Occupational health Advisor - Band 6

Occupational Health Nurse/Advisor – Band 6 – University College London Hospital NHS

University College London Hospitals are on the lookout for a committed, passionate, and qualified Occupational Health Advisor to join their highly skilled clinical team.

The workforce Directorate is made up of several corporate teams (occupational health and wellbeing, resourcing, medical workforce, workforce intelligence, employee relations and staff experience). The three clinical boards and corporate functions are supported by an HR business partnering function. The Directorate aspires to make day to day contributions that improve patient care as well as informing UCLH’s and future NHS strategies that forecast and meet future challenges for our staff and the services our patients need. We place emphasis on the following in order to support our staff to deliver their full potential:

• Improve staff experience.
• Improve the quality of education and development.
• Demonstrate that we are an employer of choice.
• Improve working conditions for junior doctors and other staff in training.
• Collaborate with Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP) and others to design and develop the future health and care workforce.
• Develop our staff to achieve transformational change.

The Occupational Health and Wellbeing service is in John Astor House, Foley Street, London which is only a few minutes’ walk from the Trust’s headquarters on the 2nd floor of 250 Euston Road, NW1 2PG. The Service is within 10 minutes’ walk from Warren Street station and Goodge Street Station and has exceptional public transport links via rail, underground and bus. Occasional travel may be required to support offsite clinics.

Job Purpose

• To work within a team of Occupational Health professionals providing a need-based, safe, effective and quality Occupational Health service to all contracted clients in line with good Occupational Health practice and current Health and Safety legislation.
• To support the Senior Occupational Health Advisors with leadership and development support to junior occupational health clinic nurses.
• To act as a role model to others in all aspects of their work and consistently demonstrate UCLH values of safety, kindness, teamwork and improvement.

Key Results Area

The Occupational Health and Wellbeing service (OH&W) aims to support the Government and Trust’s Strategies on Health and Wellbeing, sickness absence management, compliance with Health and Safety Legislation and the Equality Act. Also, supporting the Human Resources department on recruitment and retention of staff and working in collaboration with the Governance department to implement the Trust risk management strategies.

The post holder will be required to undertake a comprehensive range of occupational health activities related to:

• Assessment of employee fitness to work.
• Protection of employee health at work.
• Promotion of employee health at work.
• Support of individuals with disabilities in both gaining and sustaining employment.
• To support with the ongoing development of the OH&W Services which includes clear leadership for both managers and employees using the service and organisations with which the Service comes into contact.

The post holder will work according to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and relevant professional guidelines and carry continuing responsibility for:

• The assessment of employee health at work, health education and health promotion needs.
• The development, implementation and evaluation of occupational health practices.
• The organisation and management of a caseload and relationships with a dedicated part of the Trust (circa 11,000+ substantive employees) plus volunteers, Observers, work experience and external contracts.
• Promotion of and maintaining effective communication.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To identify Occupational Health needs and work in partnership with the client to establish a service, which is specifically developed for the organisation in line with current legislation and best practice.
• To record accurate and confidential occupational health information into staff records following all appointments and communication with the department.
• To use Occupational Health knowledge, experience, principles and practice to assess an individual’s health capability to perform a particular job role at the pre-placement stage and during employment considering any relevant legislation such as the Equality Act 2010.
• To request additional medical information from specialists and GPs where indicated.
• To inform managers of the findings within the defined department timescales and in line with confidentiality and consent requirements.
• To provide advice and inform managers of relevant adaptations and equipment required to maintain health and wellbeing at work.
• To work in partnership with clients to identify health hazards through the risk assessment process and to support with the implementation of health surveillance programmes where appropriate.
• To provide management with the outcomes from health surveillance in accordance with OH&W policies and procedures. To ensure clients are informed of the risk and hazards associated with their work activity.
• Using the agreed Occupational Health procedures and guidance to undertake a risk assessment for staff who have sustained a blood or body fluid exposure incident and to advise on any appropriate course of treatment including the need for Post Exposure Prophylaxis. To inform staff of the source/recipient blood results and any implications to working practice.
• To regularly undertake the role of the Duty Nurse Adviser supporting both the existing advice line and the proposed dedicated manager line (details still under discussion). To provide telephone advice to all contracted clients on any Occupational Health concern, which may include pre-placement health issues, health capability to work, infection control and blood and body fluid exposure incidents. To advise on more complex issues as required.
• To identify clients that require a phased return to work and liaise with management and primary care services in implementing specific programmes for an individual returning to work following a period of sickness absence. To formally advise managers on any work restrictions and adaptations that need to be considered and the approximate length of the phased return. To ensure the manager and client are supported through this process.
• To work with the client to identify any occupational health training needs, to develop and present training programmes which always reflect a professional and quality service.
• To assess and refer clients to the relevant counselling and physio services. Where necessary to liaise with relevant health professionals and external health promotion agencies to support and advise the client on potential solutions to improve their health. To advise on more complex cases as required.
• To prioritise, plan and maintain own client caseload under the management of the contract lead.
• To participate in all required surveillance health-screening tests and to interpret the results in line with OH&W Policy and SOPs. Know when to escalate. To provide advice to managers on the results and the impact this may have on working practice.
• Ensure ongoing self-audit of service delivery and department processes is undertaken and to implement resulting changes to Occupational Health nursing practice. To work with the Senior management team in supporting auditing methods.
• To support and participate in occupational health programmes and teach, act as facilitator/mentor/preceptor as required to Junior nurses.
• Maintain client clinical records, in accordance with professional standards, ensuring confidentiality of information held, and meeting legislative professional and clinical standards of record keeping.

