Role of the Welfare Officer
Welfare Officers can support staff affected by personal, domestic or work-related problems.
What the welfare officer does
The Welfare Officer will ask you about the nature of the issue and about any steps that have already been taken to resolve it. The Welfare Officer might be able to suggest other things that you may wish to consider that might be helpful.
The welfare officer will:
- meet with staff who wish to avail of the service.
- Ask questions to aid understanding of the issue.
- Make suggestions that might assist.
- Signpost to a range of other support services, if appropriate.
What the welfare officer does not do
The Welfare Support Service is not a counselling service. Welfare Officers do not act as an advocate in areas such as grievance, discipline or harassment.
The Welfare Support Service is a confidential service EXCEPT in the following instances:
- Where we are informed of a breach of NICS or departmental rules and regulations;
- Where we are informed of a breach of the law;
- Where there is a risk of harm to yourself or others;
- If a disclosure relates to an equality issue.
- Child protection
Please Note:
On occasions information may be shared with colleagues within our business area of Occupational Health and Wellbeing.
Subject Access Requests are processed appropriately by our NICSHR Information Management Team colleagues.
Employee Assistance Programme
Staff can avail of support by contacting a free 24/7 helpline service, telephone 0808 800 0002 and one-to-one confidential counselling sessions are available to all staff who are experiencing difficulties. The programme is delivered by Lena by Inspire and is completely confidential.
Whilst Welfare Support Service provides emotional support to its clients, Lena by Inspire complements the role of Welfare Support by providing a confidential counselling service. It is, therefore, an important additional resource for staff.
Further information on Inspire and the service it offers can be found on the Lena by Inspire page of this site or on the Lena by Inspire website.
Contact the Welfare Support Service
Welfare Support Service
2-4 Bruce Street
Belfast
BT2 7JD
telephone: 028 9025 1771
email: welfare@finance-ni.gov.uk
If you wish to speak to a Welfare Officer, the Service operates from Monday to Friday 9am to 5.00pm.