The role of Occupational Health in the management referral process

The role of the Occupational Health Clinical Team

The role of the Occupational Health Clinical Team is to provide expert occupational health advice to managers, the individual and HR.

The Occupational Health Clinical team will:

• provide a professional occupational health appointment
• deliver occupational health advice to the required quality and within specified deadlines that enables the referring manager to make informed management decision(s) and take action(s)
• provide additional generic advice and clarification to the referring manager as required and escalate exceptional critical cases (case dependent) that require joined up case conference 

The role of the Occupational Health Clinical Team is not to:

• fast track NHS appointments or surgery
• assist with management issues which are not health or wellbeing related
• provide equipment for workstations
• provide uniform or personal protection equipment (PPE)
• diagnose conditions or prescribe medication
• issue doctors/fit notes

The role of the referring manager

During the management referral process, if the individual is absent from work it is important that that you maintain regular contact with the individual, particularly around key trigger points e.g. when dropping to half pay.

Sickness pay scheme

The role of the referring manager is to:

• have overall accountability for making informed, prompt management decisions and taking actions
• manage capability and attendance matters, ensuring that they are handled promptly with due regard to both the individual’s wellbeing and the requirements of the organisation they work for
• be accountable for submitting a quality referral in a timely manner, seeking additional advice or clarification from Senior Managers, Occupational Health, HR as required
• resolve or escalate any issues that are preventing them from being able to appropriately manage an individual’s capability / attendance issue to an appropriate conclusion
• where appropriate, attend the end of the appointment with the individuals’ consent

The role of Human Resources, Education Personnel Services or Helpdesk Advisor in the management referral process

The role of HR or EPS Caseworker/Helpdesk Advisor is to:

• provide professional HR advice and support that enables the referring manager to make informed management decision(s) and take action(s) with due regard to the individual’s wellbeing and operational needs of the organisation
• provide additional advice and clarification to the referring manager as required and to escalate all critical cases (identified through casework processes) that require joined up case conference