Clinical

• Assessment of fitness to work of an individual in relation to the specific post for which they are to be employed. This is to be carried out in accordance with occupational health best practice standards and may include discussing and processing some difficult and sensitive information, especially in circumstances where clients may exhibit unfavourable or highly emotional behaviour. High levels of interpersonal and communication skills are required especially where judgements on fitness for work may affect future employment. Also know when to escalate.
• Protection of employee health at work including running immunisation clinics; screening programmes, workplace risk assessments; providing advice to management and employees on the measures necessary to protect against any physical, chemical, psychological, or microbiological hazards arising from the work or from the conditions in which it is carried out. Co-ordinate occupational health activities with other health, safety and welfare services utilised by the employer and employee.
• Promotion of employee health at work including the planning and undertaking of specific screening programmes; project work and ad hoc occupational health training activity as required.
• Support of all individuals who may fall within the Equality Act 2010 to gain and sustain employment through the provision of specialised advice concerning fitness for work; phased return to work involving modification, adjustment, restriction of duties either on a temporary or permanent basis; liaison with other services.

Management

• To support with the development and implementation of Occupational Health procedures which have an impact on the work area.
• To participate in the review and updates on OH procedures as required.
• To assist the Senior OH advisors and Clinical Nurse Lead in ensuring all clinical aspects of the Occupational Health service are delivered with the available resources, to identify areas which require development, and to work in an objective way to meet the goals.
• To support with the induction of new Occupational Health clinic nurses and junior staff in line with the local procedures.
• To act as a resource for support and guidance for junior team members and escalate where required.
• Undertake and support with the supervision of junior nurses in routine activities and ensure all occupational health activities are undertaken in a safe and secure manner.
• Be able to manage own workload and support with the oversight of the workload of junior members of the clinical team. To identify and raise any concerns especially where specific areas of work are not completed within agreed timeframes and report to the Senior Occupational Health Advisor.
• To provide the required support to the OH&W management team and deputise in absence of the Senior OH advisor where appropriate.
• To sign agency and bank timesheets/authorise any overtime as may be required in absence of the Senior OH Advisor.

Communication

• The ability to interview and support clients through the various assessment processes and communicate difficult and at times, contentious information in a sensitive manner.
• Establish and maintain good working relationships with all occupational health & Wellbeing Team.
• Maintain professional relationships with staff from other NHS, private, voluntary and local authority agencies.
• Plan, prepare and deliver specialist Occupational Health advice regarding fitness to work and protection, promotion, support of disability at work, via oral, written & electronic use and deal with difficult, sensitive or contentious issues.
• To provide information and 1:1 support to individuals aimed at maximising their scope for rehabilitation, control of symptoms and improvement of health and wellbeing at work.
• High levels of interpersonal and communication skills are required especially where judgements on fitness for work may affect future employment including ability to persuade, provide reassurance and dealing with staff with special needs or learning disabilities.

Quality

• To be active in the quality, efficiency and productivity programme, identifying areas where efficiency savings can be made and productivity and quality improved.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of the Occupational Health and Wellbeing Service to achieve SEQOHS accreditation.
• Conduct and participate in the monitoring and auditing of occupational health clinical activities and ensure these are undertaken in the most efficient and effective manner. This will include, computer-based and document review processes, customer and client surveys.
• Act in a calm and professional manner always, affording courtesy to all who may come in contact through the course of his/her/their work.
• To support with ordering, maintenance and storage of clinical equipment, pharmacy and other clinical supplies.
• Meets professional protocols and local clinical governance requirements.

Important Requirements:

• NMC Registration
• Extensive experience as a qualified registered nurse, minimum 5 years. (Essential)
• Significant OH nursing experience, minimum 3 years (Essential)
• Specialist Practitioner in Occupational Health to certificate, Diploma or Degree level or demonstration of equivalent knowledge and skills (Essential)
• NHS Occupational Health experience (Essential)
• Up-to-date knowledge of Occupational health issues/legislation/directives (Essential)
• Strong clinical knowledge, good initiative, and a proactive approach to work
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Honesty and integrity, and a caring patient-centred approach

We are so grateful for the commitment and devotion of our Bank Staff nurses, so in return we offer the following advantages:

• Flexible working hours
• Access to free Bank Partners Core Skills training
• Weekly salary
• Opportunity to work across multiple sites to gain invaluable experience in various specialities
• Priority of shifts over all agency workers
• Competitive pay

Apply now for this fantastic opportunity by uploading your CV, and a member of our recruitment team will be in touch shortly.