The Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education is launching an employee assistance programme (EAP) to complement existing counselling services and health perks.

Face-to-face counselling already exists, but for staff that do not want to use this, the EAP will be offered via the telephone or online.

The service is designed to speed up access to healthcare and prevent long-term absence.

Peter Barnard, registrar and clerk to the corporation, said: "We want to give staff access to instant health assistance."

The institute's absence level currently stands at an average of 3.6 days per person per year.