There are a variety of supports and services in AGS which are available to all personnel. You are free to use any or all of the services listed below.
The supports are designed to offer a tiered approach - the service providers will work with you at your own pace. Sometimes just chatting to a colleague or a Peer Supporter will help to resolve an issue. Or you may prefer to use the Employee Assistance Service - which will support you in relation to both professional and personal issues. You also have the option to seek help via the Inspire Helpline & Counselling Service - which is provided at no cost to AGS personnel.
Further details on all of these services are below:
Peer Supporters
Peer Supporters are colleagues who are appropriately trained to provide support to personnel who have been exposed to or experience a traumatic event in the workplace. There are currently 912 peer supporters within An Garda Síochaná, located in each Division/Office.
Peer Supporters work in conjunction with the Employee Assistance Officers and are a valuable resource to Local Management. They are activated at a local level following a traumatic incident . Very often the immediate activation and response from a peer supporter has a huge impact in assisting colleagues in the aftermath of such occurrences.
The list of Peer Supporters are displayed in each station and are also available on the Garda Portal or you can contact the Employee Assistance Service (details below) to ask about Peer Supporters in your area.
Employee Assistance Service
It provides a proactive response by An Garda Síochána to support and assist all personnel in managing and resolving work and personal difficulties at an early stage, and in an effort to maintain their health and wellbeing.
It is a confidential service available to serving and retired members of An Garda Síochána, Garda Staff, their families, Trainee and Probationer Gardaí and retired members of external police services and their families resident in the state.
Each Employee Assistance Officer (EAO) has completed a Diploma in Employee Assistance and Social Support and other Training. They are dedicated to providing a comprehensive impartial support service within their respective Divisions/Sections to all personnel. A full list of Employee Assistance Officers is available on the Garda Portal or you can contact the office on 01 6660390 or at employeeassistance@garda.ie
Inspire 24/7, 365 Telephone Helpline & Counselling Service
The service is free and you can call anytime 24/7, 365 days a year at 1800 817 433.
This service is free and confidential for both Garda Members and Garda Staff and you can avail of it 24hrs a day, 365 days a year. The service can be used for workplace difficulties and/or personal issues.
The current contract provides a 2-tier system which includes the following services:
Trauma Focused Therapy
Trauma focused therapy is available to help personnel who may be impacted following a critical and/or traumatic event(s).
The counselling is accessed through 1800 817 433, however when engaging with the initial call taker please let them know it’s for a traumatic incident in work.
The referral is then made to an appropriate trauma counsellor and the following is the format is adapted for engaging with trauma counselling:
The service is completely confidential. An Garda Síochána will not be told who is using the service, and will only receive anonymised statistics in order to facilitate evaluation of the service. However, if an employee is at risk of harm to themselves or others, or involved in criminal activity, or there are any child protection concerns, then confidentiality may be waived in line with the Code of Ethics.
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