Winter 2023
Welcome to our Winter 2023 Newsletter. It has been a busy few months for everyone in the world of OH, including ourselves. This edition will bring you up to date with everything we have been working on plus provide an overview of the latest thinking around mental health in the workplace.
In This Issue • • • • •
NSOH and Government Growing the OH Workforce Multidisciplinary team NSOH Sessions Mental Health
NSOH and the Government
NSOH is a major stakeholder in OH and regularly works with bodies such as DWP, DHSC and their subsidiaries, not only on training but also on general issues concerning work and health. This has placed us at the centre of consultations and discussions around access to OH. An exciting time! Our work with the Joint Work and Health Directorate (JWHD) is ongoing with regular meetings, looking to develop the OH workforce and improve support in the OH workplace. We submitted our consultation to the government and supported a number of other submissions including CWH, NHSE WT&E and SOM. We have also been part of a contingent of industry leaders discussing OH strategies directly with the government. This demonstrates the commitment the government has to OH and the
workforce.
National School of Occupational Health - Developing people for health and healthcare
Winter 2023
Growing the OH Workforce Funding The school is facilitating funding for qualifications in OH as a workforce development proof of concept study. 289 applied for the first wave and 122 were successful. Qualifications such as FOM Diplomas, SCPHN-OH and BSc in
OH are included. For the first time, some universities have not had any self-funding students. A remarkable achievement in OH! The 2nd wave is ongoing. The 3rd wave is due to start in April 2023, for all courses in the 2023/24 financial year, and may include AHPs. Apply here NSOH Funding.
Careers Event
Mentoring Program
A successful careers event was held alongside SOM in September for nurses and medics. A big thank you to TFL for hosting. Since then we
have been expanding our list of shadowing opportunities for those who would like a
A mentoring program for those wishing to enter OH is a current project significantly supported by SOM, including a bespoke website. We have seen enthusiasm from a range of senior and experienced OH clinicians, from the multidisciplinary team, who have volunteered and are contributing to the development. We will be looking to sign up mentees in 2024
taster of working in OH.
Placements Our push for undergraduate student placements is ongoing with a Teams channel opened for knowledge sharing. We have had a recent article published by Personnel Today OH&WB, outlining the benefits https:// www.personneltoday.com/hr/oh-student-placements/.
Census So as to understand our workforce in terms of numbers, a SOM NSOH census has been launched and we urge OH departments and providers to complete this https://wac.som.org.uk/
Career Progression To support career progression and consistency, FOHN and NSOH have developed guidance on OH Nurse titles based on qualifications, and an attractive proposition for nurses is the FOHN portfolio-based accreditation program for OH nurses as a framework of recognition.
Contact Janet O’Neill if you require further information
National School of Occupational Health - Developing people for health and healthcare
Winter 2023
Multidisciplinary Team Health at Work network conference. Although there are obstacles, there are also a number of opportunities to maximise the use of a range of clinical resources in OH.
The school held a successful interprofessional education (IPE) workshop at the SOM conference, led by Dr Rebecca Steed. We aim to produce a special edition newsletter in the new year. The future does bode well for IPE with the rise of advanced practice, evidenced The school is focused on developing the MDT as is the JWHD. Our work, supporting the London Centre of Work and Health in their research on scoping and assessing opportunities for growing a clinical MDT for Growing OH&WB, has come to an
end. Although yet to be published, the outcomes are promising, as described by Ira Madan at the
by a published report on Advanced Practice in Public Health, at least one university building an MSc for OH, and the current NMC consultation on regulation. A very useful OH Today edition gives a great synopsis of all the OH training out there – well worth a read.
NSOH Sessions We are continuing with our trainee webinars. Our last was related to HAVS led by Dr Ray Quinlan and the recording can be found on the learning hub. Our next is on the 23rd Nov between 4 & 5pm by Dr
Paul Matts of Proctor and Gamble on UV radiation and skin cancer. Very timely considering the WHO/ ILO launched the Joint Estimates of the burden of non-melanoma skin cancer attributable to occupational exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation. Following our Conference earlier this year, we have commissioned 2 training sessions on Health Coaching in OH which have proved very popular, and are now taken. Our next conference will be in early May 2024 and is titled:- Looking Forward into the Emerging Technology Revolution. Our first speakers are signed up!
National School of Occupational Health - Developing people for health and healthcare
Winter 2023
The latest on Mental Health and Work Mental ill health at work is expensive for individuals, employers, and society. Recently the Lancet published a series of papers on work and health with one having a specific focus on mental health. As we’ve known for some time, they found work situations increase the risk of depressive illness, although they didn’t find a clear cause. They saw interventions to be mainly person-focused and interestingly, there has been this recent publication published on the use of psychedelics to treat depression. But, as they say, the concentration should be on interventions to improve working conditions. Let’s take SMEs, which employ 3/5ths of the workforce, as an example. Over 50% experienced poor mental health (2023 Simply Business report), with working hours a factor. 76% of businesses (44% SMEs) recounted stress-related absence with high workloads as a main cause (CIPD Health and Wellbeing Report). If we put working hours, workload with work intensification, both physical and mental (TUC), then we can see a reason for the Lancet’s recommendation and why SMEs put Mental Health as their number one challenge (HR Solutions). HSE have recently published their free e-learning for line managers on work-related stress, however, to really make a difference, we need flexible and creative approaches that fit each situation. Consideration of Occupational Health as per the HSE, ACAS and the Government assist strategies to improve working conditions and mental health as per HSE and ACAS guidance. Expand your knowledge here: Designing the Future of Work | Coursera Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace - Online Course - FutureLearn Stanford (SCHE): Employee Wellness and Stress Management | edX
National School of Occupational Health - Developing people for health and healthcare