Does the employee need to travel to a clinic for the assessment?
Not necessarily. Most assessments are now conducted remotely, either by telephone or video call as the majority of sickness absence and occupational illness is of a nature that does not require a physical assessment. This also means that we can assess the employee much quicker and provide the report to you promptly. However, all referrals are triaged by our team, and we will advise if a face-to-face assessment would be required and arrange this for you either at one of our clinic locations or at your company site.
When can I refer an employee for a management referral?
There are many situations where it may be suitable to refer an employee to occupational health, including:
• Following a period of sickness absence
• After a workplace accident or injury
• When an employee is struggling at work
• Where an employee’s job is impacting their health
• When seeking advice on the capability of a person for their job role
If you are unsure as to whether an employee should be referred, our team will be able to advise you. Simply call 0330 094 5866
What do I tell the employee I am referring?
The employee will need to give consent to the assessment so they will need to be informed of your intention to refer them to occupational health. You may wish to consult with HR to get advice prior to making a referral.
Will a management referral advise on dismissal of an employee?
No. The role of the doctor or nurse is to advise on their suitability for work, and the report will not suggest that an employee should be dismissed, however, the report can be used as part of your case to dismiss. It can however give advice on the long-term suitability of the person for work, make recommendations for suitable adjustments to enable them to return to productive employment, and advise whether the employee is protected under The Equality Act or other legislation. You should consult with your HR advisor once you have received the medical report to discuss the most suitable course of action.
How do I know that the report will give me the information I need?
You will have the opportunity to specify the questions that you want the doctor or nurse to answer during the assessment when completing the referral form. There are 9 standard questions that can be selected and which will form the basis of most assessments as these are typically the questions that must be answered in order to provide a thorough assessment. However, you can also specify up to 3 additional questions which you would like answered in order to ensure you get maximum value from the report.
How will a management referral help my business?
Many employers feel frustrated when employees continually fail to attend work due to illness or present regular sick notes from their GP. The employer cannot speak to their GP or challenge the decision and can feel trapped in a cycle of sick notes and lost productivity. By referring the employee to D4Health, we will provide an independent medical opinion in the form of a clear and concise report detailing the findings of the assessment, as well as recommendations from our doctor as to whether or not they are fit for work, whether their condition is likely to resolve, remain stable or deteriorate, and whether any adjustments should be made to help them return to work.
Once you have this information, you can take the most appropriate course of action and break the cycle.
