Making a Referral
- Resource Persons are not trained counsellors. It is important to deliver a unified service, thus, even if a Resource Person has experience with crisis work through other avenues, it is still not suitable to fill this role for an individual. If one RP offers this service, it may be expected of other members at a later date who are not so trained. Therefore, you will, from time to time, refer individuals to support services on campus or in Victoria. You can find a list of resources at the back of this manual and the PSN website includes an updated version of this list.
- The referral should only be given if the person is in a state that they want one or might use one. Use your active listening techniques to discuss with an individual what avenues they would like to explore. This will better enable you to direct their enquiry to the most useful place.
- Individuals who are unfamiliar with Victoria’s and UVic’s resources may not be able to request a referral by agency name. However, they may be able to outline the type of service they are seeking, what they’ve tried in the past, and what their current situation is. From there, ideas of a good resource may emerge.
- Don’t overwhelm the individual by referring them to too many places at once. Talk with them and find out what their needs and desire are, ascertain what is most practical and then refer to no more than two or three places at once. Always make sure the individual has these in a format they can use (don’t assume web access, sight, etc). Let them know where to call for more resources should these not work out.
- Never refer to your own doctor, partner, therapist, etc. This can be construed as a major conflict of interest.
- Ensure the individual knows as much about the referral as possible.
For example:
- Is there a waiting list?
- How much does it cost?
- Where is it located?
- What are the hours of operation?
- What can they expect?
- Who is the contact person?
- Is it accessible to their needs?
Try to match the referral to their life situation (i.e. location, ability to pay, suitability, etc) - Don’t create unrealistic expectations about a referral (i.e. “This is just what you need!” or “I know this will help.”). There is no way you can guarantee the outcome so don’t risk creating false hope.
