I agree with the process outline below; For absence management [we don’t use “sickness” as we found 50% is just absence for other reasons] we recommend the following triggers:

• Day one for stress and mental health problems

• Day three for musculoskeletal

• Immediate referral for accident/incident at work

• Frequent short term absence (three occurrences in a rolling six month period)

• 14 days continuous absence

When an agreed trigger for referral to OH is reached by an employee a normal OH referral process is followed with line mgr completing the forms/online process.

Paul Roberts

Enlighten Ltd

Tel: 0845 206 20 20

From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of McKeown Matthew
Sent: 06 December 2010 14:09
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [OCC-HEALTH] Sickness Absence Management

I have cut and pasted Hannah's reply to the previous enquiry below. Feel free to contact her for more info on [log in to unmask].

Regards

Matt

Matthew Mckeown RN DipHE
Senior Occupational Health Nurse Advisor
Occupational Health St Mary's Hospital
[log in to unmask]
Tel: 01983 822099

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I've knocked up a quick blurb detailing what it is we're doing here, its not a tool but gives you more of an idea on the project.

The HWB strategy action plan is being moved forward by some key members of our HWB group (ward matrons, Back Care Advisory Team, Catering, Occ Health and STEPS - System Transformation, Excellence, Performance, Sustainability team! who are being facilitating the Action Lab.

We meet as a group every Friday morning to keep it moving forward, check actions and next steps. Part of this includes running the sickness absence triage for 6 months.

At present the Occupational Health service is offered through either self referrals or management referrals usually following a four week absence or three separate episodes of sickness over a period of three months. The aim of the telephone triage service is to offer immediate support and earlier intervention to staff members going off sick, a signpost for support and encourage an early RTW.

The normal sickness reporting procedure still applies so that employees call in to their manager to say they are ill and what the problem is. Additionally their manager will check their contact number and remind them to expect a call from an OH adviser.

The designated Occupational Health Triage nurse for this project is myself, Hannah Kurth. I aim to call employees within 24 hours of them reporting to their manager, during office hours (not over a weekend or BH) to ask how they are, have a chat and determine what the medical problem is, if they are receiving treatment, recommend referrals to alternative services and also how long they anticipate being off work.

Dependant on how long they are likely to be off work will then dictate if/when I will contact them again for an update.

I then email back to their manager to let them know the outcome of the phone call, advising and providing an impartial link between them and their employees, maintaining confidential boundaries at all times.

I pick up staff absences daily from our online staff rostering system; MAPS. MAPS also allows me to identify management triggers, for example unacceptable patterns of sickness and to advise the Managers accordingly.

Additionally I have been picking up long term cases as well as both short and frequent absences which has proved a vital cog in the managemement wheel.

The Triage commenced on October 1^st 2010, to initially cover 6 wards. We have since added a further 2 areas and there are current developments in extending it further.

The aim is to reduce short term sickness absence and bank use, support our staff and managers, plus hopefully along the way, help to improve the patient experience and outcomes.

To date the monthly short term sickness figures for the majority of the Triage areas have been reduced by almost half, Stroke by approximately a third. An interim report which will show the cost breakdown for each ward is in the process and will be available in the New Year.

In addition to the triage, a separate project is being carried out for the same 6 months (Oct to March) involving the Orthopaedic and surgical units.

This involves the HSE stress audit process being undertaken in these areas. Orthopaedics are also having input from public health involving advice and support for identified health improvements.

A neutral control area will be chosen and compared at the end of the project to see which interventions had the biggest impact.

Matthew McKeown has passed me on to JISCMAIl, I hope to post on their soon.

Any further questions then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kindest Regards
Hannah Kurth
Occupational Health Triage Nurse
[log in to unmask]

From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nicola Johns
Sent: 06 December 2010 14:02
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [OCC-HEALTH] Sickness Absence Management

Hi Matthew,

I would be interested in some information about this system & any progress made in your organisation.

Many thanks.

Kind regards

Nicky Johns

From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of McKeown Matthew
Sent: 06 December 2010 10:28
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [OCC-HEALTH] Sickness Abscence Management

Hi Lucy

As part of the Wessex group I am sure you are already aware via Di Eccelston of the sickness triage system we are using successfully. I can give you the email of our triage nurse if you want any more info.

Matt

Matthew Mckeown RN DipHE
Senior Occupational Health Nurse Advisor
Occupational Health St Mary's Hospital
[log in to unmask]
Tel: 01983 822099

From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Perkins, Lucy
Sent: 06 December 2010 10:22
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [OCC-HEALTH] Sickness Abscence Management

Dear List,

We are permanently striving to reduce the above in our Trust. Does anyone have any new ideas or innovation they are using which is helping them further. If happy to share would be most grateful.

Best wishes and a Merry Christmas to you all

Lucy

Lucy Perkins

Senior Nurse Manager

Occupational Health

Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Foundation Trust

Castle Lane East

Bourenmouth

BH7 7DW

01202-704217

[log in to unmask]

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