Agency staff (and I therefore include visiting lecturers in this) are
employed by the agency. The "Physical and Mental Fitness to Teach of
Teachers and Entrants to Initial Teacher Training" specifically states that
all agancies have to screen their staff before placement. THe onus is placed
directly on them to reach the standards in the above document.
The reason to screen pre-employment for FE and schools, goes far beyond
COSHH, epilepsy and diabetes, although they are a significant consideration.
Our big problem is assessing mental health of teachers/lecturers and all
those who are employed by an organisation that receives funding from the LEA
or FEFC and are working with vulnerables and young persons under the age of
19.
The "fitness to teach" also starts us considering sick abs management in
this area. With the number of teachers applying for IHR and on LTS, it is
important that we are supporting the schools and teachers who are suffering
at work (whether from work-related health problems, or other staff's
absence).
There are positive things that can come out of careful management. By
assisting with sick abs management, we were able to show a cost benefit to
the organisation, implement a wide ranging OH service, purchase fast track
physiotherapy and we are just developing a back care active rehab programme
which we hope to extend into an Exercise for Health programme.
Stress at work is our next challenge!
Yours positively !
Amanda
> ----------
> From: WebmasterUKOHN[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Reply To: WebmasterUKOHN
> Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2002 12:39 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: occ health for teachers - a mystery to me!
>
> I have read with interest the thread on screening of visiting lecturers
> and also the discussion about Local Government and schools. Although
> working in OH I am also an ex nurse teacher and have been a visiting
> lecturer in the past. At one stage, I also worked within a Local
> Authority as an Occupational Health Advisor on a short term contract
> specifically within the Education Directorate (for schools) Some 14,000
> staff including "visiting" or supply teachers as they are know had
> pre-employment screening via health questionnaire. I am at present
> working in a different LA in which we screen teachers also for diabetes
> and epilepsy pre-employment. If diabetic we request consent to notify
> headteachers and other relevant personnel to offer help if needed eg
> hypoglyceamia. Similarly for Epilepsy we obtain consent to enable help to
> be given if a fit should occur. This also applies to visiting/supply
> teachers. Whilst working as an OH specifically in Education, the majority
> of referals were for "stress" related sickness abscence, depression and
> anxiety. There was also a specific system for referals for workplace
> harrassment and also bullying. The Fitness to Teach regulations (Amanda
> spoke previously of these) mention that for school teachers there should
> be fitness to work in the context of mental health (not in those words as
> such) so Pre Employment screening took place to ascertain history of
> certain mental health problems. The NUT www.teachers.org.uk also has
> information on these areas. "Teacherline" is a free counselling service
> which teachers can be referred to specifically for stress related problems
> which is run by teachers who are counsellors and is a free facility via
> the telephone and was set up in recognition that sickness abscence in
> teaching due to stress is a major problem and health concern. The HSE
> Hazard publication on Work Related Stress could be a useful reference in
> relation to teaching either in schools or the FE and HE setting. The
> Association of University Teachers website www.aut.org.uk also has some
> information, advice and offers support for stress in teaching. From
> personal experience visiting lecturers prepare sessions in their own time,
> do not have the support of colleagues who know the particular University
> and also may undertake lone working at home. There are also traffic
> hazards if travelling long distances in addition to the normal stressors
> most teachers face. In addition a visiting lecturer may have problems
> getting a permanent lecturers position so may be stressed due to lack of
> work! I hope this contribution has been useful as I wanted to think more
> broadly and perhaps open further interesting discussion in this area. Kind
> regards, Sue Mclaren at http://www.ohnurse.co.uk/
>
>
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