We are pleased to inform that we returned to full service in September and are still running at the moment despite this recent Lockdown, and are eagerly awaiting referrals.
Working Health Service FV is a return to work service that will support your patient to return to work or remain at work when they are struggling at work due to their health. We can help and advise when planning a return to work post Covid, as well as any other illness or injury.
At this time the Working Health Service will be particularly helpful for Patients that are struggling with, having been furloughed, working reduced hours, are worried about their job and income, or worried about Covid-19 or long Covid and returning to work.
We are here to support all FV health professionals and hopefully take some of the pressure from GPs, PNs , DNs, MH nurses and health visitors. As well as being a resource that staff discharging patients from hospital can use to support their patient to return to work after illness/surgery.
At present we are providing Case management (including employer liaison), Vocational rehabilitation Mental health support, counselling and Physiotherapy (remote via Near me).
The service is primarily to support patients that are self-employed or work for businesses that employ less than 250 people, however at this time we are supporting most patients that do not have occupational health at work. If the patient is unemployed we ask that you signpost them to the Fair Start service via Job center plus where they can also receive vocational rehabilitation and support to gain work.
If you are part of the Stay At Work Service (SAWS) pilot, you can refer easily through Sci gateway, otherwise all you need to do is provide the patient with the healthy working lives free registration telephone number 0800 019 2211 and ask them to select option 1 Working health services. Alternatively you can support your patient by calling to register with their consent.
WHSS is primarily a Self-referral service so it fine to pass the number on to Friends and family that would benefit from the service. It is however not set up as a service for NHS Staff who can access support through the NHS Occupational Health Service.