POSITION DETAILS

Human Resources
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £57,422 to £66,537 with potential progression once in post to £86,760
Grade: 9
Full Time, Permanent
Closing date: 26th May 2025

EXPERIENCE

Essential:

• Ability to prioritise, and to work under pressure to meet a range of diverse deadlines.
• Must have extensive experience in occupational health practice, to include health surveillance and immunisation.
• Good understanding of staff support.

Desirable:

• Experience of working in higher education or in the Public Sector.
• Experience of managing an occupational health service.
• Experience in counselling or other support services.

ROLE SUMMARY

The post holder will lead the service provision of the Occupational Health Service and has responsibility for the external OH Physician and Employee Assistance Programme contracts. The post holder reports to the Director of Employee Equality, Inclusion and Wellbeing. The post holder is a member of the management team for the EDI and Wellbeing Team.
The post holder provides leadership to and management of the Occupational Health Service and works closely with the wider EDI team on cross functional projects across wellbeing. The post holder is responsible for developing and co-ordinating the services to ensure a broad spectrum of support for staff that meets their particular needs, supports managers and the institution and links to other service providers.
The post holder is responsible with the EDI and Wellbeing Director for developing and where appropriate implementing University strategy and policy. This post is the senior adviser to the University in this area and provides specialist advice and represents Wellbeing in policy review and formulation from other parts of HR and the University.

MAIN DUTIES

• Responsibility for developing and co-ordinating the services to ensure a broad and inclusive spectrum of support for staff that meets their particular needs, supports managers and the institution and links to other service providers.
• To take responsibility for the line management of the OH team including, guiding, coaching and advising where necessary. Dealing with any performance issues and supporting the team to ensure objectives are met.
• To deputise for the EDI & Wellbeing Director, as agreed and where appropriate.
• The post holder is the lead clinician in the Occupational Health Service.
• Designing, delivering and advising on training as pertinent to Occupational Health and Wellbeing.
• Be responsible for professional standards in the service including confidentiality; ensuring that protocols and procedures relating to clinical work are developed and maintained, and that robust administrative processes are in place to ensure that the service fully complies with published standards of good professional practice, Data Protection legislation, Health and Safety legislation, etc.
• This role includes a clinical caseload in addition to Occupational Health Practitioner activities, in particular includes assessing and advising on the more complex cases such as long-term or recurrent short-term sickness absence, or disability and other health-related issues taking the lead role in case conferences.
• Provide comprehensive, specialist advice on the safe and effective management of occupational health issues to human resources, line managers and staff.
• Acting as the main professional point of reference for colleagues throughout the University.
• Developing with others the Wellbeing Strategy and approach at the University and policy relevant to Wellbeing Services.
• Reporting to UHSEG, HRSLT, UEB and College Boards as required.
• Active participation in HE-wide projects representing the University and other as appropriate.
• Acting as Secretary to the Occupational Health Advisory Group and a member of Hazardous Substances Advisory Group and Biological Hazards Advisory Group, sub-committees of Environment, University Health and Safety Executive Group (UHSEG).
• Co-ordinating the team’s contributions to University-wide policy by providing specialist occupational health advice on aspects of First Aid, all aspects of pre-enrolment /placement health screening and immunisation policy.
• To contribute to the leadership and ongoing development of Occupational Health & Wellbeing in the context of HR by active participation and collaboration with senior colleagues in the EDI and Wellbeing team and more broadly in HR. This will include discussion and development of strategy, policy and plans.
• Representing the teams and Director on University committees and other meetings.
• Responding to higher education initiatives, drafting codes of practice, proactively responding to changes in legislation and guidance or initiative.