Fit for Work Scotland rolled out

Since June, Fit for Work Scotland now covers the whole of Scotland.

The employers' referral helpline (0808 281 9288) went live on 29 July. The number is different from that on the website, which is for general enquiries. The online referral portal has not gone live yet, but when it is, employers will access it through the employers' section of the website www.fitforworkscotland.scot/

GPs may make a referral without the intervention of the employer, but the service will remain the same from that point.

The service offers a free occupational health assessment for employees who have been off work for four weeks or are approaching four weeks. Employees will be contacted within 24 hours and they will be assessed by a health professional within two working days. The aim is to keep people in work. The case manager, who will do the assessment, may develop a return to work plan which will look at reasonable adjustments such as phased return. The plan may identify other reasonable adjustments for the employer to consider. There are two further websites that may be of use in identifying what a reasonable adjustment may be: www.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments-for-disabled-workers and www.hse.gov.uk/sicknessabsence/reasonableadjustments.htm

There is information for employees on the employee section of the website and employers may wish to refer to that section in absence policies. It covers a wealth of information from what rights an employee has when off sick with illness or injury through to guidance on keeping in touch with your employer and how to return to work.