Counsellors treat patients under quarantine
THIRTY trained and qualified counsellors from the Empower Pacific have been conducting counselling services with hundreds of Fijians in quarantine facilities on a daily basis.
Chief executive officer Patrick Morgam said a counsellor could deal with at least six cases in a day and the numbers varied depending on client’s counselling needs.
“A counsellor will attend about five to six cases in a day, so we have to see the roster we have and how many cases we give them,” he said.
“It is, of course, an increase in workload for us, but we are prioritising staff care as well, and we make sure we follow strict CO- VID-19 guidelines, and we also look at fatigue, so they are supported with daily debrief from head office, and we also do well-being check with them.
“The clinical support for them is 24 hours and this is the small ways in how we maintain the workforce we provide services and we look after our own mental well-being.”
Mr Morgam said their workload kept increasing as the country continued to grapple with the effects of COVID-19.
A total of 2570 people accessed the local NGO’s services when the pandemic hit.
Mr Morgam added the work of their donors continued to boost services offered by Empower Pacific.
Chief executive officer Patrick Morgam said a counsellor could deal with at least six cases in a day and the numbers varied depending on client’s counselling needs.
“A counsellor will attend about five to six cases in a day, so we have to see the roster we have and how many cases we give them,” he said.
“It is, of course, an increase in workload for us, but we are prioritising staff care as well, and we make sure we follow strict CO- VID-19 guidelines, and we also look at fatigue, so they are supported with daily debrief from head office, and we also do well-being check with them.
“The clinical support for them is 24 hours and this is the small ways in how we maintain the workforce we provide services and we look after our own mental well-being.”
Mr Morgam said their workload kept increasing as the country continued to grapple with the effects of COVID-19.
A total of 2570 people accessed the local NGO’s services when the pandemic hit.
Mr Morgam added the work of their donors continued to boost services offered by Empower Pacific.