Catherine D’arcy-Jones
How did you get into this career?
I always wanted to be a nurse from a child. I was lucky enough to start my nursing career at St. Bartholomew’s in London when I was 18 years old, and this was combined with a degree in Psychology. Having strengthened this learning years later by completing a Masters in Health Psychology, I wanted to support and advise where it would have the most benefit for people – we spend most of our lives working. Being able to offer my clinical advice to managers and employees meant I was able to combine my nursing experience and the knowledge gained from my psychology degrees. My transition to OH nursing was solidified having undertaken the BSc Occ Health Nursing under the guidance of Professor Anne Harriss....
What qualifications are needed?
I gained my RGN and a degree in Psychology initially. I went on to complete a Masters degree in Health Psychology to link the two branches of my studies. At that time I was considering whether to leave nursing and convert to a career in medicine but I believed in the advocacy of the nurse and wanted to build on this further, so I undertook a degree in Occupational Health Nursing. However, to move into this sector I had to find a placement to work in whilst undertaking the degree. I was lucky enough to be supported in the NHS where I cut my teeth in OH. The degree in Occ Health Nursing gave me a great basis for my understanding of entering into a non-medical world as a health professional and the confidence in using the legislation, regulations and risk assessment when giving recommendations.
What is a typical day for you?
When I started in Occupational Health about 70% of the cases I dealt with were musculoskeletal based, and around 20% were mental health related. Over the last 20+ years this has changed drastically and most of the cases we advise on today have a mental health element. My day involves undertaking assessments with employees from SME or the education sector and providing advice within reports to the referring managers. I also liaise with the managers, HR and directors of companies discussing proactive measures that can be undertaken to improve the health and wellbeing of their workforce.
I deliver training to both manager and employees. This can be around stress recognition and management through to managing specific medical conditions in a work environment. I deliver Mental Health First Aid courses in the workplace and these are always so well received. It feels great to empower others with knowledge on health matters that can have such a positive impact on individuals lives – whether this is within or outside work.
Best part of job?
It is a great responsibility giving medical advice and being viewed as the medical expert in a non-medical setting but being able to deliver impartial advice, assisting both the manager and the employees and liaising with other health professionals is one of the most satisfying parts of my role.
I really enjoy making that connection with the employees and being able to offer proactive advice and guidance that can fundamentally change their focus and how they view and address their health issues. I enjoy seeing situations that are stuck with no resolution being addressed and to start moving again. I enjoy empowering the managers so they have a greater awareness of how to deal with similar situations that occur in the future. I enjoy training, imparting my health knowledge and details around the huge amount of resources available to others. I enjoy going into workplaces and delivering flu vaccinations – this reminds me of the importance of my basic nursing skills. I enjoy visiting workplaces and carrying out health surveillance and making that connection with the workers, influencing their health choices at ground level and helping to keep them safe. I enjoy the autonomy of clinical decision making.
Most challenging part of job?
Currently the most challenging part of the role is to maintain a good level of resilience, especially when advising with so many mental health symptoms due to COVID-19. It is so important to have the right levels of support in place for your own mental wellness, to maintain a good work-life balance and to practice the advice you give out – eating well, exercising, mindfulness.
Why would you encourage someone to choose this career?
Having undertaken ward clinical nursing and practice development work, OH nursing offers so much more – being a clinical expert in a non-medical setting, autonomy in decision making, it makes a real impact into the everyday working lives of people, it uses enhanced communication skills, it allows you to use problem solving skills and to offer measured resolutions. There is never a dull day in OH and I am humbled every day by the stories I hear. I feel I have made a difference every single day to someone’s life.
Any memorable cases?
One of my most memorable cases was assisting a teacher who was diagnosed with a number of mental health conditions including Tourette’s, OCD and Asperger’s syndrome. The school did not fully understand his mental health conditions and as a result he did not have adequate support provision in place. A number of complaints had been received by the school and he had been placed under disciplinary procedures. The OH advice included educating the school manager and leaders in regard to his symptoms and how they impacted on his teaching role, advising on support provisions both within the school and from external sources. The outcome of the case resulted in the right level of support being put in place, including adjustments, and the teacher being able to perform successfully in his role. The teacher contacted OH following closure of the case to report that he was overwhelmed with the levels of support and understanding in place in the school, the new level of understanding of his needs and the joy of him being able to continue in a job that he loved.
