Last resort kind of job - Counselor Helio Health Employee Review

Helio Health’s expansion of services is driven by a desire to serve more people who do not have access to services. This is particularly true when a pandemic (COVID-19) intersects with an ongoing health epidemic (the opioid epidemic). The people we serve need us now more than ever. Our desire to expand is a response to their needs, and our desire to reach the significant number of people whom do not have access to services. During the initial stages of the pandemic, Helio Health put a COVID-19 response team in place. The team’s representatives have management, medical, nursing, clinical, operations, training, marketing, legal, and administrative expertise. Feedback on their work has and continues to be welcome. However we note that numerous other organizations have asked to use and replicate this groups work product due to its quality and timeliness. The Outpatient Clinic’s focus on productivity as it relates to the ability to telework is aimed at ensuring that our patients continue to be served as the primary focus, even when the modality of the service changes. Helio is an essential service that opted to provide telework as an option to clinicians who could continue to serve patients at a high level. We do not think its unreasonable to expect a clinician to spend a little more than half of their work time focused on patient care. To say that Helio Health’s Outpatient Services does not have an intake process is inaccurate. Helio Health provides 24/7/365 Open Access to individuals to receive assessment for the care they need, and to begin care immediately in many cases. Additionally it is our current belief that therapeutic alliance begins with clinicians and patients from the first interactions, and that is the primary driver of our desire to have as many of the same clinicians that provide counseling as possible included in the admission process. To say that Helio Health lacks proper training is also inaccurate. Comprehensive training is provided during New Colleague Orientation, by the Training Institute, by the Agency’s contract wellness trainer, and by other individuals whose title is not necessarily “staff trainer.” To respond to a review is not to “gaslight” a reviewer – it is to clear the record and provide facts. Human Resources investigates concerns that are brought to its attention. As an agency, Helio Health welcomes change (our agency has included as part of its culture for over a decade the idea that change is a constant) and encourages colleagues to provide feedback and ideas by several means. Helio Health has an annual planning process through which colleagues share their ideas for the strategic plan. Many of the ideas are also sent to HR throughout the year and are incorporated in annual employee handbook revisions. We also teach all colleagues at orientation about being the author of their own experience, and encouraging all colleagues to submit edits to job descriptions, process maps, policies or anything else at any time. Helio’s leadership team welcomes feedback. It cares about its colleagues. Above all else, it seeks to serve its mission every day.