Main area Occupational Health Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours
* Full time
* Part time
* Job share
* Flexible working
37.5 hours per week (5 days - Monday to Friday) Job ref 302-25-7108814CPR
Site Wigan Investment Centre Town Wigan Salary per annum, pro rata Closing 14/04/2025 23:59 Interview date 07/05/2025
Choose Well - Choose WWL
Job overview
An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and innovative Occupational Health Nurse Advisor to join our well established, multi-disciplinary team.
The successful candidate will be joining Well Being Partners, a SEQOHS accredited Occupational Health and wellbeing partnership. We currently provide services to a number of organisations in the Northwest region including NHS clients, Universities and private sector businesses. The role is based predominantly at Wigan Investment Centre.
The appointed individual will be able to work independently as well as within a team and will actively participate in the delivery of a professional pro-active service to the Trust and external organisations as contracted. Excellent communication skills are an essential part of this role, with the ability to liaise with colleagues and other health professionals.
Knowledge and experience of occupational health issues and health and well-being at work is essential for this post.
The ideal candidate would be able to assist in the development of the service & be proactive and flexible in order to influence the health of employees.
A full driving license with access to a vehicle, a flexible approach to working hours, job requirements and cover across all sites is required.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of a high quality, comprehensive Occupational Health nursing service to the staff of the Trust and client organisations of the Service.
The post holder will provide specialist advice, guidance and support to managers and staff and work closely with the Consultant in Occupational Medicine and designated supervising senior occupational health nurse/manager in the maintenance and development of the service, as well as improvements in quality standards in accordance with relevant and national guidelines.
Working for our organisation
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that ‘happy staff, makes for happy patients’. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement and living our values.
WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.
At WWL we value the benefits a rich and diverse workforce brings to our community and therefore welcome applications from all sections of society.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
* To organise and conduct Nurse led clinics for management referrals or staff self-referrals, and to provide written reports or verbal advice to managers and staff, as appropriate.
* To undertake pathology tests through venepuncture in line with departmental protocols and liaise with laboratory staff e.g. virologists when appropriate.
* To undertake health screening procedures, e.g. lung function testing, skin checks, and immunisations.
* Plan and organise wellbeing initiatives for employees of The Trust.
* To provide clinical advice to staff on medical problems including recommendations to see their GP, if indicated, and signpost or arrange referrals to appropriate services such as Staff Counsellor and physiotherapy.
* To ensure that all prospective employees have an appropriate pre-placement work health assessment, conduct appropriate screening procedures and provide immunisation, where necessary, in line with service procedures and protocols.
* To assist and advise Trust management on suitable screening/health surveillance, as deemed necessary, either through legislation or following appropriate risk assessments.
* To initiate, promote and support innovation in the clinical practice and encourage the application of new techniques /procedures in the workplace.
* To be familiar with national/local guidance on any matters related to occupational health and help develop organisational policies, protocols and procedures in compliance with such guidance.
* To ensure that investigations and tests are undertaken/interpreted, as appropriate and to liaise with other health care professionals where necessary.
* Actively participate in Clinical Governance and audit.
* Take responsibility for ensuring security and confidentiality of all medical records and other confidential information (either paper form or electronic) and always maintain patient confidentiality.
* Prepare reports regarding Occupational Health activities and specific requests for information and audit reviews, as required.
* Record and document accurate medical information in staff health records in compliance with Trust and Nursing and Midwifery Council standards. Maintain confidential Occupational Health database to ensure information is up-to date.
* Maintain health surveillance records in accordance with statutory regulations for example Control of Substance Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), Ionising Radiation, Asbestos.
* Supervise and provide support to the administrative staff.
* Promote health education on a range of health topics on a one-to-one basis or in group sessions.
* To advise staff and clients on the promotion of health and prevention of illness in relation to work and participate in the induction of new employees entering the Trust on all aspects of Occupational Health.
* Undertake other occupational health nurse tasks and activities commensurate with this post, following reasonable requests from senior occupational health nurse/manager or consultant in occupational medicine.
Communications and Key Working Relationships
* Work within the local and wider Occupational Health Team, including attendance at team meetings.
* To offer specialist advice to various groups/committees, such as Infection Prevention and Control, within the Organisation and support the development and implementation of Trust wide Occupational Health policies in conjunction with other Trust personnel.
* Develop and maintain close working relationships with infection control team and risk management which includes health and safety and attend committees’ meetings if requested.
* Develop effective lines of communication with Trust Management and Human Resources Directorate.
