WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH?

Occupational Health (OH) is a speciality that focuses on the impact of health on work and vice versa. It aims to assist employers and employees by providing advice and opinions that encourage a proactive approach to health management in the workplace.

WHY HAVE I BEEN ASKED TO COMPLETE AN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT?

The purpose of the referral to Occupational Health is for us to evaluate your health and its impact at work. Your manager or HR should have discussed the Occupational Health referral and their reasons for seeking our support. If this has not happened, you should contact your manager or HR to understand this. A referral to Occupational Health lets you discuss your health and work confidentially. The process will provide an impartial report to assist you and your manager discuss your medical health and work.

HOW WILL YOU CONTACT ME AND WHO WILL I BE TALKING TO AT ASSESSMENT?

Occupational Health will contact you via email to arrange an appointment for an assessment. An OH Advisor or OHP will complete the assessment. An OH Advisor is a qualified Nurse with additional specialist qualifications in Occupational Health, while the OHP is a doctor with specialist expertise in Occupational Medicine. They also have appropriate knowledge of Health and Safety and Employment legislation.

An assessment is usually completed via the telephone or Virtually via TEAMS and usually lasts between 30‐ 45 minutes.

WHAT INFORMATION WILL I BE ASKED FOR?

The OH Clinician will conduct a comprehensive assessment, asking you about your health symptoms and the treatment you are receiving. They will also ask you to describe the impacts of this at work and your life outside. The aim is to collect sufficient information to give an accurate, objective and useful opinion on your medical fitness, ensuring that all aspects of your health are considered.

Occasionally, giving a clear opinion on your fitness is impossible after a single assessment. The OH Clinician may need information from your treating doctor or request a follow-up assessment appointment. If further information from your treating doctor or specialist is required, the OH clinician will discuss this with you and ask you to sign a form agreeing to this. You have the right to see the report your treating doctor or specialist writes before it is sent to Occupational Health. The Occupational Health professional might advise you to seek support from other specialists, such as a Physiotherapist, Counsellor, or General Practitioner (GP).

CONFIDENTIALITY

All Medical information you give to the OH Advisor /OHP is confidential. Medical details are not given to anyone outside of Occupational Health without your written agreement. In exceptional circumstances, details may be disclosed for health and safety reasons where there could be a risk to you or others. You will be informed if this becomes necessary.

WHY CAN’T MY GP CARRY OUT THE ASSESSMENT?

Your GP is the expert when it comes to treating your illnesses. Occupational Health Professionals focus on work health. They are the experts on how your health can affect work, how work can affect your health and what can be implemented at work to help and support you in the workplace.

THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH REPORT

Once your assessment has been completed, the OH Professional will write a report for your employer. They will send you a copy of the report via ShareFile so you can review its accuracy. We require you to respond via email to confirm your agreement to release the report to your employer. If you have not responded within 48 hours, we will email your employer to inform them of this. You have the right to refuse the report being sent to your employer, but we must be informed within 48 hours of the report being dispatched to you.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

We advise the business to meet with you after reviewing the Occupational Health report. Recommendations given by the OH about adjustments, phased return to work programs, duties and hours are advisory only. Your employer will do what is reasonably practicable for them to consider.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IN PREPARATION FOR THE OH ASSESSMENT?

Please ensure you have the following information to hand during the assessment (if applicable): Details of medication (name and dosage)

It can be helpful to the clinician to have copies of recent relevant correspondence or reports from your GP or specialist. If you are willing to share these, they must be sent before the appointment so the clinician has enough time to read them. The email address for this information is [email protected]