Voting Membership

Membership is open to individual voluntary organisations or head offices of national voluntary organisations. The helpline must meet the THA Membership criteria, as detailed below, and be operating a not-for-profit service.

Full voting members are entitled to access all of the THA benefits.

A summary of the criteria for Full Voting Membership is as follows:

• The helpline provides advice, information, listening support, befriending, counselling and/or referral (for the general public or a specific sector)
  

• The helpline provides a service in the fields of health, education or social welfare
  

• The helpline is adequately staffed during its opening hours, either by paid staff or volunteers
  

• Appropriate induction and on-going training is provided for all helpline workers (eg THA Core Helpline Skills or equivalent) and the helpline has a written training plan
  

• Support & supervision is provided regularly, including support after difficult calls

The helpline has written policies in place:

Equal Opportunities Policy - Which ensures maximum access to the service for callers and addresses all aspects of the organisation.

Confidentiality Policy - Which addresses any circumstances in which confidentiality would be breached, who would be responsible for the breach and how the caller would be informed.

Complaints Policy - Which addresses the timescale of dealing with complaints and the chain of responsibility.

The THA reserves the right to refuse any membership application on grounds of good practice and quality.

If you would like a membership application pack please complete the request form or contact us.