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Staff Occupational Health Policy

Policy Statement

{{org_field_name}}’s occupational health policy is to take all reasonable steps to prevent work-related ill-health, and to support the general health and wellbeing of its employees at all times.

Legal Requirements

To comply with the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and with associated legislation, {{org_field_name}} must, as far as is reasonably practicable, ensure the health, safety and welfare of its staff. This includes, where relevant, the suitable and adequate provision of occupational health support.

Care service providers must also ensure, so far as it is reasonably practicable, that care workers are free of and are protected from exposure to infections that can be caught at work and which in a care setting could result in vulnerable service users being put at risk from cross-infection.

Requirements

To implement this policy, the organisation will:

Organisation

Arrangements for occupational health provision are the responsibility of the care manager.

Responsibilities

  1. Promoting the involvement of employees and staff representatives in occupational health matters.
  2. Implementing a management system which will undertake risk assessments, manage occupational health risks in proportion to their extent, and measure implementation actions through local audit.
  3. Contracting arrangements and administrative accountability for the operation of an external occupational health service to perform specified occupational health roles and responsibilities.
  4. The receipt and dissemination of activity reports.
  5. The safe storage of confidential staff health records.

Staff also have a responsibility, as part of the organisation’s health and safety policy, to comply with all the health and safety arrangements of the organisation designed to protect their health while at work.

Fitness for Work and Rehabilitation

All new staff will be screened or made subject to an appropriate health check before starting work. This is to ensure that the organisation does not inadvertently employ a person with a communicable disease or whose ill health would preclude them from performing their duties satisfactorily.

In {{org_field_name}}, new job applicants will be offered employment on the basis of a successful health check.

Existing staff who are returning to work after either short or long periods of sickness will be adequately supported, where necessary, by the provision of specialist occupational health service support and guidance. This will be offered:

The occupational health provider may need to discuss the working situation with the local manager or GP prior to any decision being reached about an applicant’s or existing employee’s fitness for work or placement. Pertinent medical advice can then be given.

When an employee has health problems requiring consideration for rehabilitation after illness, discussions will take place between the employee and the care manager.

Health Maintenance

There are situations where it will be necessary to review at regular intervals the health of certain staff and the environment they work in. This will be done informally or by confidential interview with a contracted occupational health provider.

Periodic Assessments

Periodic assessments will be completed if staff are exposed to known hazards. Staff with known health problems and chronic conditions will, with their agreement, be monitored.

Education and Training

It is important that education and training are seen as being part of the remit of an occupational health service.

Record Keeping

Various records will need to be kept to:

Records normally comprise:

All occupational health information held about individual staff will be treated confidentially. Employees have a statutory right of access to their own records.

Confidentiality

The organisation will have information about the health of staff. Information and records will not be divulged to any non-medical staff, including occupational health services, without the written consent of the individual. Employees have a statutory right of access to their own records.

This does not preclude non-confidential records being reported to ensure the organisation has a basis on which to take remedial measures, safeguards and decisions affecting its employees’ interests.

Occupational health staff are guided by their own professional codes of conduct in matters of confidentiality.


Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}

Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}

Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}

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