The SOM Podcast

A career in functional assessment medicine requires the ability to transfer and apply clinical and occupational health skills to establish a person’s functional capability.

It is not about diagnosis, but focused on function and limitations secondary to the medical conditions. A career in functional assessment medicine can offer a good work-life balance, and is open to professionals of various backgrounds.

In this episode of the SOM Podcast, host Steve Randall talks to Dr Karen Wallace, Disability Analyst and National Lead Appraiser and new entrant trainer at Maximus, Dr Mark Randall, Disability Assessor and Quality Assurance Lead at Maximus, Thobela Nhlanhla, Medical Advisor, Insurance, at Unum UK, Rebecca Sparks, Disability Analyst and Clinical Lead for Stakeholder Engagement at Capita, Dr Matthew Gouldstone, Disability Analyst at Maximus, and Helen Valls-Russell, Occupational Therapist and Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist about a career in functional assessment medicine.

Resources:

Functional Assessors information and testimonies https://som.org.uk/images/Functional_Assessors_role.pdfThe role of a functional assessor short video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qto2-Cea9e0

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

How do we help the world of work become a place where we all thrive and not just survive?

Occupational psychologists explore questions such as:

• How do we motivate people so that they can perform to the best of their abilities?
• How do we support individuals who have caring responsibilities elsewhere?
• How can we improve creativity across people in different industries?
• How do we help organisations retain their best employees?

In this episode of the SOM Podcast, host Steve Randall talks to Dr Hayley Lewis, Registered Occupational Psychologist, Dr Almuth McDowall, Professor of Organisational Psychology at Birkbeck University of London, and Dr Kevin Teoh, Senior Lecturer and Programme Director of the MSc Organisational Psychology at Birkbeck about a career in occupational psychology.

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

Are you are a registered nurse looking for different career options?

This podcast from The Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) discusses the fabulous specialty of occupational health nursing. It will give you ideas of how to explore this specialty, decide if it is for you and training options.

Anna Harrington speaks with Janet O'Neill about her years of experience as an OH nurse and why it has never been a more important role.

Links

Examples of careers in occupational health (OH) nursing https://www.som.org.uk/occupational-health-nurses

Mentoring scheme to support nurses and AHPs wishing to enter OH https://www.som.org.uk/sites/som.org.uk/files/Nurse_and_AHP_mentoring_Mar_23.pdf

The National School of Occupational Health (NSOH) has blogs from OH nurses, links to useful information and links to training providers https://www.eastmidlandsdeanery.nhs.uk/occupational-health/national-school-occupational-health

The Faculty of Occupational Health Nursing (FOHN) has information on an OH nurse career framework, quality and practice https://www.fohn.org.uk/

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

Episode 3: The relationship between work and health with Dr Rob Hampton

In the third episode of our GP Essentials podcast series, Dr Lara Shemtob talks to Dr Rob Hampton about the relationship between work and health, the role of GPs in helping patients stay in or return to work, and what an occupational health consultation can offer that is difficult to achieve in a GP consultation.

They explore the ways in which work can have a negative effect on physical health, such as occupational cancers, asthma and other respiratory conditions, and skin conditions, plus the impact of the pandemic, for example isolation arising from home working, and how Long COVID is becoming a major health and work issue.

They discuss making use of the re-assessment section of the fit note, sharing practical resources to encourage employees to start having discussions with their employers, and sharing evidence with patients when it is available. In discussions with patients, Dr Hampton encourages GPs to think not just about paid employment, but about meaningful activity, and to use the techniques of motivational interviewing to help the individual decide on next steps and find their purpose.

Dr Rob Hampton was a GP Partner for 15 years before becoming freelance in 2012. His portfolio includes roles in drugs and alcohol treatment and occupational medicine. He has led various projects and educational initiatives to support GPs in helping patients with long term conditions to stay at work. A co-opted member of the BMA Occupational Medicine Committee and founder of a SOM GP Interest Group, Rob’s aim is to see employment support move closer to mainstream primary care so that employment is a health outcome of the care we provide to the working age population.

Further reading: https://www.health.org.uk/publications/long-reads/the-quality-of-work-and-what-it-means-for-health

Fit note: guidance for occupational health professionals, updated on 17th December 2021 - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fit-note-guidance-for-occupational-health-professionals

About the host:

Dr Lara Shemtob in an Academic Clinical Fellow in General Practice and GPST3 at Imperial College London with an interest in occupational health. Lara works at Parkview Practice in White City and has recently undertaken the Diploma in Occupational Medicine.

