Staff FAQS

A letter will be sent to you advising of the date to attend the appointment.

How long will it take?

The consultation itself normally lasts up to 30 minutes

Can someone be with me during my appointment?

The consultation is confidential. Our Clinicians do not mind if you do wish to have the support of a companion. However, your companion would not normally be expected to contribute to the discussion, unless required.

Do I need to provide anything?

It is helpful have all details of any medication, tests or treatment you are having and / or relevant. As well as your General Practitioner / specialist appointment details where applicable.

What questions will I be asked?

The OH Clinician will ask questions about you and your health. This will include information about your current health problems including symptoms, investigations and treatment.

The OH Clinician will seek to understand how your health problem affects you in general and your fitness for work. They may need to gather information about previous health problems, general lifestyle, family, support networks, social activities. This is to get a holistic picture of what could be affecting your health and what support you have in place.

We cannot force you to attend an Occupational Health referral. However, ultimately we will need to make decisions about your absence based on the information available and in the majority of cases; current and accurate medical information can assist in a more informed and better decision being reached about your absence and how it is managed.

If you agree to attend an Occupational Health appointment and fail to attend an alternative appointment may be offered to you. However, persistent failure to attend may result in disciplinary action being taken against you. Occupational Health may also charge your Department as a result of a wasted appointment that could have been used for others.

Only with your informed consent will your report be sent to you, your line manager and the HR Attendance team. All OH staff will at all times maintain strict confidentiality.

The Line Manager or Referring Line Manager , HR Advisor and relevant Senior Officers if and when the final stages of the procedure are likely to be invoked or at the point where an employee may invoke their right to appeal or review.

Management will be responsible for determining the practicality of implementing any suggested adjustments.

In cases where, as part of your role you have been under annual mandatory Health Surveillance screening, there is a requirement to ensure an exit medical is undertaken. We would always aim to complete these prior to employees leaving. However, depending on notice provided by the manager, you may be requested to attend after you have left.

If you are undergoing Wellbeing Support, and leave the Authority during the course of sessions, it would be at the managers discretion as to whether sessions can continue to completion.

The team need to be notified by line managers directly, for any scheduled appointments to be cancelled.