There is a big and ever-growing role for the expertise of occupational rehabilitation professionals in the workplace, but when is it appropriate to call on such expertise? How do you access it if you don’t have the dedicated expertise in-house? And who’s best placed to help – Occupational Health (OH) or Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)?
The Health Secretary Matt Hancock recently laid down a challenge to employers to help improve the health of their staff and the nation. During a keynote speech in London, where he announced that a greater proportion of annual NHS spend would go towards preventing illness and disease, he added that employers need to play a bigger role.
Occupational Health services are there to support people in the workplace, to help to ensure that workplaces are safe and healthy and to address health problems when they arise. OH and occupational medicine are concerned with the interaction of health and work, recognising that work can affect health and vice versa.
Many large organisations have their own OH service, or buy in services from specialist providers like Ward Williams HR. Smaller organisations are more likely to seek advice or buy in OH services on an ad hoc basis. Where in-house, OH practitioners typically get involved in absence management, early interventions and proactive work with employers and employees.
Occupational Therapists are dual trained, working in both physical and mental health. There tends to be a misconception that Occupational Therapists are primarily NHS hospital based, focused solely on getting patients back to their homes following illness or an operation. Their responsibility is indeed the restoration of function, but this may be achieved in any and all environments, enabling the individual to do the things they need to do. This includes supporting people back to work, where appropriate.
The Vocational Rehabilitation profession is relatively new in comparison to OH and OT. Many insurers now either directly employ such professionals full time or on a contract basis to provide support to clients, perhaps where such employers do not have OH or OT support. VR professionals may also be used by insurers to also work alongside an employer’s occupational rehabilitation practitioners in situations where:
- professionals are only used by the employer on an ad hoc basis;
- where their expertise is not called upon from day one of absence;
- where the employee concerned is based in a remote branch.
Clearly, one size doesn’t fit all and getting the right people for the job is very important.
If you would like more information on the Occupational services that Ward Williams HR can support your business with, then please get in touch with the office: sally.phillips@wardwilliams.co.uk or call 01932 830664.