Anna Harrington
How did you get into this career?
20 plus years ago, I was a critical care nurse – High Dependency, Intensive Care, Renal Transplant. Looking around at colleagues I recognised the impact of mainly work on health rather than health on work. My observations were that clinicians were suffering; their own health and not being able to deliver the care standards that fulfilled their values and sense of purpose. I, of course, was not able to articulate it in this way at that time. I also was suffering. I started to ask questions and was taken under the wing of the hospital Health, Safety and Risk Manager, and started to explore risk management and governance. It was suggested, by him, that I consider occupational health. ...
What qualifications are needed?
I was really fortunate to be sponsored by the NHS to do a specialist degree in Occupational Health and Safety Management with included risk management. It allowed me to both register as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN) with the NMC plus as a Chartered Member of the Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH) which I did not pursue. From this superb NHS start I went to be an OH advisor in an innovative local, national government and European funded project called Workwell. We were given the objective to “Improve the health of the working population”. It was in a very deprived and diverse area – Sandwell. I loved it. It was creative, energised and dynamic. From there to now I worked for many of the large OH providers and had a family.
Why is this the career for you?
I have always been fascinated by the psychology and sociological aspects of occupational health; how individuals behave within organisations, how individuals affect the success of an organisation and how the organisation affects individual behaviours and sense of thriving; living life to the full. With contemporary focus on workplace wellbeing, I often think back to foundation nurse training being about what is it that keeps a person both healthy and well, to recognise both the individual’s responsibilities and the organisation or work community in which the person exists. This preoccupation has led me to do further education in positive psychology and Prosocial ARC facilitation.
Best part of your job?
Currently, I am thriving. Having my own Ltd company is a dream. It is allowing me to delve deeper into the sociological and psychology side of work, health and wellbeing. From this, the creativity of developing own products and services is thrilling for me. The core aspect of my OH work which feeds into those other themes is the OH management referral. At my heart, I love people, hearing their stories, the whys and trying to bring clarity and find solutions for often frustrated situations.
Su Chantry
Tell us about yourself?
I am a qualified specialist occupational health nurse. In 2016 I set up my own business SKC OH Hub, as an independent occupational health nurse providing a wide range of bespoke occupational health support to a broad spectrum of clients. I also work for a legal organisation providing expert vocational case management under the Civil Procedure Rules Part 35.
I have a dynamic approach to occupational health nursing – I work within a model of thought leadership and I am pioneering and passionate about supporting employers and advising on and supporting their employees’ health at work....
I have worked in a wide range of organisations ranging from NHS, nuclear facility sites, manufacturers, scientific labs, charity organisations, banking services, and motor racing which has brought diversity to my work in OH.
My energetic and committed approach to workplace health has led to a Queen’s Nurse Award and my recent work during the COVID-19 pandemic was featured on the BBC and in The Sunday Times.
How did you get into this career?
I was a single mum of baby twins and a toddler all under 3 years old and was juggling and struggling as a practice nurse in the NHS. I was asked to join a private OH provider to support them with a new local client and started as a screening nurse developing rapidly into delivering health surveillance and progressing to case management. Over 12 years I learnt a lot in the role and it was a good opportunity to learn the fundamentals of occupational health nursing.
As my career developed I self-funded my occupational health degree. I felt that in order to develop further, I needed to learn about and understand the academic elements required in my work.
During my degree I wanted to use my knowledge to offer a personal bespoke approach to workplace health. I needed to find an outlet outside of my provision model of working to express my passion and add my personal touch to health and wellbeing for businesses. With that in mind, I registered with Companies House and my SKC Occupational Health Consultancy was born.
What qualifications are needed?
I was a registered nurse when I started in OH. I undertook my specialist community public health occupational health nurse degree whilst I was employed in OH.
What is a typical day for you?
No day is a typical day. I work 3 days a week as an OH manager in motorsport managing the health and wellbeing in a Formula 1 team. I am employed as part of the team and set up and work with an OH technician to deliver an inhouse OH service. I report to both the Operations and the HR Director. My work ranges from managing health surveillance, travel health, COVID-19 risk management, case management, and I attend races to oversee health management of our race team trackside. I am also involved in working with our marketing team in supporting them in managing some of our F1 partnerships related to health. One of the unique elements to my OH work in the team is working closely with race team managers and mechanics in their pit stops work. I also have the pleasure of supporting our drivers and their trainers manage their health in the team – something I’d never have imagined to be involved in occupational health!