Responsibility for Human Resources
* To assist in the selection, interview and recruitment of staff in liaison with the Nurse Manager.
* Assist in the initiation and implementation of an induction/orientation programme for new staff members and to assist in the management of annual leave, sickness absences and arrange extra staff cover for contract agreements.
* Undertake Personal Development Reviews for junior staff.
* To work with the Nurse Manager in determining manpower/skill mix to ensure that the Occupational Health services are offered and maintained at the highest standard.
* To deputise for the Nurse Manager as required.
* To provide support and supervision to junior nursing staff.
Responsibility for Health & Safety
Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 – the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
Responsibility for Teaching
* Take personal responsibility for developing and maintain own knowledge, clinical skills and professional awareness in conjunction with NMC guidance.
* Attend mandatory training as directed by Trust.
* Provide instruction for junior staff to maintain continuous professional development and liaise closely to share and implement Department of Health guidance.
* Actively participate in training sessions on a regular basis as required.
* Identify own training needs/professional development requirements.
Work Circumstances & on-call
To have flexibility to work in other areas and sites, if required.
No routine on-call although there may be occasional requirement to carry out evening or early morning duties, for example, mass vaccination programmes such as flu vaccine and/or provision of services to external client Organisations.
Person specification
Qualifications
* Registration with NMC Part 1.
* OH Degree/Diploma.
* Registered SCPHN.
* Other relevant nursing/OH qualifications, for example, audiometry and spirometry qualification.
Experience
* Wide breadth experience in Occupational Health Nursing including pre-placement health assessments, health surveillance, spirometry, audiometry, basic counselling, Immunisations.
* Experience in independent case management of employees referred to the service by managers, for example in relation to attendance management (sickness absence), and production of management reports.
* Experience in working autonomously and organising delivery of service.
* Experience in Occupational Health nursing within the NHS, including screenings in line with Department of Health guidelines.
* Knowledge of immunisation programmes relevant to the NHS.
* Understands UKAP Requirements for EPP workers.
* Implementation of Health promotion initiatives.
* Experience in conducting surveys and audits.
Skills
* Proficient and skilled in the performance of routine OH clinical activities including venepuncture, IM/SC injections, spirometry, audiometry, vision screening.
* Competent in the administration of vaccines and compliant with immunisation training update in past 12 months.
* Ability to work effectively within OH team.
* Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with patients, colleagues and members of the multidisciplinary team.
* Ability to manage own caseload.
* Work to deadlines, good time management, organisational skills and demonstrate initiative.
* Counselling skills.
* Enthusiasm for promotion work health and wellbeing.
* Proven influencing and leadership skills.
Knowledge
* Excellent knowledge and understanding of the role and functions of an Occupational Health Nurse.
* Evidence of continuing education, training and professional development.
* Up-to-date knowledge of guidelines, national reports, and legislation in relation to OH including HSE and Department of Health.
* Knowledge of the Equality Act.
* Understanding of the current national Occupational Health & Wellbeing agenda.
Additional
* Full driving license/flexible approach to working hours, job requirements and cover across all sites (To undertake this post, you must be able to drive and have access to a vehicle. Should you not meet this requirement due to a disability, you are of course able to apply and a discussion regarding whether reasonable adjustments could be made to the role would take place before any offer is confirmed).
* Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation.
* Perceives opportunities for new services/service development.
* Perceives opportunities for research and audit and is proactive.
Our Trust prefers candidates to submit applications online. Please contact the Recruitment Team on 01942 244000 if you have difficulty applying online.
The Trust reserves the right to close adverts earlier than the stated closing date if there is a high volume of applications.
We endeavour to inform all applicants of the outcome of their application by email or SMS text message.
Guidance on Completing Your Application
Applications are scored against the person specification, therefore we recommend that you use the supporting information section of your application form to demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role, providing illustrative examples where possible.
On-Call
Please note that some roles may require you to participate in an on-call rota, if the role is predominantly operational.
WWL has signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment and will recognise your continuous or ‘unbroken’ service in any Greater Manchester Local Authority or NHS organisation, Transport for Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service or Greater Manchester Combined Authority; giving you access to our service-related benefits.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Name Rachael Webster Job title Occupational Health Nurse Advisor Email address rachael.e.webster@wwl.nhs.uk Telephone number 01942773610
If you have problems applying, contact
Address Buckingham Row
Brick Kiln Lane
Wigan
WN1 1XX
Telephone 07786529393
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