SICKNESS ABSENCE - 23.03.2015

Fit for Work: how many referrals can you make?

Two-stage approach

In January 2015 we told you that the advice part of the government’s new Fit for Work (FfW) service is now fully operational and explained how you can contact it for free, impartial, advice on how to tackle sickness absence generally and deal with particular conditions ( yr.17, iss.3, pg.1 , see The next step ). The referral part of FfW is now being rolled out and by the end of 2015 it’s anticipated that all employers in England and Wales will be able to access it.

How does it work?

Although it’s GPs who will primarily make FfW referrals, you’ll also be able to refer an employee for a free occupational health assessment once they’ve reached four weeks’ continuous sickness absence - GPs can make a referral to FfW before this point is reached but you won’t be able to. However, there’s a catch; before you can make a referral you must have obtained the employee’s express consent but they’re not obliged to give this to you, i.e. they can withhold consent.

The assessment process

Assuming that the employee does agree to a referral, FfW should then contact them within two working days with a view to undertaking an occupational health assessment. This will usually be carried out over the phone, except where a face-to-face assessment is deemed absolutely necessary. The purpose of the assessment is to: (1)  identify the obstacles that are preventing the employee from returning to work; and (2) come up with an agreed return-to-work plan that addresses each obstacle they face.

Tip. You can be approached for your input into this process but FfW does not have to contact you. The official guidance suggests that case managers will only do so if they need a better understanding of your workplace or where the employee’s relationship with the employer is identified as being an obstacle to their return. Therefore, it remains to be seen just how much involvement employers will actually have in the referral process.

As time goes on

One question that many employers have asked us is whether there are any restrictions on how many referrals they can make to FfW.

Tip 1. There’s no limit on the number of employees you can refer to it in total - and you won’t be charged for this - but you may only refer a particular employee to FfW once in any twelve-month period.

Tip 2. An employee will be discharged from FfW two weeks after they’ve returned to work (even if that’s on a phased basis) or where FfW decides that there’s no further assistance it can offer them. So from this point you would not be able to refer the same employee to it for another year, neither can their GP. That will still be the case if the employee has a further long-term sickness absence in the same period.

Note. We’ll be looking at other aspects of FfW from the employer’s perspective in future articles.

For the previous article on Fit for Work, visit http://tipsandadvice-personnel.co.uk/download (PS 17.07.03).