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

The SOM Podcast: GP Essentials series

Episode 2: Work and mental health with Professor Neil Greenberg

Mental ill health accounts for around a third of all fit notes issued and is the most common reason for issuing a fit note in General Practice. In this second episode of our GP Essentials series, Dr Lara Shemtob speaks to Professor Neil Greenberg about why so many people are signed off with mental ill health, the effect of the pandemic on workplace mental health, and the importance of creating and maintaining psychologically healthy workplaces.

They discuss the connection between mental ill health and presenteeism among NHS staff and structural and procedural issues within the NHS, such as understaffing, low pay and long hours. Professor Greenberg explains that while wellbeing Apps, mindfulness and yoga classes can be helpful to the people who use them, crucial above all else is fixing these structural issues – ensuring that the bottom level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is in place.

In terms of mental ill health among the general working population, Professor Greenberg encourages GPs is to think about who owns the problem. There are opportunities for the individual to change their workplace and get middle managers and seniors to endorse change.

Professor Neil Greenberg is a consultant academic, occupational and forensic psychiatrist based at King’s College London. Neil served in the United Kingdom Armed Forces and has deployed, as a psychiatrist and researcher, to a number of hostile environments. At King’s, Neil leads on a number of military mental health projects and is a principal investigator within a nationally funded Health Protection Research unit. He chairs the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) Special Interest Group in Occupational Psychiatry and is leading the World Psychiatric Association position statement on mental health in the workplace. Neil has been the Secretary of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the President of the UK Psychological Trauma Society and Specialist Advisor to the House of Commons Defence Select Committee. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Neil has worked closely with NHSEI, PHE and has published widely on psychological support for healthcare, and other key workers.

Further reading: https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/mental-health-workplace

Fit note: guidance for occupational health professionals, updated on 17th December 2021 - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fit-note-guidance-for-occupational-health-professionals

About the host:

Dr Lara Shemtob in an Academic Clinical Fellow in General Practice and GPST3 at Imperial College London with an interest in occupational health. Lara works at Parkview Practice in White City and has recently undertaken the Diploma in Occupational Medicine.

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

The SOM Podcast: GP Essentials series

Over 6 million fit notes were issued by GPs last year – almost 95% of which were signed off as not fit for work without using the options for workplace adjustments and advice. Deciding whether someone is fit to work is a difficult decision that can have a huge impact on the individual and at the societal level, however this is not a topic emphasised in GP training and there are barriers to accessing CPD in this area.

In this series of three podcasts with experts in the field, guest host Dr Lara Shemtob finds out how to harness the potential of the fit note, why work-related mental ill health has been increasing in recent years, and why occupational health matters in primary care.

Fit note: guidance for occupational health professionals, updated on 17th December 2021 - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fit-note-guidance-for-occupational-health-professionals

Episode 1: How to get the most out of the fit note with Dr Jonathan Leach OBE

The transformation from sick note to fit note in 2010 meant that GPs were able to move from a binary decision of declaring a patient fit for work or not fit for work, to offering advice on amendments to duties that could enable an employee to continue working, or to facilitate a phased return to work.

In this episode, Dr Lara Shemtob speaks to Dr Jonathan Leach OBE about the barriers that may prevent GPs from using the advice section of the fit note and how to troubleshoot those barriers. They discuss the importance of using a person-centred approach, taking a basic occupational history, finding out what patients do in their job on a day-to-day basis to understand their functional limitations, tailoring advice accordingly, and understanding risk.

Also explored are the psychosocial factors that might be impeding a patient’s return to work and how referral to occupational health or mental health services at work can help, plus what to do when work is a contributing factor to a patient’s ill health.

NB: At the time of recording, Dr Jonathan Leach was Joint Honorary Secretary at the RCGP. His tenure ended 20th November 2021.

Dr Jonathan Leach OBE is a GP in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. Jonathan originally pursued a military career, working around the world and achieving the rank of Colonel. Posts comprised clinical, managerial and academic roles, including Professor of General Practice and Director of GP Education. Returning to the NHS in 2008, he has held senior executive positions, including Medical Director and Director of Primary Care for Worcestershire and Associate Medical Director for NHS England. Jonathan is the NHS England Associate Medical Director for Armed Forces and Veterans Health, advising NHS in England on the NHS care of service personnel, their families and veterans. In this role he has been instrumental in the design and delivery of the new models of care for veterans and especially in the field of mental health. Jonathan is Medical Director for COVID-19 Vaccination for NHS England and was awarded the OBE for services to General Practice in the 2020 New Year’s Honours List.

