THA Award for OnlineAdvisor
CAREconfidential received an award at the Telephone Helpline Associations (THA) Awards ceremony, sponsored by BT, which took place at a special THA 10th anniversary event held at the BT Tower in London on Monday the 12 March 2007.
CAREconfidential was highly commended for 'Innovative use of web-based technology', in particular for its pioneering OnlineAdvisor. service that enables the provision secure and supervised short or long term online support to clients.
CAREconfidential is honoured at a ceremony in London's legendary 'revolving restaurant'
A major award has been scooped by CAREconfidential's ground-breaking website, for setting the pace in the whole area of 'multi-channel' helpline services. CAREconfidential was honoured (Highly Commended) in the BT & Telephone Helplines Association Awards for imaginative use of web-based services - and in particular for its 'pioneering online advisor service'.
Good Company
Team members Julia Acott, Howard Chapman and Paul Staley (Managing Director of Adnet Solutions) were among the hundred or so guests who attended the awards ceremony at London's BT Tower in its famous 'revolving restaurant'. They were in good company. Some of the biggest charitable foundations and helpline services in the British Isles were represented - such as The Samaritans, Citizens' Advice Bureau and Cancer Research.
CAREconfidential's recently launched online system is a unique way of offering 'respectful and compassionate' counselling and support services through a team of trained, supervised advisors.
'We work in a sensitive arena where total confidentiality and security are important both for clients and volunteers,' said Head of CAREconfidential Network Joanna Thompson. 'Our online advisor service has enabled us to involve, train and supervise our existing network of volunteer advisors - working from local centres or from home , - throughout the UK.
'So we're now able to develop a network of hundreds of volunteers to support thousands of clients around the world in a safe and managed environment.'
Special Section
So far, the secure service has helped nearly 1,000 women with its 'virtual' counselling rooms. Many of these had been struggling with personal challenges after having had an abortion. By the summer, CAREconfidential hope to have 40 counsellors ready to work through the electronic portal. The telephone helpline already receives about 600 calls a month. In addition, increasing numbers of women are sharing their own stories of recovery through another special section on the website.
'It confirms to women that their experiences are real,' said the network's Assistant Head Caroline Kennedy. 'They realise they are not alone - because other people have felt the same way, too.'
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