Employee Counselling

PAM Assist

South Lanarkshire Council recognises the importance of employee wellbeing. We understand that sometimes employees may need some help to manage difficulties and challenges in their lives.  

PAM Assist are available to employees who would like some emotional or practical support for issues that are impacting on their wellbeing. For example: stress (personal or work), anxiety, family matters, relationship problems, debt and addiction. 

If you are concerned about your wellbeing, PAM Assist will listen to your concerns in a professional, friendly and non-judgemental manner. They will then offer support and advice relative to your needs, such as counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

PAM Assist can also offer support and advice for life management issues, for example, debt management or even coping with positive life changes such as getting married.

Contacting PAM Assist:

• You can call them directly, confidentially and free on 0800 882 4102
• They are available 24 hours/7days per week should you, at any time, just want to talk to someone or if you need structured advice.   
• A trained counsellor will answer your call. 
• You will need to confirm that you work for South Lanarkshire Council and the Resource you work for (i.e. Education, Housing and Technical, Community and Enterprise, Social Work or Finance and Corporate).  This is required to provide the Council with anonymous information to help monitor how the service is being used and if improvements are needed.  No individual/personal details are given to the Council.
• After your discussion with the counsellor, you will be advised of what would be helpful e.g. counselling.   If counselling is recognised as the best support, then you may start your first counselling session within this first call (if appropriate).  Where an appointment is put in place for you, this will be confirmed by text message.
• The service offered by PAM Assist is a short term support; this means you may be offered up to 6 counselling sessions or 4 CBT sessions. If you are concerned about your wellbeing and need long term counselling support it is important you speak to your GP as soon as possible.

PAM Assist website

Employees also have access to the PAM Assist website. This website gives access to information on a variety of health and wellbeing areas such as stress management, A-Z medical conditions, mental health support and online counselling. 

To access this website go to: www.pamassist.co.uk  At the top right corner of the screen enter the following Log in details:   User name: SLC  Password: SLC1

Other ways employee’s may access PAM Assist:

• The Employee Support Team (EST): employees may be directed to PAM Assist if they have contacted the EST for advice.  The EST will also discuss the service with you, if you are absent due to a psychological reason or it has been recommended by the Occupational Health Adviser during an employee medical appointment.
• Employee Medical Appointment: the Occupational Health Adviser may give employees information to access counselling support via PAM Assist, if appropriate.
• Wellbeing referral: This type of referral may be required if, for example, an employee is being supported by the Occupational Nurse (ON) formally through the Addiction Policy.  This would mean the ON would make the referral on behalf of the employee and would receive information to confirm the counselling sessions are being attended.

Attending counselling/CBT sessions

If you decide to contact PAM Assist, you can keep this choice confidential. You may wish to tell your manager as part of discussing your wellbeing with them and so that you can be supported to attend counselling/CBT sessions.

If you need to cancel a counselling/CBT session, whether this is a telephone, face to face or online session, please contact PAM Assist on 0800 882 4102 to let them know. This will allow another person to access the cancelled appointment and will ensure your appointment is rearranged.