Employee Assistance Programme - Counselling and Wellbeing Services for Staff

The University is working in Partnership with MCL Medics to provide access to counselling and wellbeing services for staff. Counselling can be offered by telephone, virtual face to face or in-person* face to face (*based in clinical assessment)

What is an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

An Employee Assistance Programme is an employee benefit programme that aims to support employees with personal problems and/or work related problems that may impact their job performance, health, mental and emotional wellbeing.

EAPs are often delivered by external providers to large organisations such as the University. 

How does it work?

You will be able to access up to 6 free counselling sessions (Short Term Therapy), with trained MCL Medics Counsellors, through this Employee Assistance Programme.  

Key Information

  • Counselling through MCL Medics is available free of charge to all staff (with a staff number), plus any partners or dependents over the age of 18 (living under the same roof
  • The sessions are delivered by telephone and virtual face to face or in-person* face to face (*based in clinical assessment) 
  • The counselling available is “time limited” targeted therapy, the same as that offered by the University, which means it is delivered within a set allocation of sessions, to a maximum of 6 sessions.
  • The counselling  is tailored and suited to supporting you with singular presenting issues that affect your daily living and ability to maintain good well-being in work.   
  • By using this external provider, staff will have access to timely  counselling services. 
  • At times you may be signposted to other services depending on your needs, and that will be explained at the time of your first call
  • This is a confidential counselling service.  You can access MCL Medic's privacy notice here Privacy Notice - MCL Medics (mcl-medics.com) 

How to access the EAP

Accessing the service

To register for an appointment, you will need to contact MCL Medics via their email address eap@mcl-medics.com or phone number 0808 196 1441.  They will then arrange a short 20-minute phone call with you to discuss your requirements/needs (within two working days of you getting in contact with them) and schedule your counselling which will be within 7 days from your initial call if this is convenient for you.

Please note that in your initial contact with MCL Medics you will be asked to confirm the following information:

  • Your first name and surname
  • Contact telephone number
  • Contact email
  • Reason for the call (your presenting issue)
  • Your employer (i.e. University of Edinburgh)

MCL Medics welcome page

For more information about MCL Medics, including how to get started with the App please see: https://www.mcl-medics.com/the-university-of-edinburgh

This page is password protected the first time you activate it.  The Password is: WelcomeUOED

The EAP provides access to a legal and financial helpline which supplies information and financial advice on a range of issues you may need help with.  

An online portal and App offer a library of health and wellbeing resources.

Legal information and financial helpline

The EAP programme can also provide clients with a one off legal signpost call to provide advice and information around legal matters.  This covers a range of issues;

  • Employment issues within the workplace
  • Commercial and Company law
  • Data protection (GDPR)
  • Housing (owner occupied and rented)
  • Consumer issues
  • Family and relationship difficulties
  • Personal injury
  • Road traffic accidents and Motoring Offences
  • Small claims court proceedings
  • Pensions, Tax and welfare benefits
  • Neighbour issues
  • Criminal law
  • Power of attorney, Wills, Probate and Bereavement

The service is available during the working week.  08:30am - 5:00pm Mon-Fri.


Frequently Asked Questions

No, the EAP is funded by the University of Edinburgh.


No.  The EAP works on a self-referral only basis. 


The EAP is provided by MCL Medics. MCL Medics are an established EAP provider who work with a range of employees across different organisations. 


MCL Medics aim to arrange a short 20-minute phone call with you to discuss your requirements/needs (within two working days of you getting in contact with them) and schedule your counselling within seven days from your initial call if this is convenient for you.


Please contact Mandy Philips (MCL EAP Manager) at: mandy.phillips@mcl-medics.com and she will chase this up for you.


How to provide feedback

If you have any questions about the service you are receiving from the EAP (e.g. when you can expect to hear about an appointment) then please contact MCL Medics direct via their email address eap@mcl-medics.com 

MCL Medics routinely seek feedback from clients about their experience for evaluation purposes.  If you are unhappy with any aspect of the EAP service then please raise any complaints/concerns with the Service Manager at MCL Medics: eap@mcl-medics.com 

If you wish to provide feedback to the University of Edinburgh about the EAP then you can do so via email to Dorileen Forbes, Deputy Director Health and Wellbeing at Dorileen.forbes@ed.ac.uk 

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