I have developed and deliver a strategically focussed occupational health consultancy service. My associates and I provide a range of OH services to a broad spectrum of clients. My OH business has recently gained UKAS accreditation and I am a government approved test supplier for COVID-19 tests – this includes test to release for many of my motorsport and private clients who are travelling for business during the pandemic.
Best part of job?
Being autonomous in my role and making clinical decisions that impact not just an employee as an individual but that can benefit a business as a whole.
Most challenging part of job?
Getting organisations to realise what a valuable asset OH is in business – I enjoy presenting the business case to show managers how investing in health will give a good return on investment but it can be a challenge to get them to see past their preconceived ideas of OH.
Managing the business elements of running an occupational health consultancy on my own has been a really steep learning curve and a personal challenge – I definitely learn from the experienced peers around me.
Why would you encourage someone to choose this career?
Workers are an employer’s key business asset and are essential to generating improvements in productivity, profitability, sales, growth, and operational performance. Healthy workers produce healthy organisations.
You can be entrepreneurial in OH nursing. OH is in a powerful position to bring change to the way health is managed in the workplace – more so now than ever post pandemic. We have to seize the new business and health narratives and promote good healthy workplaces. This is an ideal time for nurses to step into OH and be part of this exciting journey and of the changing landscape.
In order to give the best possible advice in OH you have to know all the parts of the profession and understand the culture of the organisations you are delivering OH advice to. You have to be able to communicate at a business level to the executives and work with the diversity of working professions. OH has a voice and the more professionals in OH the louder the voice can be heard to influence change.
Any interesting stories?
My pride in OH is promoting it as the brilliant speciality that it is: I’ve done that by travelling trackside as an OHN at Formula 1 races and getting OH mentioned during a race commentary!
Working in the pandemic, returning to NHS practice after 20 years out of the NHS acute sector.
Having my name grafted onto the rear end plate of our racing car and seeing it race at track.
Seeing published articles in OH journals.
Working for a day in a radiation suit in a nuclear plant!
Amanda Hinkley
Tell us about yourself?
I currently work as Head of Occupational Health and Staff Wellbeing at Public Health England. I qualified as a nurse 32 years ago and have worked as a specialist Occupational Health Nurse for 28 years (19 in management). I qualified with an MSc in Occupational Health (University of Surrey) in 1995 and am registered as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN) on part 3 of the NMC register. My research thesis was on low back pain in police officers and I was lucky enough to be awarded with a Police Research Award in 1993 by the Home Secretary to support my research project. This gave me the opportunity to attend a project management course at the Senior Police College, Bramshill. I have worked as a specialist OH nurse and manager in public sector (police and NHS), aviation (British Airways), retail (Marks and Spencer), telecommunications (Orange) and private healthcare (Bupa OH)....
I attended the Open University for a certificate in management 2007 and was supported by NHS Plus to attend the Strategic Development Programme at Durham University Business School (2010). NHS Plus funded my place at the Improving Service Delivery course at the Institute of Innovation and Improvement (2011).
Previous roles external to work include being an NHS Health at Work Network Board member for South Central region and past Deputy Chair. I have also undertaken the role of SEQOHS (Safe Effective Quality Occupational Health Services) Assessor when the scheme was first launched. I spent 2 years part time as an NHS Quality Strategy Facilitator (DHSC secondment) supporting Services in South England to progress their SEQOHS accreditation process.
What qualifications are needed?
A registered nurse qualification and post registration specialist degree qualification is required for entry as a SCPHN on part 3 of the NMC register.
How did you get into this career?
When I worked as a staff nurse on a high dependency unit in 1990, I suffered an injury on a night duty when a patient at least 22 stone fell out of bed. Despite lifting with another colleague, I hurt my back; there were no manual handling aids at that time. I spent a few months on bedrest having steroidal injections for a partial prolapsed intervertebral disc. In that time my own personal circumstances motivated me to apply and self-fund for a one-year academic Occupational Health Certificate course, with six placements each lasting a week. I was determined to prevent others from injuries at work that affect their quality of life and future career pathway.
What is a typical day for you?
I work as a Head of Service at a strategic level. Currently PHE is in the process of transition with staff moving to one of four receiver organisations on 1st October 2021. These are the UK Health Security Agency, Office for Health Promotion, DHSC and NHS Digital.
