NHS Forth Valley Occupational Health Service

Leadership and Development:

Elizabeth Murdoch Lead Occupational Health Adviser (OHA) actively models compassionate leadership behaviour within and out with OHS; for example Elizabeth contributes to improved OHS team relationships through iMatter. She has contributed to psychological and physical safety within the OHS MDT. Elizabeth is engaged with OHS Specialist nurses and leading on the development of OHS referral manager awareness sessions in order improve service user experience. Having successfully completed a prestigious Occupational Health National leadership course Elizabeth networked extensively contributing to “Growing OH” in Scotland and beyond. Elizabeth is currently involved in the design of the NMC University of West of Scotland Specialist Occupational Health Nursing Course.

At Work Partnership, Certificate in managing OHS services competed by OHA’s Pamela Scoular, Susie Jennings, Gillian Mortali, are applying their knowledge and skills by developing standard operating procedures ( SOP) and leading on OHS projects in relations to Substance misuse, Attendance Management training, Health Clearance and Health protection activities with input from OHS service users and OHS MDT colleagues. This is supporting the OHS team to work towards achieving Safe and Effective Occupational Health Services ( SEQOHS)

Allison Proudlove OHS lead administrator has led the team through change to achieve records a substantial management project. This was achieved as OHS were in Covid de escalation and returning to business as usual. Allison embraced the opportunity to have displaced staff within OHS. She made them welcome within the OH team. This was invaluable in supporting OHS to meet Information governance requirements. That work continues without any further additional support from these colleagues who have been successful in gaining work elsewhere. Elizabeth Stewart OH administrator supports The Head of Occupational Health and the Head of Health and Safety to procure a first aid training suppliers. Elizabeth is the First Aid course administrator who also supports OHS psychological services

Digital leadership Ongoing :– Danielle Cassidy OHS admin , and Gillian Mortali OH nursing– are working with OHS nursing colleagues Pam Sandy, Kay Drysdale and Emma Edment on a Recruitment SOP and digitalisation process to enhance service users experience of the health clearance recruitment process. This will assist NHS FV to meet their commitment to deliver services.

Supporting development - Modern apprentice Demi Leigh Stillie successfully completed her Modern apprenticeship. Demi is a permanent member the OHS team who continues to provide administration support for the OHSCAPTS peer support.

OHS Mental Health Pilot Project Lifelines Peer support training completed by Susan Ramsay, Fiona Richards and Bartholomew Koman OHS peer support team, who have trained 17 peer support volunteers and continue to offer training and support to others involved in this important work. The Peer support engagement process continues with publicity and awareness events planned for September 23. The OHS CAPTS Team, IS comprised of clinical, counselling psychologists and, counsellors. They are innovative and inclusive in their approach to service build and design. The OHS Multi disciplinary Team (MDT) work closely with Staff Physio, Podiatry, Staff support and well being Immunisation team the Keep Well team and Working Health Services. Staff physio have commenced ACPHOE Occupational Health Physio training to support future service delivery OHS.

OHS Project work with NHS FV colleagues include BBV, Health Surveillance, Long covid working group, Neurodiversity, Staff support and well being. The Team is proactively engaged in service delivery whilst engaging in service redesign to assist service users with their daily working lives. Most importantly they authentically embrace their practice with a focus on wellbeing and taking care of another as a Team.

The OHS team continually strive to show leadership in their every day practice. They demonstrate this with individuals, managers, internal and external local and national services. Examples are; input University course design, National OHS managers policy working groups, National OHS fora designed to grow OH, individual staff attaining knowledge and experience through OHS leadership and development courses translating innovation onto practice in NHS FV OHS.  NHS FV OHS are developing policy, procedures and initiatives which contribute to the development of a psychologically safe environment. This is evident in the client personal feedback received by OHS team members. The NHS FV OHS Mental Health Pilot project is innovative. It has addressed gaps in service and offered choice and a means to provide peer support for colleagues. The peer support initiative provides opportunity for psycho education in support of safer work culture. The feedback from those who have trained in peer support is testament to the effectiveness of the team. The OHS team are focused on problem solving within the service for service users and the nationally in terms of growing OHS and extending the scope of the service to identify ways to deliver against unmet need. That is to involve partners to enhance service user accessibility choice and experience. All team members are encouraged to contribute to service build such as improved recruitment experience through digital leadership to capturing service user’s feedback and sharing learning to enhance service user experience. They are genuinely enthusiastic and motivated to build NHS FV OHS service delivery to address service need.