Job summary
- Main area
- Occupational Health
- Grade
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 360-E-11506
- Employer
- West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Watford General Hospital
- Town
- Watford
- Salary
- £41,957 - £50,387 pa pro rata inc. HCA
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 15/07/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Band 6 - Occupational Health Adviser, Occupational Health
Band 6
Job overview
Are you a passionate Occupational Health professional looking to make a real difference in a dynamic acute Trust?
As Trust of the Year 2025, we're entering an exciting new chapter, expanding our services and investing in modern technology to shape the future of healthcare.
This is a fantastic time to join our forward-thinking team and help shape a high-quality, modern Occupational Health service.
Main duties of the job
As a Band 6 Occupational Health Adviser, you’ll play a key role in delivering a comprehensive, evidence-based service that promotes the health, wellbeing and safety of our workforce.
Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will:
Manage your own caseload of management referrals, providing expert advice on fitness for work, rehabilitation and reasonable workplace adjustments.
Deliver occupational health screening, immunisations, and health surveillance programmes.
Assess and manage workplace risks, including infection control issues and exposure incidents.
Provide professional advice to managers and staff, supporting attendance management and wellbeing.
Contribute to service development, quality improvement and new ways of working as our service expands.
You’ll work both autonomously and collaboratively, building strong relationships across HR, Health & Safety, Infection Control and clinical teams.
Working for our organisation
We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.
Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.
We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking
If you have a disability or long-term health condition and require support or guidance please contact [email protected]
If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Plan and carry out initial assessment for a range of clients using an evidence-based and client centred approach to practice following certain work-related accidents and work-related ill health.
Managing own caseload of management referrals for the purpose of sickness absence management through assessment and advising on an individual’s fitness to work, rehabilitation and phased return to work programmes, ensuring that appropriate information is provided regarding the Equality Act (2010) including advice on reasonable adjustment to the workplace.
Undertake a range of routine occupational health screening tasks, collect, record and store data accurately.
Assess the need for further information from GP, specialist or previous employer, the need for pre-employment blood tests in accordance with Department of Health and UK Health Security Agency guidelines and gain the appropriate consent. Effectively communicate the staff member's rights under the Access to Medical Reports Act (1998).
Undertake workplace risk assessments, plan and manage work related health problems including making decisions about fitness to work and the need for restrictions or adjustments to the workplace.
About you
We’re looking for a motivated and compassionate practitioner who thrives in a busy, evolving environment.
Essential:
• Registered Nurse (NMC – Part 1)
• Qualification in Occupational Health (degree or diploma)
• Experience in Occupational Health, including management referrals and case management
• Strong knowledge of health and safety legislation and workplace health risks
• Excellent communication and report-writing skills
Desirable:
• SCPHN (OH) registration
• NHS Occupational Health experience
• Experience in health promotion, audit or service improvement
You’ll be confident managing priorities, working independently, and using your judgement to deliver high-quality, person-centred care.
What we offer
At West Herts, we’re committed to supporting our people:
• Flexible working options and strong work-life balance
• Generous NHS pension and annual leave
• A wide range of wellbeing initiatives and staff support services
• Access to excellent training, development and career progression opportunities
• A supportive, inclusive culture where our values – empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive – guide everything we do.
Person specification
Education and qualifications
Essential criteria
- RN. Registration on Part 1 of NMC register
- Degree / Diploma in Occupational Health.
- Evidence of ongoing professional development.
Desirable criteria
- Part 3 of NMC register – SCPHN -OH
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Good knowledge of immunisation schedules for healthcare workers
- Experience of immunisation
- Management of blood and body fluid exposures.
- Infection control issues relation to OH such as influenza, infectious disease, contact tracing
- Knowledge of attendance management policies.
- Basic counselling skills
- Case management
- Knowledge of legislation relating to Occupational Health, health and safety, and relevant aspects of employment law, with the ability to apply this in practice.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of NHS Occupational Health Services.
- Knowledge of Health Promotion
- Knowledge of occupational diseases.
- Undertaking risk assessment
- Ability to present to large and small groups.
- Mental health knowledge.
- Understanding NHS financial pressures associated with sickness absence and recruitment.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Post-registration experience as a Registered Nurse, demonstrating continued professional development and application of clinical skills within practice.
- Experience working within an Occupational Health (OH) setting, with an understanding of the scope and function of Occupational Health services.
- Experience of undertaking management referrals, including assessing fitness for work, providing evidence-based advice, and producing clear and concise reports.
- Experience in delivering workplace immunisation and vaccination programmes, including risk assessment, administration, documentation, and follow-up, in line with current guidelines and best practice.
- Experience of working within an NHS Occupational Health department, demonstrating knowledge of NHS policies, procedures and workforce health requirements
- Experience of applying relevant frameworks and guidance, including those from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), UK Health Security Agency and other relevant external bodies.
- Experience of multidisciplinary working, liaising effectively with managers, HR, infection prevention teams and external stakeholders to support employee health and wellbeing.
- Experience supporting health promotion and wellbeing initiatives within the workplace.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in NHS OH department.
- Understanding of framework related to Health and Safety Executive, Public Health England and other external bodies.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Angelina Unruh
- Job title
- Head of Occupational Health
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07812438604
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
Watford General Hospital
Vicarage Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0HB
- Telephone
- 01442 365234
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