Friday, 18 October, 2019
Our head of team has given her insight into the benefits of Occupational Health to support business during a further education conference in London, yesterday.
Dr Nicola Dann, who is a GP, Founder and Director of Commercial Occupational Health Services Ltd (COHS), was invited to speak by Helen Dyke, Senior Associate Solicitor and Employment Lawyer at Irwin Mitchell Birmingham.
They held a joint breakout session at the Association of Colleges Further Education HR Conference in Inmarsat, to discuss ‘Sickness Absence – what to do when things go wrong’.
Dr Dann was there to advise on when is the right time to seek occupational health support, and focused on how to ask the right questions to receive the help needed. She also highlighted common adjustments that can be made to keep staff fit to remain in work.
“The feedback from delegates was that they found it really helpful to think through specific occupational health scenarios, how to respond to individual cases and how to ask the right questions,” she said.
“For example, we looked at fitness to attend a meeting as a distinct question from fitness to work, and how occupational health professionals can advise and support that setting, and in doing so, move the situation forwards.”
Over the last 15 years, Dr Dann has provided doctor-led occupational health support to a variety of companies, and in particular the transport and education sectors.
COHS supports academies in the Yorkshire area by providing advice on health and wellbeing, including sickness absence, telephone advice, mental health support and workstation assessments.
Dr Nicola Dann, GP, Founder and Director of COHS, is pictured at the Association of Colleges Further Education HR Conference in London.