Further reading: https://bjgp.org/content/71/712/525

About the host:

Dr Lara Shemtob in an Academic Clinical Fellow in General Practice and GPST3 at Imperial College London with an interest in occupational health. Lara works at Parkview Practice in White City and has recently undertaken the Diploma in Occupational Medicine.

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

The fifth episode of our new Podcast series on work and health explores the topic of neurodiversity in the workplace. Unlike many other types of diversity, neurodiversity can be invisible; this combined with the stigma that surrounds neurodiverse conditions means that neurodiversity doesn’t always have the voice of other diverse groups.

In this episode, Helena Brady, senior occupational health advisor at TP Health, Nancy Doyle, Occupational Psychologist and founder of Genius Within, and Aidan Healy, Business Psychologist and CEO of Lexxic, examine the barriers that neurodiverse individuals can face when seeking employment and when in work. They discuss how these barriers can be broken down, looking in particular at the role of management in embedding inclusivity into the workplace and recruitment process.

As guest host, SOM Past President Professor Anne Harriss says, “If the employee has got a difficulty, why would you not want to address the difficulties they’ve got and support them?”

SOM’s Commissioning neurodiversity services in the workplace guidance will be launched early 2022. This will be the first guidance document from SOM’s Occupational Psychology Special Interest Group (SIG). The guidance has been led by Dr Nancy Doyle.

About the speakers:

Helena Brady is a senior occupational health advisor (SOHA) working for TP Health, a nationwide occupational health provider to a wide range of industries within the workforce including the National Health Service. Her role involves complex case management and pre-employment screening. She is passionate about the subject of neurodiversity from a professional perspective in her role as an SOHA and as an employee who has dyslexia. Her combined experience from a professional and personal stance equips her to support employees and employers to manage the challenges associated with neurodiversity in the workplace.

Dr Nancy Doyle is an Occupational Psychologist and the founder of Genius Within, a social enterprise dedicated to facilitating neurodiversity inclusion through consultancy, talent assessment, workshops and coaching for businesses. Dr Doyle works with customers in finance, technology, defence as well as those who are unemployed and incarcerated, working towards a future where all neurominorities are able to maximise their potential and work to their strengths. She is a Research Fellow with Birkbeck, University of London having completed her Doctoral Research at City University of London. In 2019 she was recognised by the British Psychological Society with an award for her contribution to Policy Impact in Occupational Psychology, based on her work to improve inclusion for neurominorities in all walks of life.

Aidan Healy is a Business Psychologist and the CEO of Lexxic. He is on a mission to create a working world where all minds belong. He has fifteen years of experience in people development roles, holding qualifications in psychology, leadership development and coaching. Lexxic are a specialist consultancy who are leaders in the field of neurodiversity in the workplace. With a fourteen-year track record, they partner with organisations to empower neurodiverse talent and help them become neurodiversity smart.

About the host:

Professor Anne Harriss has significant experience in occupational health education, latterly as Course Director for Occupational Health Nursing and Workplace Health Management programmes at London South Bank University. She started her teaching career as OH lecturer practitioner at the Royal College of Nursing after a clinical career starting in Muscat with the Royal Oman Police followed by the hotel then the pharmaceutical industries. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing, Hon Fellow of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine and both a Principal Fellow and National Teaching Fellow. She has contributed to the development of public/occupational health initiatives nationally and internationally because of projects in New Zealand, Slovakia, and South Africa. Professor Harriss has a particular interest in promoting mental health in the workplace.

Links:
Genius Within website: https://www.geniuswithin.org/
Lexxic website: https://www.lexxic.com/
Lexxic blog page: https://www.lexxic.com/blog

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed existing inequalities within society, with disproportionate outcomes relating to socio-economic status, ethnicity, gender, age, geographic location, and ability. SOM established its Diversity and Inclusion Task Force last year in response to this, with the aim of supporting occupational health (OH) professionals, employees and businesses navigate the post pandemic landscape and support health at work for all.