I attend organisational meetings such as Health and Wellbeing (HWB) Strategy and Health and Safety steering groups, Medicines Governance Group and other operational senior management committees.
I lead a team of Occupational Health Nurses/Senior Occupational Health Advisors, wellbeing specialists and business and administration. The role also involves contract management of a part time Consultant in Occupational Medicine, physiotherapy and EAP services. I manage the service budget, am responsible for clinical and information governance (including the role of Caldicott Officer) and currently I am leading on transition staff support (HWB).
In my role I am Safeguarding Lead (trained to level 5). This is an additional role, separate from Occupational Health Services.
Best part of job?
The best part of the job is working with many committed professionals who go the extra mile to provide the client with the service and experience they deserve. Occupational health runs on the good will of all the OH practitioners who give more than 100% to always ensure the client workplace health and wellbeing needs are met.
Most challenging part of job?
The most challenging part of the job is to educate people on the added value of OH. This has been spoken of many times throughout the pandemic with government oversight of the contribution of OH. I always smile when a colleague on the OH Practitioners Facebook group gets excited as the TV programme of the moment mentions OH.
Why would you encourage someone to choose this career?
Besides stating the obvious job satisfaction of promoting health and wellbeing, supporting people back to work and in times of vulnerabilities staff saying that you have made a difference to their life.
Any interesting stories?
There are so many stories that can be told but for me I will always remember working with PHE staff at Porton Down in 2014. I had just joined PHE and coordinated a fast-paced challenging response to the Ebola outbreak. This involved travel health advice, assessment, medicals and immunisation pre deployment and not just PHE staff but scientists from universities and the NHS attending the pre training course at Porton Down. I coordinated with the World Health Organisation Office in Hamburg, the NGO “Save the Children” Travel Health providers, the Institutes of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in London and Liverpool to ensure that all the staff being deployed were assessed fit for deployment according to the sponsor standards (that differed). On return from Sierra Leone, staff reported working most of the five-week deployment and what they saw and heard from their deployment had changed their life forever. This was reflected in the research on “survivor guilt” that PHE participated in with Professor Neil Greenberg and the Institutes of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in London and Liverpool.
I believe the work of the School of OH and the revision of the NMC future standards for part 3 SCPHN training will lead to opportunities to enhance the OH workforce capacity. This will support the profession to stand up and be counted for its major contribution to workplace health in the 21st century.
Helena Brady
Tell us about yourself?
I completed a BSc (Hons) in Occupational Health Nursing with part 3 Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) registration in my first year in the specialty of occupational health (OH). I was promoted to a Band 7 Occupational Health Advisor (OHA) in a National Health Service (NHS) setting within the first year of qualifying as an OH nurse and gained subsequent experience with a commercial provider supporting a wide range of clients and organisations. I am an experienced mentor to pre and post registration student nurses....
How did you get into this career?
While working as a critical care nurse in Saudi Arabia, I began to notice that while the primary responsibility is to deliver safe and effective patient care to critically ill patients, the act of delivering care in the surrounds can have an impact upon the health of the healthcare worker and vice versa. This prompted me to look into this concept more formally which subsequently led to entry into the speciality of occupational health nursing.
What qualifications are needed?
Prior to receiving the award of a Bachelor’s of Science (BSc) Occupational Health Nursing, I gained registration in Adult Nursing with a diploma in higher education plus recorded entries in
General Intensive Care Nursing and Teaching and Assessing in Clinical Practice.
What is a typical day for you?
⦁ Provision of occupational health to NHS Trusts in the West Midlands.
⦁ Supporting employers and managers in the management of sickness absence amongst the workforce.
⦁ Management of individual cases of sickness absence due to illness, accidental injury, short and long term cases.
⦁ Case management including complex case management and regular attendance at case conferences.
⦁ Virtual and telephone consultations with employees.
⦁ Pre-employment screening of complex cases.
⦁ Participation in workplace immunisation clinics in the absence of the screening nurses.
⦁ Working autonomously in a home working capacity.
⦁ Support to colleagues and junior members of the team in the absence of the clinical performance manager (CPM).
Best part of the job?
Good work is good for health and it’s a very satisfying experience being able to support an employee back to work after a period of illness or to support someone starting work with a disability or underlying medical condition. The knowledge that supporting someone back to work has a positive impact upon the economy is very rewarding.
