Should i be worried about being refered to occupational health?

savingsp

A bit of background first.

I have had quiet a year over the last 18 months. I work as a teaching assistant working one to one with children who have learning difficulties. I have to children 8 and 9, i am struggling with behavioural problems with the younger daughter and have no support from school or doctors. I suffered a miscarriage 12 months ago. We having major debt problems, and have many problems with the house (mould, damp which we have no money to solve). Day to day i stuggle to carry on. I dont feel i am living as i have suffered with depression as aresult for 12 months. Because of this the doctor wrote my off for 3 months last year.

Now i am really suffering my father has recently been taken into hospital and debt problems are worse.

This has all caused me of take time off resulting in work saying they need to refer me to occupational health. Should i worry about this, what will they do , could it result in me loosing my job.

Any advice would be great thank:(:(

GavB79

They will ask about your reasons for your absence and if there is anything that can be done to help your transition back to work, e.g. a phased return or agreed time out for counselling. As you work for a local authority they will have dedicated professional staff assessing you.
The only people that need to worry are the ones trying it on, and even then it can takes months for anything to be done about it! The only problem is if you cannot see yourself returning at any point, as obviously your employer cannot pay you to be on indefinite sick leave and they will be able to raise a capability case against you.
I had nine months off last year and had to go through this process; I saw it as my employer taking an interest in my well-being and facilitating my return as best they could. Rather this than they just expect you to come back Monday morning as if nothing has happened over the preceding months!

newmee

I agree with GavB. I too have been through the occy health due to ill MH and they are not there to try and catch you out, just see what is wrong and how they can help and if it is your job that is the cause, that sort of thing. Try not to worry too much. Good luck x

tessie_bear

my dealings with oh have all been very positive....they want to help u back to work...nothing to worry about i would say

Savvy_Sue

that's good to hear, it's not for MH but my OccHealth appt is Wednesday this week and I keep worrying they'll say I should be back in the office doing my normal hours when I know my arm's nowhere near up to it yet!

vouchersrme

The OH are there for you, they will help you get the right support for your illness and help you get back to work. Obviously the school cannot pay you indefinitely , so it is best to get the support you need for the long term.

SHIPSHAPE

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

that's good to hear, it's not for MH but my OccHealth appt is Wednesday this week and I keep worrying they'll say I should be back in the office doing my normal hours when I know my arm's nowhere near up to it yet!

But Occ Health can decide that you should return to work and even overrule your own GP.

Occ Health can argue that they are better positioned to determine what work one is capable of doing rather than a GP who looks at the general picture.

ankspon

I was referred to occy health numerous times,due to my illness,they are on the side of the person referred and i found the experience very positive.They recommended numerous things to my manager to help me and they did it.

Googlewhacker

davidhwdn wrote: »

I was referred to occy health numerous times,due to my illness,they are on the side of the person referred and i found the experience very positive.They recommended numerous things to my manager to help me and they did it.

And are you back at work?

Savvy_Sue

SHIPSHAPE wrote: »

But Occ Health can decide that you should return to work and even overrule your own GP.

Occ Health can argue that they are better positioned to determine what work one is capable of doing rather than a GP who looks at the general picture.

yes, they could, but the limited amount of movement I have in my arm makes using the phone and computer painful, and some of the other bits of my job impossible. I feel my consultant and GP are on 'my side', so if Occ Health are too, that would be nice!

I'm also hoping they may be more forthcoming with timescales than anyone else has been so far!

williacg

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

yes, they could, but the limited amount of movement I have in my arm makes using the phone and computer painful, and some of the other bits of my job impossible. I feel my consultant and GP are on 'my side', so if Occ Health are too, that would be nice!

I'm also hoping they may be more forthcoming with timescales than anyone else has been so far!

Are they putting any pressure on you to return sooner than your GP has advised?