In this fourth episode of our new Podcast series, Dr Sheetal Chavda, chair of the Task Force, and vice chair Emma Persand are joined by Dr Sade Adenekan, Task Force member, Mental Health Champion and UK specialist in Occupational Medicine and Public Health, and Dr Abeyna Bubbers-Jones, Consultant Occupational Health Physician and Founder of Medic Footprints, to discuss diversity and inclusion as an occupational health issue.

The episode is introduced by Anna Harrington, Task Force member with over 20 years’ experience in occupational health (OH), who argues that Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) must be an OH intention, whether that’s applied to the profession itself, the development, promotion and delivery of OH services, or influencing business culture. We are also joined by Katie Neeves, photographer, filmmaker and Trans Ambassador, who shares her story of coming out as transgender after living for 48 years as a man.

Hosted by Steve Randall.

SOM has produced a factsheet on Supporting your approach to workplace diversity and inclusion - download it here: https://www.som.org.uk/Supporting_your_approach_to_workplace_diversity_and_inclusion.pdf

About the speakers:

Dr Sade Adenekan is an accredited UK specialist in Occupational Medicine and Public Health. She is currently working in a global oil and gas company overseeing clinical teams across three manufacturing sites and corporate headquarters. Sade previously worked in the NHS for over 20 years in Public Health and Health Services Management before retraining in occupational medicine. Passionate about EDI, she is a member of SOM’s Task Force. She is also a Mental Health Champion at work and co-chairs her organisation’s Women’s Employee Resource Group.

Dr Abeyna Bubbers-Jones is a Consultant Occupational Health Physician, Entrepreneur and Founder of Medic Footprints - a global community marketplace connecting doctors with diverse career opportunities. As an alumnus of the prestigious NHS Leadership Academy Ready Now Programme for BAME leaders and as a black female doctor with her own life experiences, she champions best practice in EDI within organisations.

Dr Sheetal Chavda is Associate Medical Director at Health Management Limited and Chief Medical Officer for London Fire Brigade. She is a member of the SOM board and chair of SOM’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force.

Anna Harrington has over 20 years’ experience in OH. She takes a wide perspective of workplace health to incorporate sociological angles, hence her interest in EDI. Anna specialises in management referrals, involving herself in the independent HR community - believing that we must work together to improve workplace culture, provoke employee thriving and organisation success. As part of this broader interest, Anna has explored positive psychology and prosocial and core organisation design principles. She founded her business in 2019 and is enjoying working with small business and independent HR consultancies.

Emma Persand is vice chair of SOM’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. She is a qualified nurse, workplace health and wellbeing professional and founder of Lemur Health Ltd with a women’s health strand, Working with the Menopause. She delivers women’s health education and management training as part of the overall wellbeing agenda to support and retain women employees. Emma completed the Menopause, Specialist Skills Certificate, and the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Certificate for Menopause Symptoms through the British Menopause Society to improve working conditions relating to sexual and reproductive health. Her company continues to promote equity for all in the workplace and works with organisations in their commitment to support diversity through inclusion of reproductive and sexual health management.

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

In the third episode of this new Podcast series from The Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM), we discuss evidence based approaches to return to work following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the transformational shift from largely workplace based employment to a hybrid model. Although working from home will remain for many, others will be returning to their employer’s premises while flexible working will be more common than it was pre-COVID. How can businesses manage this and what have occupational health and wellbeing professionals learned from the last couple of years? Guests Dr Nancy Doyle, Dr Gail Kinman and Dr Kevin Teoh join our host Steve Randall to consider the evidence.

About the speakers:

Dr Nancy Doyle is an Occupational Psychologist and the founder of Genius Within, a social enterprise dedicated to facilitating neurodiversity inclusion through consultancy, talent assessment, workshops and coaching for businesses. Dr Doyle works with customers in finance, technology, defence as well as those who are unemployed and incarcerated, working towards a future where all neurominorities are able to maximise their potential and work to their strengths. She is a Research Fellow with Birkbeck, University of London having completed her Doctoral Research at City University of London. In 2019 she was recognised by the British Psychological Society with an award for her contribution to Policy Impact in Occupational Psychology, based on her work to improve inclusion for neurominorities in all walks of life.

