As your business grows and develops so do the needs of you and your employees. We often receive enquiries from companies whose occupational health requirements have outgrown what their current service can provide. If your current provider cannot provide you with the support you need, it may be time to explore some new options.
Below are the three common themes and some top tips to assist you.
Scheduling conflicts
Being able to rely on your occupational health provider when you require their services is essential. It can be difficult to coordinate staff with different shift patterns to have mandatory health surveillance and if your provider cannot supply you with the service when needed, it can cause unnecessary stress in trying to reschedule already busy days.
Every week we receive calls explaining that employee health surveillance has lapsed, or short notice checks are needed for an anticipated inspection or new contract. A good occupational health service will be able to anticipate your needs and when you will require certain services so you can focus on the growth of your business.
Our top tip:
Take the stress out of organising last-minute occupational health services by defining the requirements of your business early.
Figure out and communicate to your occupational health provider:
- What you need
- When you need it
- How the service will be delivered
- How often you will need the service
At D4Health we have been able to help our clients, often at very short notice, and gone on to develop long-term work with them. It is within everyone’s best interests to plan required services in advance to ensure you are meeting any regulatory requirements you may be subject to. If you are faced with new challenges, such as new requirements, we are always here to listen and assist you with any occupational health services you may need.
Current timelines do not coincide with the requirements of the business
Timelines can be stressful for any employer, especially when they cannot be met by an external supplier. From listening to employers, we have concluded that some occupational health providers are unable to meet the time requirements of developing businesses when returning required reports after the initial consultation. Having prompt reporting is a key part of a functional occupational health service and reduces the time you will need to spend chasing the provider and liaising with your, often, anxious and frustrated employee.
Our approach is to set realistic expectations for both you and your employee at the earliest opportunity. We operate tight turnaround SLAs to keep our workflows organised and easier to handle.
Our top tip:
Be clear with your provider about what is expected and the priority of the timeline. You need to consider that it is not just the report which takes time but the initial scheduling and appointment with the occupational health specialist.
D4Health offers management referral consultations seven days a week, including evenings. We only use experienced doctors who are required to submit their completed reports within 48 hours of the consultation.
Reports do not supply the information required
Occupational health can be confusing and stressful at the best of times, however, when the information you are receiving from your provider is not sufficient to make an informed managerial decision, these feelings are exacerbated. We exclusively use occupational health doctors for management referrals, allowing our clients the assurance of a senior opinion from the first step.
We have produced thousands of management referral reports and know when the questions raised are clear and concise, the more accurate the answer will be.
Not all questions have a definitive answer however an experienced occupational health clinician can at least offer a range of opinions so that you can make a more informed decision as an employer.
Our top tip:
Included in our service is the ability to discuss your referral with us, this can be over the phone or through a virtual meeting. Take advantage of opportunities like this as it can help you to better understand your standing and options as an employer. Whilst we are not employment law advisors, we have produced thousands of management referral reports and can assist you as much as you need to get the process from start to finish.
Whether you have never implemented an occupational health service or are a seasoned professional, D4Health will work alongside you to understand your needs and priorities. This collaboration can help you to make safe reliable and robust management decisions to achieve the desired outcome.
Increasingly we have heard that clients have had negative experiences with past occupational health providers resulting in them paying for services that are rarely utilised and not to the standards required by the business. Positive communication and providing maximum value are both key components of an occupational health service. As an employer, you should assess your occupational health requirements and avoid over-commissioning services you do not need, this will help you to avoid overspending and ensure you receive the most out of your provider.
D4Health is committed to providing tailored occupational health services and understands that each business has varied needs and restrictions helping you to avoid incurring unnecessary costs.