Useful Links
Health & Work Professionals FAQs
Q. Is there an A to Z for signposting to useful organisations?
A. A to Z of all information resources that could be useful to you. AbilityNetA national charity helping disabled adults and children use computers and the internet by adapting and adjusting their technology. Our special expertise is ensuring that whatever your age, health condition, disability or situation you find exactly the right way to adapt or adjust your ICT to make it easier to use.ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)ACAS can give you advice on other employment rights (for example, your holiday rights, sick pay and unfair dismissal).Access to WorkAccess to Work can help you if your health or disability affects the way ... Read more »
Q. How do I use Fit notes?
A. The new fit note will help people to get the advice about staying in work, and if they can't work what their employer can do to help them return to work sooner. For example, if the employee has a problem with mobility, suggesting a job where they can work sitting down rather than standing up. Lord Bill McKenzie, Work and Pensions Minister, said: "Employers tell us that managing sickness absence can be a challenge. This is compounded by a 'sick note' system that makes sickness absence a black and white issue - either you are unfit for work or you ... Read more »
Q. Tips from your colleagues.
A. The Occupational Therapy "Work Matters" booklet is a helpful starting pointTry and take the time to meet with people from the organisation or get them to do a presentation at an awareness day. Try to learn a little about Disability employment law though I would still refer to an employment specialist like CAB or the Disabled Law serviceThe Department of Work and Pensions web site is useful.Use local resources but where possible advise patients to try to do it themselves with your support and guidance. They need to be in control of the situation as far as possible.Speak to occupational ... Read more »
Q. Do you have any involvement with employers? If so, what kind of things do you do for your patients?
A. What colleagues say:‘I discuss any issues with employers and help clients support when having to disclose any medical information.’‘I provide work reports to give education/information This takes the form of face to face meetings to discuss issues like disclosure support, education/advice and worksite assessments and managing returns to the workplace by giving advice on the clients ability post (TBI, Stroke, relapse) and the strategies in place to compensate. We also give advice regarding reasonable adjustments and meet regularly to be involved in the management of this.’‘I write letters of support for people to their employers if they need to adjust ... Read more »
Q. Why is it important to remain at work if possible?
A. What colleagues say:‘Yes, with the right support people should be able to stay in work for as long as they feel it is manageable. From my own experience people have often been written off by a health condition as they may not see it as physically or mentally possible to remain in employment yet nobody has ever discussed options etc with them. ‘‘It is very easy for people to become depressed when they have been away from the working environment and self esteem levels have been known to drop as individuals may feel that they lack purpose.’‘Reduces guilt as they ... Read more »
Q. What more do you think can be done to help people stay in work?
A. What colleagues say:‘We should be working to develop a greater understanding of the person’s condition and to see the person not the disability’‘The idea that work is good for you should be promoted more by GP’s etc in partnership with employers who are willing to make adjustments where necessary. Individuals would possibly benefit from having access to an Occupational Therapist so that should they choose to remain in work solutions and support can be discussed that will make life easier for that person.’‘I think early involvement with an appropriate health care professional or voluntary agency to give advice for the ... Read more »
Q. Where would you advise people to go for help / advice when trying to stay in work?
A. Disability Employment Officer (through Job Centres)Shaw TrustDo It volunteer websiteDepartment of Work and PensionsAccess to WorkRemployACASLocal CAB officeRBLI Employment solutionsDisability Law ServiceAnd:Occupational TherapistsPhysiotherapistsOccupational health departments, if the employer has themLocal Community Disability Teams if availableVocational Rehabilitation service if availableRelevant Nurse SpecialistsLocal counselling servicesClinical psychologistLocal Employment Services – which can provide support for writing CVs, look for local work; and talking to employers about disability ... Read more »
Q. What are the main questions people ask about staying in work?
A. Obviously, it is impossible to answer many of these questions in detail here as they are very specific to each situation and individual. But they have been included to give you an idea of the types of questions people ask all the time, and how they answered.What are my legal rights?You have protections in Law under the Disabled Discrimination Act(link to DDA explained)What are reasonable adjustments?Reasonable Adjustments are “steps” that employers may have to take to help a disabled person work more effectively. Examples of reasonable adjustments include making adjustments to premises; allocating some of the disabled person’s duties to ... Read more »
Q. Is there some kind of Occupational Health tool kit?
A. The Toolkit is a free resource. It brings together information, guidance, factsheets, case studies, training materials, presentations and more to help you tackle occupational health problems. You can use the Toolkit to support what you do over the whole process – from learning the background to a health issue, through identifying and dealing with early symptoms, right to getting people back to work if they’ve been off ill.http://www.ohtoolkit.co.uk/ ... Read more »
Q. Where do you get your information?
A. I like to take advantage of peer support among service users discussion groups. We invite external speakers to come to the group.I get my information from the relevant patient group organisations like Macmillan or Diabetes UK. I have given clients helpline numbers and advice from the Direct.gov. website. I have also used information from the College of Occupational Therapy . (COT) I often contact the disability employment advisors at the local job centre plus for advice and information.I use the Disability Law Service and specialist sites for differing condtions e.g. MS Society/ MS Trust, Terrence Higgins Trust, NAT, Employers Forum on Disability, ... Read more »
Q. What advice do you give people with a fluctuating long-term condition about work?
A. The person at workAdvise on energy conservation and how reasonable adjustments, adapting the environment can help. Manage fatigue by reviewing work patterns and breaks and increasing frequency of short breaks wherever possible. Many people are reluctant for people to know their diagnosis which can make this difficultI would ask about continence issues as the person might not always bring this up themselves. It may be a big issue at work.Start with positive reinforcement to remain in work if that is what they want – i explain there are many ways to overcome obstacles or barriers as they arise. I try ... Read more »
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