Work

Occupational therapists can now sign fit notes. Most fit notes (also known as the GP fit note or Med 3) are written in primary care. There are plans to expand its use in secondary care, widening the number of occupational therapists who can use it. The paper version is gradually being phased out and replaced by a digital e-Med 3.

To support you with this change, the UK Government has shared guidance for you and your employer to think about how to make use of the opportunity.

Alongside this, you can do the HEE elearning programme on the fit note. Also check out our fit note FAQs, and watch a recording of our webinar below: The Fit Note - What does it mean for you?

Employment is one of the most important determinants of physical and mental health. Because of this growing recognition, all professional bodies have signed up to the Consensus Statement on Health and Work. It has been signed by the Allied Health Professions Federation (AHPF), the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. It sets out four principles for health and care professionals:

• To understand the health benefits of good work
• To have the skills to discuss work as a health outcome
• To be able to interact with the wider health and work system
• To recognise our own role in supporting heathy and safe working environments.

RCOT are members of the Council for Work and Health which brings together a diverse group of professional bodies to provide an authoritative and representative single voice on health, safety and well-being issues at work.

RCOT have trained over 100 occupational therapists to become Health and Work Champions who deliver training to enable colleagues to ask “the work question” and provide advice when supporting people’s work aspirations.

Employment is one of the most important determinants of health, yet is still not routinely asked about by healthcare professionals in consultations. Health and Work Champions are delivering local training to medical, nursing and AHP colleagues to help them understand the link between work and health, how to talk about work and steps they can take to help people who wish to get back into employment. Access the RCOT CPD Short course on this subject, Work as a Health Outcome; What is YOUR Role?

Becoming a Health and Work Champion is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate leadership in the area of employment. Occupational therapists and others have a pivotal understanding of the links between work, health and wellbeing and can support other staff members do the same by helping them to ask the work question.

For further information please click here

What is the AHP Health and Work Report?

The Allied Health Professionals Health and Work Report is mainly used by occupational therapists, physiotherapists and podiatrists. It is given to a person with advice about self-management of their health condition, injury or disability and possible workplace modifications. The person can share it with their GP and employer if they wish. It can be used to help people:

• Talk to their manager about how their health impacts on work
• Provide evidence for sick pay
• Get back to work quicker
• Help employers with workplace modifications

How do I use the AHP Health and Work Report?

Download the template onto your computer – it is a writable PDF. Use it following your assessment to share with the person and GP if appropriate. It provides a summary of the person’s difficulties, recommendations relating to specific job demands and agrees a plan of action for return to work. It can be used as evidence to claim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) as long as both the employee and employer agree.  It cannot be used to claim welfare benefits. It can support return to work conversations with employers, occupational health, human resources, family members and other health and care professionals. The University of Nottingham have created a free, short online training module about how to use the tool, available here

Stroke vocational rehabilitation toolkit and e-learning 

Vocational rehabilitation (VR) and/or return to work support should be offered as a core component of rehabilitation from stroke. 

All stroke survivors who wish to – and require it – should receive return to work support/vocational rehabilitation to help them maximise employment opportunities (paid and unpaid) as part of an ageless service. 

We worked with NHS England to establish training and guidance on vocational support and rehabilitation. 

You can access the e-learning and toolkit that was produced via NHS England’s learning hub. 

Watch the animation that was produced to get a summary of the skills you’ll learn.

RCOT and project partners ran pilots of Occupational Therapy Led Vocational Clinics in GP surgeries. Running across eight GP surgeries, these job retention clinics mainly focused on people with musculoskeletal and/or mental health problems who were off sick from work and struggling to return. Using a stepped care approach, and the AHP Health and Work Report, sickness absence rates and use of GP Fit notes reduced by approximately two thirds. The average person had just two contacts with the service to achieve this result. For more information including the full results in peer reviewed journals is provided

Occupational therapists are increasingly working in occupational health teams to support the health and wellbeing of staff across both the public and private sector. Employing occupational therapists in this way can play a vital role in closing the disability employment gap through interventions that support the recruitment and retention of people with health conditions and disabilities.

Occupational therapists frequently use a rehabilitation approach focusing on problem solving, graded activity and workplace adjustments. They also deliver staff wellbeing interventions and can support organisations to improve staff satisfaction and sickness absence levels. For case studies please see the RCOT report above Good Work for Good Health; the Difference Occupational Therapy Makes. For more information about job descriptions and scope of practice please click here