The Politics of Staff Counselling Available to Purchase

Commonly, staff support is conceived of in terms of counselling. Centres on counselling as a form of staff support, and questions the idea that it can be realistically offered within work settings. The idea that a short course plus some unsupervised practice might adequately prepare a person to counsel others is rejected. A second issue discussed is: who should undertake psychological staff support within work settings– managers, personnel staff, occupational health‐care staff or external counsellors? Counselling and guidance are distinguished as different forms of staff support which may be combined. Three major areas of guidance are identified – vocational, health and welfare, financial and legal.