2. Occupational Health
What is Occupational Health?
Occupational Health referrals are vital when an independent medical opinion is needed on an employee’s health. Our Occupational Health provider is Optima Health.
Optima Health will help to assess your ability to carry out your duties and support you in understanding and mitigating the impact of your health condition on your role.
The referrals are not designed to establish the precise nature of the health condition.
Physiotherapy is available through Occupational Health, please speak to your manager if you wish to use this service.
The referral process
Before making a referral, managers should also discuss the reasons for doing so with you and ensure you understand the reasons behind it. This can be a good time to discuss the situation further and find a suitable date for the appointment.
Once your manager has arranged the appointment you will be informed by Optima Health of the appointment details.
When Optima Health contact you they will only try and call you three times within the space of three minutes. If you do not answer within the three call attempts the appointment will be marked as DNA (did not attend).
The number Optima Health will use to call you is: 0330 0085461.
Please note this is a dial-out number only – you will not be able to call it back if you miss it. Appointments generally take around two hours.
Once the appointment has taken place, a report will be emailed to both the manager and HR Advisor and they can discuss the content and agree a way forward.
It is then good practice for the manager to hold a 1:1 meeting with you to share the content and discuss any actions that will be taken as a result of the assessment.
Missed appointments
If you are unable to attend your appointment, you must notify your manager in advance and an alternative date for the appointment will be agreed upon. Failure to do so may invalidate entitlements to payments under our Occupational Sick Pay scheme which is detailed in your contract.
Refusal to take part
Refusal to take part in a medical assessment may result in salary payments being suspended and, in the longer term, in decisions being made by managers based on the best evidence available.
Mental Health First Aiders
We all have mental health, just as we all have physical health. Mental illness can strike at any time. It can affect anyone. 1 in 4 people experience poor mental health.
We have a network of Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAiders) across the organisation for this reason. They will listen, reassure, and respond to you, even in a crisis. They know the signs of mental illness and poor wellbeing. They can support you. They help reduce stigma and promote positive mental health at work.
A MHFAider is not a medical professional. They cannot advise on medication or treatment options or help with a diagnosis. However, MHFAiders will provide initial support. They will direct you to the right resources. You can talk to them by email, telephone, or face to face.
Our MHFAiders are approachable, impartial, non-judgemental, confidential, empathetic, skilled listeners, trustworthy and patient.
To arrange to speak to a MHFAider email:
- MHFA@oldham.gov.uk and someone will be in touch.