We looked at Bradshaw's Taxonomy of Needs to define four different types of
need:

Normative - defined by experts;
Comparative - comparing one group of people;
Expressed - those expressed by action, for instance visiting the OH dept;
Felt - those people say they have

For the normative needs assessment, we used accidents and injury stats,
sickness absence stats, health and safety data; Public Health data etc;

Comparative - we compared data between departments mainly, although you
could look at national stats. CBI have a report on absence that was released
last year and probably gives good data for comparing sick abs. You could
also look at differences between grades of workers

Expressed - we used daily attendance stats from the treatment room and
counselling department are now developing their information systems so that
they are able to provide meaningful data

Felt - we have used a diary of corridor conversations. This breaks down into
type of worker (C&M, APT&C, and Academic) and brief note on type of problem.
We tried to set up a "health rep" system for each area, but this hasn't
particularly worked well. Questionnaires have not been tried yet as we
picked up so much from walkabouts that we haven't got time for anything
else.

We found that unless you were able to provide stats for the felt needs,
management shot the messenger, despite being told that we would not give
them the information beforehand because they would. THey promised they
wouldn't but .... ! It is nice however to be proved right by other people
who weren't aware of the information. Smug expressions abound !

Best of Luck

Amanda Dowson
Health Services Manager
Bradford College
> -----Original Message-----
> From: SURGERY, GBR-Sutton [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 06 February 2001 17:19
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Workplace health needs assessment
>
> I am currently looking at ways in which we can improve the health of our
> workforce. I would welcome any information on 'workplace needs
> assessments'
> and the use of employee questionnaires for feedback. Does anyone know of
> a
> good, reliable questionnaire that has been used in this area?
>
> Jill Rossiter RGN
> CMB Aerosols UK
> Sutton in Ashfield
> Notts
>
>
>
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