Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
The University provides an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), which is independent, free and confidential for both emotional and practical support. This service is run by CiC and called Confidential Care and gives you a place to turn for support any time of day or night, 365 days a year.
How to access the service
You can contact Confidential Care in the following ways:
By phone: 0800 085 1376 for the Advice Line
By email:
By the Live Chat facility on the Well Online portal (between 9.00 and 17.00 pm Monday to Friday)
is a wellbeing portal which offers information and advice on a wide range of topics to help you optimise your health and wellbeing. To access the website click .
The login is username URlogin and password Un1ReadingaccessW0!
Emotional Support
Confidential Care is provided by CIC and all counsellors are fully accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Experienced, professional counsellors are available to listen to your concerns, and determine the most appropriate course of structured support for you bearing in mind your own unique set of circumstances. They are only able to provide brief rather than long-term intervention and they may conclude after clinical assessment that counselling is not appropriate, which may be disappointing for some. As a professional provider, we expect the CiC team to be honest and caring in their dealings with you and do their best to provide you with information about the most appropriate course of action for you.
Practical Support
Legal, financial and tax advice: you can access experts for an information and signposting service. The service provides one consultation per unique issue per year. You are eligible to make a number of calls, as long as they are about different issues each time.
Information Services
- Work Life - Topics includes work/life balance, bullying, communication issues, equality and diversion
- Body & Mind - Topics include change, anxiety, depression, grief, mental health awareness, health, stress and wellbeing
- Home Life - This could include relationships, family care and moving house. With family care this includes child, elder and dependent care information. Support with all child, elder and disability care issues. From finding a care home for an elderly relative to locating a playgroup in your area, all suppliers are thoroughly vetted.
- Everyday matters - is a valuable time-saving tool that can help locate any service, activity or supplier in your area, including GP surgeries, health and fitness facilities, adult education and specialist retailers. Travel advice is also available.
Support for Managers
The provides support for managers with challenges and problems within their teams.It can help with issues around conflicts at work, work-related stress, team, behavioural issues, and much more.
Download our leaflet for more information. Management Referral Poster
Here are some Case Studies .
Managerial Adviceline Available on 0800 085 3805, Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm, excluding Bank Holidays.