Most challenging part of the job?
The job is hard and busy but it’s also an opportunity to shine.
Why would you encourage someone to choose this career?
It’s a fantastic job and nursing is one of Britain’s most trusted professions. Working in OH has enriched my life in positive ways. No two days are the same. It has provided a conduit between differing aspects of my working life and career ambitions.
Ceri Bryant
How did you get into this career?
I trained at the Middlesex Hospital in London from 1983-86. Staffed on Cardiothoracic and Neurology before leaving to pursue an acting career… obviously didn’t have what it took but did work in theatre, running eight West End Theatre Box Offices for Maybox Theatres so had a slice of the glamour and action! Came back to Wales due to love and thus back into nursing – working as a theatre nurse in a day hospital in the Rhondda Valley. Marriage and first pregnancy of twins made me interested in pursuing a midwifery career and during my training...
Close to burnout I stepped away from the NHS in 2005 and took a job as a barmaid. I must have this aura of coping with responsibility however, as within three days of working there I was asked to step up and take over the running of the pub (no previous experience) which I successfully did for nine months. Knowing that this was not what I really wanted to do, I looked around and answered an ad in a local paper for a vaccination nurse in South Wales Police – fixed term contract – hence my coming across occupational health (OH) by accident. A fixed term contract became a permanent one of Occupational Health Nurse and I learnt my speciality over the next 10.5 years there before leaving to work for The 2 Sisters Food Group in Newport and then for a private OH provider, Everwell, where I was placed with Lucozade Ribena and also at the ABinBev Brewery at Magor, Monmouthshire. A longing to return to Emergency Services and the NHS was answered in April 2020 when I was successful (2nd attempt) at getting my current role of Occupational Health and Wellbeing Service Manager at the Welsh Ambulance Services Trust.
What qualifications are needed?
I would say that the only qualifications that are needed in OH are a desire to support people, to be flexible and willing to learn. There are many roles within OH from administrative, to technician, nurse, advisor, physician, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, mental health nurse, counsellor... The list is ever increasing. Qualifications for specific roles are required but I came into the specialty as a nurse and midwife only. For nurses specifically, training in many aspects of the role is undertaken ‘on the job’ e.g. audiometry, spirometry, DSE assessment, HAVS, travel health, managing safety, and OH qualifications can and I believe should be pursued at Diploma, Degree and Masters levels. We never stop learning in OH!
What is a typical day for you?
No day is typical! I manage a small team of administrative staff, OH technicians, OH advisors and wellbeing facilitators across Wales. I work closely with Health and Safety, infection prevention teams, HR and ambulance managers to deliver the full OH remit that is required by the Welsh Ambulance Service as we aspire to a Gold Standard Service. Meetings can dominate my day as I build the team and the service. We also encompass a wellbeing platform which includes TRiM (Trauma Risk Intervention Management). I may be asked to give presentations – recently on Long COVID for managers and also to the Road to Recovery Group (staff diagnosed with Long COVID) and today I am running a Menopause Café. I still like to ‘keep my hand in’ and undertake sickness absence appointments and if required will step in and run a clinic or give some vaccinations. I am constantly reading and learning and advising on how I and my department can keep our staff safe and healthy and help them to achieve their potential, and to be supported through challenging times.
Best part of the job?
The people in all their guises. My team, the staff who work for Welsh Ambulance, the agencies I collaborate with, the services we procure, the many varied and different people I am now meeting virtually from other emergency services, the NHS in Wales, wellbeing services and charities, the list goes on! Also that OH continues to change and grow in scope and relevance and importance.
The most satisfying experience is always in knowing that OH makes a positive difference to the lives of staff at every level. Personally, I know that I can still save and enhance lives by utilising all my skills and the expertise and that I have.
Most challenging part of job?
Time! There is not enough of it!
Why would you encourage someone to choose this career?
This is a speciality that is gaining prominence within the field of medicine. The scope of what we can and could do is huge and the areas that we work in vast. No two days are the same and we can never sit back on our laurels and say we know it all. OH is a ‘family’ and I constantly meet support from others whether they be physicians, physios, technicians etc. This is a role where people interact and listen to us. It is supportive and can be life-changing for us and for those in our care. It can provide hours to suit your childcare or caring arrangements or whatever else your life looks like. You can work from home. You can be very much ‘in the field’. I would encourage people because I love it and feel passionate about it and would want to share that love and passion with others. It’s a place where you laugh and a place where you could cry with others but it’s also a place where you turn off the light at the end of the day knowing you have helped people and made a difference…. which is why I came into nursing all those years ago.
