Danny - have sent PM. Points to consider: the Occ Health Physician role. The need to cover for absences of the OHA. Line management and support for the OHA. Using a contracted provider gets around these. The specification can always be re-negotiated.

I assume you are thinking about an OH Nurse, so you would need to ensure the individual is actually qualified in that discipline, as many who carry out that role in UK are not! You also need to consider how the individual would be 'clinically supervised' by a competent OH Physician. Any service you are planning should meet a recognised standard, which is why the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM) have a documented quality standard for OH Services (free from their website). That doesn't cover the question of the required service scope, mentioned by others above, but it does set standards for how the service is delivered.

As imwaldra suggests you should be looking to appointing a person/organisation that is accredited under the SEQOHS scheme code of practice. Have a look at; http://www.fom.ac.uk/sta...l-health-services/seqohs Hope this helps.

Maybe have a chat to a local independent OH practitioner and undertake a needs assessment to find your specific requirements............ www.abcnorthwest.co.uk

I've worked with both and pros and cons for boths. Outsourced company had lots of information/services but nothing was for free and even cover for absence was patchy. Inhouse adviser knows more about the actual business and real issues plus can develop worthwhile relationships with HR etc more easily. Absences were covered by temps she knew/organised and worked well if planned in advance for hols etc. Definitely need to decide what you want them to achieve or carry out eg absence management, return to work programmes, setting up other services eg EAP assistance or physio, medicals, health surveillance, Business traveller and drivers, counselling, DSE Assessor, MH instrutor and wellbeing promotions? Would recommend measuring performance too in terms of no of visits, reports etc.