Occupational Health and Employee Assistance Program

As part of our service offering to ensure a high performing and healthy workforce, the Council offers an Occupational Health (OH) service as well as an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). It supports staff both at Bracknell Forest Council and in schools with their wellbeing and attendance at work. There is a need to re-procure a full employee health and welfare service as current arrangements finish at end of June 2021.

The OH service is a key component of our managing sickness absence policy, which keeps employee’s sickness absence to a minimum and facilitates early return to work. It also ensures that the Council meets certain statutory requirements. Services undertaken by OH include pre-employment screening, sickness referrals, ill-health retirements, guidance and advice and health surveillance, e.g. statutory hearing tests, night worker assessments as well as immunisation, disablement advice, home visits, emergency planning advice, health related risk assessments, training and advice services, and health promotions when required.

The EAP service includes one-to-one counselling and self-help guidance and support to employees.