Occupational Health Nurse

We have a permanent full-time opportunity for an experienced Occupational Health practice nurse to support the delivery of Occupational Health services to the officers and staff of West Midlands Police. You will be enthusiastic, organised, a good communicator and possess a positive and flexible approach to work. This post is also suitable for nurses who want to enter into Occupational Health for the first time as full role training will be given.

At West Midlands Police we are committed to creating an environment that invests in, values, and improves the health and wellbeing of our people. The role of the Occupational Health unit is pivotal in delivering this commitment to achieve and attain a workplace culture where the wellbeing of our people is reflected in all that we do.

Key Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of a senior Occupational Health Nurse manager you will participate in a number of duties including:

• Pre-placement / pre-employment health screening – through health questionnaires and / or during face to face or telephone assessments
• Health surveillance checks for fitness for role and ongoing health surveillance checks for specific roles such as firearms officers, drivers’ medicals, etc
• Drug testing for new officer and staff in certain police staff roles
• Provide workplace immunisations
• Undertake phlebotomy and interpret blood test results
• Provide workplace health advice and health promotion where required
• Participate in providing advice to officers and / or staff following potential blood Bourne virus exposure (e.g. needle stick injury)
• Provide signposting to other primary health care services if and when appropriate
• Arrange onward referral internally to other OH specialists such as Occupational Health Nurse advisors
• From time to time, undertake the role of duty nurse
• Obtain reports on officers and / or staff from GPs and / or specialists
• Liaises with Occupational Health Nurses and doctors in relation to assessing fitness for duty, where necessary, in the case of complex health problems pertaining to fitness for duty
• Undertake role risk assessments in relation to workplace health hazards
• To administer screening procedures such as audiometry, spirometry, vision testing, drug and alcohol testing.
• Managing call and recall systems associated with health surveillance.
• To work within departmental policies and procedures
• To be responsible for maintaining NMC revalidation requirements
Participate in nursing and departmental meetings

Essential Skills:

• Qualified Registered Nurse Adult or Registered General Nurse
• Experience of working in general nursing for a minimum of two years post qualifying
• Excellent interpersonal skills and team player
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to work under pressure and ambiguity and with minimal supervision
• Enthusiastic and motivated.
• Flexibility and a “can-do” approach
• Quality of care focus.
• Excellent IT skills.
• Ability to take responsibility and show initiative.
• Keep knowledge and skills up to date.
• Willingness to work at other sites if and when required

Desirable Skills:

• Experience of working in an Occupational Health service in policing, another blue light sector or NHS is advantageous, but not essential.
• Experience of working in community health care such as GP nursing or community nursing
An Occupational Health or travel health qualification

Vetting: Successful applicants will be required to pass Recruitment Vetting and Counter Terrorism Clearance scrutiny prior to commencing their role, this will include a full background & financial disclosure as part of the vetting process.

Medical: Appointment to this role will be dependent upon successfully medical checks, which may include a drugs test and if required a fitness test.

West Midlands Police is a Disability Confident Leader - the highest level an organisation can achieve under the scheme run by the Department of Work and Pensions. As part of our commitment we operate a ‘Disability Confident Interview Scheme’ - all candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview.

It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the job. For example: in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. In these circumstances, the employer could select the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job, as they would do for non-disabled applicants.

"Diversity and Inclusion Vision: Maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness and inclusion to deliver the best service for our communities"