Purpose of the post
•To provide an internal advisory occupational health service to the Council and external clients and promote and implement return-to-work plans and take responsibility for providing specialist and professional advice on sickness absences.
•Ensure that the people of Gwynedd are at the centre of everything we do.
Responsibility for functions
•Professional supervision only for the Occupational Health Officer
Main duties
•Work as part of a small team to formulate, screen referrals and prioritise the Occupational Health Unit's work programme ensuring that the Council's internal needs and external agreements are met.
•Contribute to the assessment of all the occupational health needs of the Council and any other organisation that receives a service from the Unit and to take a key role in planning, implementing and evaluating the arrangements that are in place.
•Advise managers and staff at all levels within the organisation on occupational health issues and refer appropriate matters to the attention of the Occupational Health Physician.
•Supervise the clinical elements (only) of the work of the Occupational Health Officer.
•Undertake assessments of the medical condition of staff when absent from work and monitor progress regularly.
•Assist managers to undertake risk assessments involving occupational health hazards.
•Undertake checks of pre-employment questionnaires to come to a conclusion regarding the health condition of prospective staff.
•Support employees in the workplace or after returning to work and advise individuals and managers as appropriate, and avoid attempting to provide medical care normally undertaken by the GP.
•Organise and implement a health surveillance programme.
•Undertake specific health surveillance tests, e.g. respiratory, skin, hearing.
•Organise and act on health promotion campaigns within the Council.
•Organise and deliver health programmes to respond to national health campaigns within the Council's workforce, e.g. a seasonal flu vaccination programme.
•Take responsibility for all professional advice offered to individual managers and staff.
•Take responsibility for keeping appropriate records in relation to all advice, tests or treatment given and that those records are handled and retained in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
•Develop developmental/proactive policies and projects, deliver and coordinate specific training for Council stakeholders relating to the health of the Council's workforce and/or reducing absences.
•Consult and closely collaborate with Personnel Officers and Health and Safety Advisers and with Human Resources Advisers to provide the best possible service to the customer.
•Responsible for self-development.
•Coordinate and implement applications for retirement due to illness.
•Ensure compliance with Health and Safety rules in the workplace in accordance with the responsibilities noted in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Council’s Health and Safety Policy.
•Operate within the Council’s policies and procedures in relation to equal opportunities and equality.
•Responsibility for managing information in accordance with the Council’s information management standards and guidelines. Ensure that personal information is handled in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
•Commitment to reducing the Council’s carbon emissions in accordance with the Carbon Management Plan, and to encourage others to act positively towards reducing the Council’s carbon footprint.
•Undertake any other reasonable duty which corresponds to the salary level and responsibility level of the job.
•Responsible for reporting any concern or suspicion that a child or vulnerable adult is being abused.
Special circumstances
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