Through
traumaClinic
employers can provide a trauma support service to
their employees.
•
Frontline
staff in all sectors, such as shop assistants, cashiers,
tellers and drivers, are
particularly vulnerable to trauma as victims of the
frequent robberies, hold-ups and shootings
that have tormented industry over the last few years.
•
Management plays a crucial
role in the recovery of staff – hence managers receive
both
support for themselves following a traumatic incident
and consultation to help them deal with
staff members affected.
Nature
of the Service
traumaClinic
provides a comprehensive work-related trauma support service
nationwide, including:
•
Face-to-face
counselling of trauma victims at their place of employment,
•
Early
intervention to promote the natural recovery process
and prevent the development of complications
•
Up to three sessions of counselling
following a traumatic incident – referral for more
active treatment if more sessions are indicated
•
Telephonic support for staff
and management in outlying areas if face-to-face counselling
and consultation is not possible within a reasonable time
Other
Specific Services
traumaClinic
provides a range of other work-related trauma services, including:
•
On-going
training of trauma vulnerable staff in trauma resilience
– what to do/not to do, how to deal with the aftermath
and their own reactions (see
training).
•
Training
of line management in managing trauma victims (see
training).
Covered
by Workers’ Compensation
The cost of providing a trauma
service to employees need no longer be a trauma itself:
•
Trauma
is now recognised as a work related injury under COIDA.
•
The
Compensation Fund has published new guidelines (Circular
Instruction 172, June 2003) for trauma related claims.
It provides for compensation for disablement and for
medical aid in cases of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder,
as well as compensation for early professional support
of trauma victims to aid normal recovery and limit the
incidence of PTSD.
•
Hence traumaClinic’s
services incur minimal cost for the employer.
