Occupational Health Policy

Purpose

This policy sets out Wilson Vale’s commitment to achieve and maintain a high standard of health and safety at work by minimising the potential for work related ill health (physical or mental) or injury as far as is reasonably practicable.

It also set outs Wilson Vale’s commitment to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of all employees to enable them to achieve their full potential at work.

This policy does not form part of an employee’s contract of employment and Wilson Vale Catering may amend this policy at any time.

Objectives

To ensure employee’s health is not adversely affected by their work activity and ensure all employees are supported to work to their full potential.
To promote an environment in which employees who have health problems receive suitable support and that reasonable steps are taken to make necessary adjustments to enable them to achieve their full potential.
To encourage employees to declare any relevant health or wellbeing matters to enable Wilson Vale Catering to identify and implement appropriate measures to actively support them.
To ensure adequate controls are implemented so as to reduce foreseeable health hazards in the workplace.
To provide training and instruction to Managers in occupational health referrals and resources available to support the health, safety and wellbeing of their teams.
To manage short term persistent absenteeism and long-term sickness by understanding the reasons for absence, any adjustment to roles and requirements to facilitate a return to work or improved attendance at work.

Occupational Health Referrals

Any referral to Occupational Health will be made by a Manager in full consultation with the employee and with the welfare of the employee in mind. The employee is expected to attend such referrals, this could be via telephone or face to face. Any refusal to attend will be explored sensitively, but unreasonable refusal to co-operate may result in Wilson Vale Catering acting on the facts as known or in disciplinary action.

Individual employee's reasons for not attending i.e. religious or other personal factors will be fully considered. In exceptional circumstances an employee who does not want to discuss a health issue with their Manager, may be referred to Occupational Health by an HR Representative.

Reasons for Occupational Health Referrals

A Manager may refer an employee to Occupational Health to gain necessary medical advice to support and protect an employee in the workplace. The reason for a referral may vary in individual circumstances and the below list is not exhaustive:

Short term persistent absenteeism.
Long term sickness.
Fitness for work or Return to work following absence.
Mental health concerns.
Alcohol/drug/substance abuse.
Capability to undertake current role.
Performance deterioration.
Fitness for alternative duties/redeployment/role change.
Report following an accident at work.
Health surveillance assessment.
Employment medical assessment.

Contacting GP and Hospital Specialists

There will be occasions when Wilson Vale Catering would need further medical information and advice to support an employee in the workplace. In this scenario the reason for further medical advice will be explained to the employee and consent agreed to approach a GP and / or hospital specialist for this information under the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988.

Confidentiality

All records including medical questionnaires, medical reports and health surveillance are categorised as medically confidential.

Occupational health records can only be accessed by Wilson Vale’s referrer, HR representative and by the employee in accordance with GDPR. This also includes any information obtained from GPs and specialists with the written consent of the employee under the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988. The only exception to this is where prior written consent has been given by the employee for the information to be disclosed to other named persons. This information will be retained for the duration of your employment and will then be securely destroyed.