Occupational Health Adviser

**Sheffield Occupational Health Advisory Service**

**JOB DESCRIPTION**: **Reproductive Wellbeing Occupational Health Adviser (OHA)**

**MAIN WORK SITE**: Offices of Sheffield Occupational Health Advisory Service (SOHAS), Meersbrook Hall and GP surgeries

**ACCOUNTABLE TO**: SOHAS Manager

**PURPOSE OF THE JOB**:
**1. Advice and Case Work Service**

To attend at Meersbrook Hall and GP surgeries, the city centre office at agreed times to see clients with reproductive wellbeing work related health issues by appointment or work from home where appropriate. The types of health issues include:

- Chronic illness and reproductive health, especially auto immune.
- Stress and the effect of stress on hormones and then reproductive health.
- Post-natal depression anxiety and returning to work.
- Occupational Hazards and exposure to risk for pregnant women in the workplace
- Miscarriage and abortions,
- Menopause, endometriosis, PCOS and IVF

1.1 Interview clients and assess client need using appropriate guidance on best practice including protocols, current legislation and reference material.

1.2 Advise, coach, motivate clients and formulate action plans to promote health and wellbeing

1.3 Contribute to protecting people at risk at work.

1.4 Enable people to address specific needs in relation to health and well-being

1.5 Research into issues connected with patient health problems

1.6 Communicate with third parties to resolve occupational health matters by letter, phone, electronically or face-to-face (e.g. GPs, health care professionals, employers, Job Centre Plus, Trade unions, community and voluntary groups, enforcement agencies).

1.7 Provide information and written material to clients.

1.8 Making appropriate referrals to health services and other statutory or voluntary sector bodies.

1.9 Making appropriate referrals for representation in respect of compensation claims and social security appeals to specialist agencies including advice services and solicitors.

1.10 Provide advocacy and/or representation depending on level of intervention required at disability living allowance, incapacity benefit, industrial injury and employment tribunals

1.11 To provide specific advice on work hazards, work systems, working environments, harmful substances and risk assessment.

1.12 To record data in an appropriate way so that the work of the project can be evaluated

**Additional duties**

1.13 To provide training on specific topics for groups of health professionals in practices when required

1.14 To take part in the induction, mentoring, and professional development of other advisers.

**2. Working with Employers**

2.1 Specialist training for line mangers, HR and employers on the most effective ways to engage women on these issue in workplace, including
- The use of effective tools and techniques to manage workplace health issues
- Providing help and support on how to manage the cognitive impact of reproductive issues in the workplace.

**3. Organisation**

3.1 To carry out responsibilities of the post with full regard to the equal opportunities policy of SOHAS and to support and implement anti-discriminatory practice in all areas of SOHAS work.

3.2 To represent SOHAS at meetings and other bodies as required and agreed with the SOHAS manager and trustees.

3.3 To provide information and talks about the role of SOHAS and occupational health matters to outside organisations as required.

3.4 To seek opportunities to develop and build personal and professional skills to enhance performance within this job

3.5 To attend training sessions as determined or agreed by the SOHAS manager or management trustees and to provide written evaluative feedback on these to the SOHAS manager and OHA colleagues.

3.6 To attend and participate in regular workers’, advisers’ and trustee meetings as required.

3.7 To prepare verbal or written reports on work undertaken as required by the SOHAS Manager, the management trustees and Sheffield City Council

3.8 To be accountable to the SOHAS manager or the management trustees and to take part in supervision and appraisal process.

3.9 To carry out any other duties appropriate to the job as agreed with the SOHAS Manager and SOHAS trustees.

**PERSON SPECIFICATION**:
**ESSENTIAL**

**Qualifications**
- Educated preferably to degree level or to a good standard with relevant qualifications or experience.

**Employment / Experience (Previous and Present)**
- Understanding or experience of the issues faced by people's health problems related to employment
- Experience of giving information, advice or guidance
- Experience of working with employers to get people into employment and or experience of back to work after a period of sickness absence.
- Self sufficient in admin and main Microsoft packages eg: Word

**Skills**
- An effective evaluator of people’s problems.
- Ability to show initiative in developing and promoting the service and networking with relevant agencies
- Able to work clos