change across the sector for nearly 3 years now and this is all made possible through your support and willingness to speak out even when things seem hopeless.
So we really wanted to take a moment to thank you all and let you know that we don’t take you for granted.
Any victories CTUK admin secure always come off the back of our members.
Thank you.
CTUK Admin (Maria, Tara, Glenna)
