Occupational Health
Process Explained
Referrals, Reports & Rights. A step-by-step guide to how medical fitness is assessed and what it means for your career.
Trust Notice: Based on Police Regulations 2003 & Home Office Guidance. Independent explanatory guidance.
Executive Summary
Occupational Health is a risk management tool, not a disciplinary body.
The Essentials
- Advisory Only: OH advises on fitness; they do not make the final command decision.
- Confidentiality: Your clinical details are protected. Only the capability report is shared.
- Outcomes: Can range from full fitness to restricted duties, or referral for ill-health retirement.
What Is Occupational Health?
Occupational Health (OH) is the independent medical advisory function that assesses whether an officer is fit to perform police duties. It sits between the medical world (your GP/Specialists) and the operational world (your Force).
It Does Not
- Discipline officers
- Dismiss officers
- Make misconduct decisions
It Does
- Assess fitness for role
- Advise on adjustments
- Risk manage health issues
The Referral Process
Referral Initiated
Referral is usually triggered by HR or Line Managers due to:
Appointment Scheduled
You will attend an assessment, either in person or virtually. This is with an OH Nurse or Physician. They will review your history and current condition.
Medical Assessment
A clinical evaluation of your capacity to work. They may ask for consent to write to your GP or specialist for more information.
Report & Recommendations
A report is issued to management (and you). It answers: "Is the officer fit?" "Are adjustments needed?" "Is this permanent?".
What Does The Report Say?
The report does not normally disclose private medical details (such as "the officer discussed childhood trauma") unless absolutely necessary.
Standard Report Sections:
Fitness Outcomes
Fit For Full Duties
Officer can deploy fully. No medical barriers to operational policing.
Restricted Duties
Officer can work but with limitations (e.g. office hours, non-confrontational). Often used for phased returns or recuperation.
Temporarily Unfit
Total inability to work for a defined period (sick leave). Review expected.
Permanently Unfit
Officer is unlikely to ever regain fitness for ordinary duties. This triggers the ill-health retirement process.
OH vs SMP
Occupational Health
Advisory
Day-to-day management of health. They suggest adjustments and support. They recommend you to the SMP if permanence is suspected.
Selected Medical Practitioner
Statutory
The independent physician legally empowered to decide on Ill-Health Retirement. They determine if you meet the permanent disablement criteria.
Retirement Forecast
If OH has mentioned "permanent unfitness", you should check your pension values immediately.
Police Pension Calculator →Mental Health
OH frequently handles cases of Stress, PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression.
If your condition is caused by trauma on duty, OH connects with the Injury Award process. They may recommend:
- Trauma Therapy (CBT/EMDR)
- Phased Return Plans
- Redeployment
- TRiM Referral
Frequently Asked Questions
Can occupational health dismiss you?
No. Occupational Health is an advisory body. They provide medical opinion to the force command. Decisions on dismissal (via capability) or retirement are made by the force, although they rely heavily on OH evidence.
What happens if OH says I’m permanently unfit?
If OH advises that permanent unfitness is likely, the force will usually refer you to a Selected Medical Practitioner (SMP) for a statutory assessment for ill-health retirement. This is the formal route to leaving the service with a medical pension.
Can I refuse occupational health?
While you cannot be physically forced to attend, refusing a lawful order to attend a medical appointment can be treated as a disciplinary matter. Furthermore, if you refuse, management can make decisions about your future based on the limited information they have, which may be detrimental to you.
Does OH affect misconduct?
OH can provide evidence of mitigation (e.g., if a medical condition contributed to behavior). However, a medical condition does not automatically stop misconduct proceedings. The two processes often run in parallel.
How confidential is the process?
OH is bound by medical confidentiality. They do not release your full medical notes to the force without your consent. They produce a management report that answers specific questions about your fitness and capabilities, but usually excludes detailed clinical diagnoses unless relevant and consented to.