Containing

• Please adhere to the NHS guidance on coronavirus, and find the latest advice from the Government about coronavirus

• If you are experiencing any cold/cough-type symptoms then please let your counsellor know before the session so that they can arrange for a video/phone session where possible.

• If you have tested positive for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) please notify your counsellor as soon as possible. This helps with containing, regarding self-isolation.  If you are feeling well enough, we can arrange a video or phone session during self-isolation where possible.

• If a counsellor becomes symptomatic or tests positive for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) then they will notify you as soon as possible. If they are well enough, they can arrange a video or phone session instead.

• There is a Covid-19 Procedure that is issued to all client’s prior to their first initial Face to Face session. This sets out what to expect on arrival and how Courage2Be are keeping al clients as safe as possible.

Coronavirus Contingency Plan

• Therapy can still continue online  if you or your counsellor are self-isolating or have tested positive for COVID-19.

• The online platform that we use is Zoom, which is encrypted and can be accessed via phone or computer from an email link invite from your counsellor.

• If you would prefer to use another platform then please discuss this with your counsellor.

• Should the technology fail then your counsellor will contact you by phone or email you as soon as possible to rearrange the session or continue by phone if you would prefer.

• Payment fees would remain the same and we can supply account details for Bank Transfer where necessary. However, should you start to experience financial difficulties as this Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues, this can be assessed on an individual basis. Should our technology fail then dispensation regarding fees or a further free session time can be discussed on an individual basis.

• As per our existing contract, counsellors have a clinical will in place. Therefore, if your counsellor becomes too ill to hold sessions or contact you, then a designated supervisor or the Lead Counsellor (Janine Hodge) will contact you on their behalf to help you navigate through this unplanned break. As per our existing contract, the supervisor only has access to your name and contact information in the event that the Lead Counsellor is not able to contact you.  This is an ethical requirement in order to uphold our commitment to your care and safety.

Legal Responsibility

The British Association of Counselling and Psychology (BACP) have confirmed that there is a legal obligation to breach confidentiality should a counsellor test positive for the Coronavirus, (CORVID-19) as a matter of public health and safety.

‘Public interest is the general welfare and rights of the public that should be recognised, protected and advanced. Disclosures in the public interest, based on the common law are made where this is essential to prevent a serious and imminent threat to public health, national security, the life of the individual or a third party, or to prevent or detect serious crime…This is relevant if you contract the virus and are obliged to inform the NHS of people you’ve been in contact with’ (BACP)

Therefore, counsellors will be required to give a list of names and contact numbers to the NHS of anyone that they have been in contact with. Please be advised that no staff member of Courage2Be Counselling Services will be disclosing in what capacity/context they have come into contact with you, so no one will know that you are a client in therapy.

Being in isolation/quarantine has its own emotional challenges and whatever you need to work through, your counsellor will continue to be available via online meetings for as long as necessary and as long as they are well enough to do so.

If you would like to discuss anything within this contingency plan or feel that further information needs to be added, then please do not hesitate to contact Janine by email (janine@courage2be.co.uk.

Best wishes during this difficult time and please reach out if you need to.

on behalf of the team at Courage2Be,

Warmly,

Janine