Lead Health and Wellbeing Practitioner (Occupational Health)

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is looking for a Lead Health and Wellbeing Practitioner to join our Occupational Health team. We have a full-time (35 hours) opportunity available. The location of this role is flexible, with some travel across Scotland. Applications from individuals seeking hybrid or flexible working options will be considered.

This is a rewarding role where your clinical skills will help keep our people safe, healthy and fit for work. You will support staff across Scotland, including firefighters, control staff and support staff. You will work in collaboration as part of a skilled Health and Wellbeing team providing occupational health, fitness and wellbeing services to more than 7,500 staff across the SFRS.

About the role

You will support the Health and Wellbeing Manager to deliver a high-quality service, working alongside other lead Practitioners and colleagues to help the SFRS meet its health, safety and wellbeing goals.

Your work will include complex occupational health case management, health surveillance, wellbeing projects and advice to managers and staff. You will contribute to the development and implementation of strategies to enhance employee wellbeing. You will also provide both clinical and operational leadership, ensuring services are delivered in accordance with professional standards, legislative requirements and best practice.

Main responsibilities

• To assist the Health and Wellbeing Manager (Occupational Health/Clinical Lead) in the provision, development and implementation of a professional occupational health and wellbeing service to SFRS, carry out pre-placement health assessments and advise on fitness for role.
• To support the implementation of Health and Wellbeing strategies, policies, supporting procedures and practices to ensure that the SFRS applies best practice and complies with relevant health, safety and wellbeing legislative requirements
• Analyse health and wellbeing data to identify trends and inform service development.
• Undertake health surveillance or fitness for work programmes in line with clinical guidelines and legislation e.g. Spirometry and Audiometry
• To be responsible for the delivery of Nurse led clinics, including the triaging of cases from management referrals, dealing with complex cases and progressing onward referrals where required
• To make professional decisions on employee’s medical fitness for general and specialist duties either at recruitment, transfer or after sickness absence and advise accordingly.
• Undertake and lead on Health and Wellbeing projects and initiatives, including developing procurement specifications and business cases and managing contracts with external providers.
• To lead the activities of the Health and Wellbeing Practitioners (OH), Health and Wellbeing Technicians (OH) and administrative staff across SFRS and ensure their compliance with OH related legislation, Approved Codes of Practice and Guidance.
• To support the implementation of OH surveillance and recall systems according to relevant legislation and clinical guidelines
• To support the effective implementation of the routine medical programme for operational employees/other employee groups
• To lead projects relating to health awareness, occupational hygiene and risk management in order to promote a proactive approach to wellbeing within the working environment
• To ensure the collation/production of performance indicators/statistics/reports and associated trends in line with the requirements of the Health and Wellbeing strategy
• To liaise with SFRS managers to provide specialist advice and guidance to enable them to promote a healthy, safe and productive approach to work.

What we are looking for

We are looking for a registered nurse with post registration experience who can work well with people, use sound judgement and manage a varied workload. You will have achieved a diploma/degree in Occupational Health/Public Health with demonstrable experience at Practitioner level. You will have proven complex case management experience and experience of developing and implementing Health and Wellbeing policies and procedures. You should be confident giving advice, making decisions and working with others to improve health and wellbeing at work.

Why join us?

You will play a key role in supporting the people who help keep Scotland safe. We will support you to grow your skills, build your occupational health knowledge and make a real impact across our Service.

We welcome applications from registered nurses who hold a Diploma or Degree in Occupational Health or Public Health.

Benefits

In return you will be offered a competitive salary and benefits package including:

• 28 days annual leave, rising to 34 after 5 years’ service, plus 6 public holidays.
• An opportunity to join the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Group Life Assurance (contributory).
• Employee Discount Scheme.
• Access to a range of family friendly policies that promote a work/life balance.
• Access to health and wellbeing services, support and advice.

Full details of the role, salary and recruitment process are available in the attached recruitment information pack.

This post is subject to the provision of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exclusions and Exemptions) Scotland Order 2013. The successful candidate will be required to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme and will be required to carry out regulated work with adults.

SFRS is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all parts of the community. As a Disability Confident Employer, we will invite all applicants who meet the essential criteria for interview.

Salary on appointment will normally be at the lower salary point, with progression subject to regular review - in line with the SFRS performance appraisal arrangements.  A higher salary placing will be considered in exceptional circumstances subject to experience demonstrated.

Please note that SFRS does not accept CVs. You must submit a fully completed application form.

If you would like to apply in a different format, please email People Services at

SFRS.PODVacancies@firescotland.gov.uk.