Dr Gail Kinman is Visiting Professor of Occupational Health Psychology at Birkbeck, University of London. Dr Kinman is a Chartered Psychologist, a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and the Academy of Social Sciences and a trustee of the Council for Work and Health. She has published widely in the field of occupational health psychology, with a particular interest in the wellbeing of people working in health and social care, education and the prison and blue light services. Dr Kinman works closely with The Society of Occupational Medicine and the British Psychological Society on several projects related to work and wellbeing, most recently to formulate guidelines to help organisations and individuals manage the demands posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.

Dr Kevin Teoh is a Chartered Psychologist and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Organizational Psychology at Birkbeck, University of London. He is also the Executive Officer for the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology. Dr Teoh’s primary research interests are around developing healthier workplaces, and the translation of research into practice, policy, and public dissemination. He has collaborated extensively with the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work and The Society of Occupational Medicine, and has a particular interest in the working conditions and wellbeing of healthcare workers.

Resources:
•COVID-19 Work, worklessness and wellbeing factsheets https://www.som.org.uk/covid-19-work-worklessness-and-wellbeing-factsheets
•Presenteeism during the COVID-19 pandemic: Risk factors and solutions for employers https://www.som.org.uk/presenteeism-during-covid-19-pandemic-risk-factors-and-solutions-employers
•Mental Health Support for Small Business Owners and Team Leaders https://www.som.org.uk/mental-health-support-small-business-owners-and-team-leaders
•Returning to the workplace after the COVID-19 lockdown - toolkits https://www.som.org.uk/return-to-work/

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.

In the second episode of this new Podcast series from The Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM), we explore the many challenges around return to the workplace as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions end.

For employers there are multiple concerns, such as balancing rebooting operations with keeping their team safe, along with managing expectations about how the working model will be in the long-term. Employees may have their own concerns, for example: is the workplace safe, has 18 months of disrupted working impacted relationships with colleagues, and do they really want to return to the workplace at all?

Host Steve Randall speaks to Jonathan Gawthrop, Executive Director, Wellbeing Sustainability & Assurance, EMCOR UK, Jonathan Hill, Head of Occupational Health, Anglian Water, and Justin Jones, Head of Physiology & Clinical Development Lead at Nuffield Health about the impact of the pandemic on the workplace and the strategies that their organisations have taken to support and protect employees’ physical and mental health throughout the pandemic and beyond.

About the speakers:

Jonathan Gawthrop is Executive Director, Wellbeing Sustainability & Assurance for leading FM Company EMCOR UK responsible for the development and practical application of the organisation’s enterprise strategies for these disciplines. A Fellow of IIRSM and the Royal Society of Fellows, Jonathan has a Masters degree in Behaviour Change and is a PhD student studying Organisational Health & Wellbeing. He is a member of the BSI international committee for Occupational Health & Safety, an independent verifier for the Mayor of London’s Healthy Workplace Charter and advisory board member for a number of cross industry panels working together to evolve safety and wellbeing throughout the UK.

Jonathan Hill is Head of Occupational Health at Anglian Water. He started his career as a professional rugby player before becoming a physiotherapist within sport. The comparisons and challenges between the professional ‘sports athlete’ and ‘industrial athlete’ lead him into the world of Occupational Health. He has previously worked for Fit for Work, Welsh Government and Transport for London before settling in Anglian Water.

Justin Jones has an MSc in Sport and Exercise Physiology and over 15 years’ experience working in the health and wellbeing industry. He is responsible for the clinical development, quality and safety of health assessments at Nuffield Health and leads the professional development of a nationwide team of health and wellbeing physiologists. Within his role, Justin also advises key corporate clients on their wellbeing strategies with reference to employee data, industry-wide health trends, alignment to clinical best practice and emerging research.

Resources:
•COVID-19 return to work in the roadmap out of lockdown: guidelines for workers, employers and health practitioners https://www.som.org.uk/COVID-19_return_to_work_in_the_roadmap_out_of_lockdown_March_2021.pdf
•Returning to the workplace after the COVID-19 lockdown: A toolkit https://www.som.org.uk/Returning_to_the_workplace_COVID-19_toolkit_FINAL.pdf
•Returning to work after the COVID-19 lockdown webinar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uJW-QYKDiQ
•Sustaining Work-Relevant Mental Health Post COVID-19 Toolkit https://www.som.org.uk/Sustaining_work_relevant_mental_health_post_COVID-19_toolkit.pdf
•The effects of remote working on wellbeing, stress and productivity https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/article/the-effects-of-remote-working-on-wellbeing-stress-and-productivity

The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com.