Norfolk County Council changes employee assistance programme provider

Norfolk County Council has switched employee assistance programme (EAP) providers in a bid to change staff perception that the benefit should be used only at times of crisis.

Since it retendered providers and selected the Validium Group, almost one in 10 staff have turned to the EAP for support - up from 3% previously.

Paddy Lorenzen, corporate occupational health adviser at the council, said: "We want staff to use the wellbeing, debt, finance and health support at the earliest opportunity, rather than when they enter a crisis."