Any final thoughts?
The 16 years of my career in OH have been the happiest, most varied and self-satisfying of my career. The last 12 months due to the pandemic have been the biggest learning curve of my life and I know that at this time, whilst I was not front line, I have helped shore up that front line offering support and advice that was very gratefully received and that this will continue. This speciality makes you grow in knowledge and in wisdom and has definitely made me a better nurse.
Derek Reale
How did you get into this career?
I started in the welfare department of British Transport Police in 2005 following the 7/7 bombs. I had done some post registration training in counselling and had worked in various projects in London, so I was approached to support the trauma support programme. Whilst working there I decided to do my occupational health (OH) degree at Brunel.
What qualifications are needed?
I started my career as a nurse in 1989. I come from an Irish family with a long tradition of nurses training in the UK; I have two sisters who are nurses plus I had 6-7 aunts and uncles and about 30 other nurses in the family....
What is a typical day for you?
My daily routine is very varied. Recently I was made redundant; I have taken up different short-term contracts, but a lot of my work is based around mental wellbeing and wellness programmes. Previously I concentrated on case management.
Best part of the job?
Helping individuals on their change journey. I do believe that OH makes a huge difference in employees’ lives.
Most challenging part of job?
OH isn’t very well understood by many people, and sometimes individuals are quite defensive when they come to see us.
Why would you encourage someone to choose this career?
I definitely would encourage a wider group to train and become experts in OH – businesses are becoming increasingly aware of the large part that health plays in individual productivity and more so organisational health.
Emma Persand
How did you get into this career?
It was my interest in police personnel’s mental health and work-related stress whilst working as a forensic nurse practitioner that led me to apply for my first occupational health (OH) post. I completed the NEBOSH qualification and delivered health surveillance within a chemical firm and copious amount of case management in the NHS. Work-related stress became my area of expertise, writing polices, designing and delivering prevention and managing stress courses to managers.
Whilst working a qualified nurse, I studied for a B.A. (Hons) in English and Media Communication – my dissertation focused on identity and how gender stereotypes influence poor health outcomes. My professional focus shifted towards cultural factors that affect health and the experience of health in the workplace....
I was working for an NHS OH department, as a case manager, and I was seeing more mid-life women with work related stress symptoms and to cut a long story short, I completed the Certificate of Menopause Care and also the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Certificate for Menopause symptoms through the British Menopause Society to improve working conditions all round. I founded a workplace wellbeing business to deliver women’s health psychoeducation and management training as part of the overall wellbeing agenda to support and retain female talent.
What is a typical day for you?
No two days are the same in my job; I can be delivering training and workshops, advising on policies and procedures, attending study days, presenting on and attending webinars to maintain and promote evidence-based knowledge and finally, delivering group CBT to women impacted by the menopause experience.
Best part of your job?
The best part of my job is the feedback from women after the education and CBT sessions. Women leave feeling empowered with knowledge about their own health and what options are available if they need additional intervention. I have been privileged to observe some women develop long-term lifestyle strategies to maintain a healthier life which has increased confidence and wellbeing and they have gone on to achieve in both their personal and work life.
Most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging part of my role is not about addressing the cultural myths and stereotypes surrounding sexual health, as the introduction of social media has led to women being able to access information outside of family experiences. In this age of information, we are all aware of the inequality of health outcomes influenced by the dominant culture’s attitude and beliefs on gender, race, sexuality, ability, and age. The main challenge is embedding sexual health with credible evidence within the overall health and wellbeing strategy into whatever the sector, size or services of an organisation. The lack of specific awareness, education, management training and support for diverse employees can lead to working with a ‘one size fits all’ approach with this reinforcing unequal opportunities for development, increasing poor business outcomes and influencing poor health and wellbeing outcomes for those employees.
Why would you encourage someone to choose this career?
As good work is a factor in good health, OH and wellbeing professionals are instrumental in achieving the public health agenda of preventing ill health and promoting health and wellbeing in our everyday practice. I would recommend this discipline to any healthcare professional passionate about inclusivity and supporting diverse people to thrive at work, helping to create a fairer and equitable society for all.