See here how Network members value the ability to link with colleagues

Association and representation

Occupational health in the NHS needs to be recognized and valued. As a community of occupational health providers to the NHS we have the opportunity to influence national policy and lobby on behalf of the occupational health community in the field of health and work.

Only by demonstrating the benefits that we bring at a national level, and with commissioners of services, are we able to make the case for the policies and investment that are needed. NHS Health at Work Network provides that voice and influence at a national level. An exemplar service that is properly funded and respected will bring much needed improvements to NHS staff health and wellbeing and ultimately patient care.

Since 2011, the Network has worked alongside DH, DWP, FOM, SOM, the Council for Work and Health, NHS Employers and HSE.  Association also brings benefits in terms of advance knowledge of policy changes and members are briefed on these changes through the monthly e-bulletin and web site. The Network Chairperson will brief members on developments through a personal message each month in the e-bulletin.

Sharing information, expertise and best practice

Occupational health is changing.  There is more focus on the management of long term conditions for people at work, greater links with public health and a move towards employee health and wellbeing programmes.  Increasingly we are being asked to develop the services we provide and our ways of working.
The network will continue to assist members with this evolving agenda by proactively sharing information and best practice. Examples of specific areas in 2013 include developing a workforce model that defines an exemplary occupational health service; sharing best practice on the use of IT and telecommunications to enhance delivery of services and describing and scoping the role of occupational health in developing and executing wellbeing programmes in the workplace.

Visibility to potential customers

The Network website is continually used by commissioners who are seeking occupational health providers. A search mechanism enables commissioners to search Network members, find their local service provider and make contact.

SEQOHS accreditation support

Support from NHS Plus will end in March 2013. In the January 2012 Network survey, 80% thought the network had helped them towards accreditation. The Network will launch a web based buddying system from April 2013 to support OH teams seeking accreditation and those seeking re-accreditation. Under the system, representatives from accredited members will pledge to provide practical support, including policies and procedures, upon request from other members. 

Access to the acclaimed Network annual conference

The only national conference run by and specifically for NHS occupational health – the 2013 conference will be held on 12th/13th September in Nottingham at the East Midlands Conference Centre.  Full and Associate members organisations will be entitled to one place at the conference, the cost of which is incorporated within the membership fee.

Membership of the NHS Occupational Health Clinical Registry - MoHaWK

MoHaWK launched in April 2012 to help raise standards of health services at work. The registry system allows anyone to see how the overall performance of health at work services is improving. It allows individual units to benchmark their own performance with other units and share their work to help each other improve. Occupational health units measure and input data once every six months in March and September.

MohaWK was founded on a core of evidence-based indicators of clinical performance that are linked to the outcome of care for patients attending occupational health units. These are augmented by other measures that provide a fuller picture of the service provided by occupational health units. It is a dynamic system that will change as new requirements emerge and new research enables the development of additional evidence-based performance indicators.

MoHaWK is provided by Syngentis. All Network members will have access to MoHaWK, free of charge, in 2013/14.

Membership of STEM

STEM is the business analytical tool, which complements MoHaWK. STEM is a secure web based tool, which enables users to benchmark their existing cost of services against other NHS OH service providers. STEM helps users to set contract costs and price lists quickly and accurately, identify the cost of internal service delivery and price new services.

STEM is provided by Syngentis in partnership with Strategycom. Full Network members will have complimentary access to STEM, free of charge, in 2013.

Monthly briefings on the latest developments within the fast moving world of NHS Health & Wellbeing

In the 2012 Network survey, 85% valued the monthly briefing. The monthly e-bulletin compiled from April 2013 by Syngentis, will enable members to keep up to date on new developments and opportunities in OH policy.

Pre-publication access to Research Plus

Research Plus is published by the @ Work Partnership on a bi-monthly basis in Occupational Health [@ Work] magazine.  Research Plus signposts original research and systematic reviews from a wide range of publications. 4 year funding has been secured from BOHRF.  Members are sent Research Plus a month before the open publication of the magazine. 

Access to the members’ resource area of the Network website

Access to tools and resources to help members do their job more effectively. 85% reported this useful in the Network survey.

Guideline search

HWDU carry out a quarterly search for new and updated evidence based guidelines relevant to occupational health practice in the UK. This is published on the Network website and advertised through the monthly e-bulletin. 90% value the evidence based guidelines on the website. We will be reviewing this service in 2013 to ensure we are providing best value for members.

Clinical skills updating training

Regular clinical updates are critical to assure clinical competence and help meet the challenging requirements of SEQOHS and NHSLA. The NHS Health at Work Network has negotiated a benefit with Richard Wood of Simply Spirometry and Stephen Karmy from SJK Scientifics, which offers significant advantage only available to Network members.

SJK Scientifics offer a package delivered in your training facility, of a tailored one day Audiometry update course at a cost of £1000 for up to 6 participants, £1400 for up to 9 delegates and £1800 for up to 12 delegates. This equates to a saving of at least 30% on the public open course delegate cost.

Similarly, Simply Spirometry offers a tailored one day Spirometry update course delivered in your training facility, at a cost of £1000 for between 10-15 participants. This equates to a saving of at least 70% on the public open course delegate cost.

Members can organize courses and offer spare places to other health professionals and neighbouring services.

Legal skills training

Legal Experience Training (LET) Ltd offers programmes in Essential Legal Skills Training for OH Professionals and The Advanced Professional Award in Expert Witness Evidence. LET Ltd are offering Network members a discount of 5% on all training programmes. Further details are available here.

Business skills development

Recent research amongst Network members has highlighted a demand for marketing and tender preparation skills development. In partnership with Syngentis and Strategycom, one day masterclasses will be designed and delivered to network members at significant discount.

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