Sarsen Health | Occupational Health Specialists

Mental health in the workplace

The cost to business of sickness absence due to mental health problems is estimated to be around £7.9 billion in the United Kingdom.

The government has committed to trying to improve mental health among the working population and promised to continue the debate with those calling for changes to Health and Safety legislation to cover mental health at work as well as the current duty to protect physical health. Employers can take steps to encourage an open culture that enables those with mental health problems to talk about them. A range of measures can help build resilience, which could help prevent work related stress and anxiety. Training Managers to be able to spot signs of a mental health problem is key to ensuring an early intervention and support.

Mental Health First Aid England can provide training on how to support those with mental health problems in the workplace.

Signs of a mental health problem – key questions for management

Is the employee:

Arriving late or leaving early?
Are they missing deadlines?
Are they in work but not really getting much done?
Has the quality of their work deteriorated?
Are they losing their sense of humour?
Are they withdrawn? Or easily irritated?
Do they become tearful?
Do they seem themselves?

What should an employer do?

The short answer is act sooner rather than later. Providing support for an employee who is clearly struggling to cope whether the issue is work related or a reactive situation or a long term mental health illness can prevent them deteriorating or taking long term sick leave.

Advice from an Occupational Health Specialist…….

This is where advice from an Occupational Health Specialist is invaluable. The majority of management referrals we receive are for employees with a mental health problem. The health assessment process will help identify the onset of symptoms, the background and past history of illness- including influencing factors and triggers, current treatment and prognosis.

We will provide a written report within two days containing clear advice assisting the manager by providing:

An opinion on fitness to work and rehabilitation
A plan advising on the provisions of Equality Act where reasonable adjustments may need to be considered
Identification of key triggers and influencing factors
Interpretation of medical information
Support for the employee

We can provide ad hoc services from our Woking offices and offer:

Face to face appointments usually within two days of receiving the referral at our Woking offices with a qualified and experienced Occupational Health professional
An appointment arranged at your offices
A telephone consultation where appropriate

What our clients say

We benefited from their advice in understanding the issues …

“We really did not know where to get help with an employee who felt stressed and went off sick. Sarsen Health helped us manage the process and we benefited from their advice in understanding the issues.”

Finance Director, Investment Fund

Sarsen Health helped us with clear advice …

“Sarsen Health helped us with clear advice on rehabilitation for a valued member of staff.”

Managing Director, SME

Thanks for your fast response …

“Thanks for your fast response and help with safety critical worker assessments for my team”

Director, SME

Good robust, defendable advice …

“We get good robust, defendable advice from Sarsen Health.”

HR Manager, Nationwide Construction Company

A pleasure to work with …

“The service received is always professional and on time, this allows me to meet objectives for our business. Sarsen Health are a pleasure to work with!”

HR Director, Concrete Repairing Company

Excellent, high quality occupational health services …

“Employing people can be complicated at times, not least when there may be issues around absenteeism and health or capability. The circumstances and action needed are not always clear and when this is the situation, I do not hesitate to recommend Sarsen Health. Sarsen Health provide excellent, high quality occupational health services. Their approach is to work closely with the business in order to understand the issues, whist supporting the employee and providing advice that is clear and robust.”

Martine Robins, HR Department

Above and beyond …

“We have worked with Sarsen Health for 10 years now and they provide an excellent service that meets our needs and requirements. They always go above and beyond their contracted services and are a major part of our team. I would not consider employing anyone else to carry out our occupational health Services.”

Sharon O’Sullivan HR Executive

Invaluable support for our employees …

“Sarsen Health consistently react promptly to requests made and are available to discuss any concerns almost 24/7, always going ‘the extra mile. They have sensitively supported at least 2 employees recently; with their help, one has completely stopping smoking after a lifetime; and they have helped another through a cancer scare, getting them back into work. Their advice given has been invaluable.”

Site Manager

100% confidence in Sarsen …

“By providing the service you do for Centura Group, my decision to use Sarsen Health as our occupational health providers has been 100% confirmed. You are fully up to date with the relevant legislation and your team has added value to the health and wellbeing of our staff over the past 10 years. Let’s hope there are many more years of us working together as a team.”

HR Manager, Centura Group

We really enjoy working with you

“Very happy with the service. It’s good to work with someone, consistently, so that you understand the business etc. Appointments are booked in a timely way and the employees who have seen you, have been positive. It is always good to speak to you directly if there are any questions.

The overall service is professional and we really enjoy working with you.”

HR Manager

Sarsen Health show genuine care and commitment

“Sarsen Health have provided our occupational health service for a number of years and have developed a long-established collaborative partnership.

The Sarsen Health Team are fully trusted by our workforce. They have developed employee’s understanding of workplace related ill health and the reasons for conducting occupational health surveillance. Sarsen Health show genuine care and commitment to individuals. This is valued by our employees and has had a positive impact on the development of our safety culture.

Sarsen Health provide a superb professional service which gives us confidence that we are looking after our employees whilst satisfying best practice and legal requirements.

It is a pleasure to work with and to develop our corporate knowledge with Sarsen Health.”

Safety and Health Practitioner, Construction Company

We value their advice and support

We continue to work with Sarsen Health as not only do we value their advice and support, we know that our employees do too!

HR Director, Surrey Based Mental Health Charity

Helpful, knowledgeable and professional

Sarsen Health – We urgently needed some advice on health surveillance – they were just great! Just what we needed, helpful, knowledgeable and professional.

Director - Joinery and Carpentry Company - Surrey

Always approachable

Always approachable – our HR Team feel that they can call up and have a chat anytime on Occupational Health issues – it’s a team spirit.

HR Business Partner - IT Distribution company Woking

Quick and efficient

Organised Safety Critical Worker health assessments for us really quickly and efficiently – thank you

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS