Supporting Safe Participation in Professional Training and Placement
Many professional programmes include Occupational Health assessments at various points throughout a student's journey.
For some students, receiving an Occupational Health referral can feel worrying or uncertain. You may be concerned that someone is questioning your suitability for your chosen profession or that decisions about your future are being made without your involvement.
Occupational Health is not intended to be a barrier to education.
Its purpose is to help identify how students can participate safely, effectively and successfully in professional training and placement environments.
What Is Occupational Health?
Occupational Health is a specialist professional service that advises organisations about the relationship between health, wellbeing and work or training activities.
Within professional education, Occupational Health helps universities and placement providers understand:
- how health conditions may affect specific placement activities;
- whether adjustments may be required;
- how risks can be managed safely;
- how students can be supported to participate effectively.
Occupational Health professionals are independent practitioners who provide advice based upon their professional expertise.
Why Might I Be Referred?
Students may be referred to Occupational Health:
- before starting a professional programme;
- before beginning placement;
- following a period of illness;
- after disclosure of a health condition;
- during pregnancy;
- where concerns arise regarding placement-related activities;
- when support or adjustments may be required.
Most referrals are routine and do not indicate that something is wrong.
What Happens During an Occupational Health Assessment?
The Occupational Health practitioner may discuss:
- your physical health;
- your mental health;
- any disability or long-term health condition;
- medication;
- placement requirements;
- support needs;
- adjustments that may be helpful.
The purpose is to understand how your health interacts with the specific demands of your course and placement environment.
Can Occupational Health Fail Me?
No.
Occupational Health does not award academic grades and does not determine whether you pass or fail your course.
Occupational Health provides professional advice.
The University then considers that advice alongside other relevant information when making decisions about placement readiness, support and risk management.
Does Occupational Health Decide Whether I Can Go on Placement?
Not usually.
Occupational Health may provide recommendations about:
- adjustments;
- restrictions;
- support needs;
- health-related risks.
Where concerns arise regarding placement readiness, these recommendations may be considered through the University's Fit to Train process.
The Fit to Train Panel considers Occupational Health advice alongside other relevant information and is responsible for determining appropriate outcomes.
What Information Is Shared?
Students are often concerned about confidentiality.
Occupational Health reports do not usually provide detailed medical records to the University.
Instead, reports typically focus on:
- functional impact;
- placement considerations;
- recommended adjustments;
- fitness-related advice;
- support recommendations.
Information is shared on a need-to-know basis and in accordance with data protection requirements.
What If I Have a Disability?
Having a disability does not mean you cannot undertake professional training.
The University is committed to considering:
- reasonable adjustments;
- support arrangements;
- supervision;
- alternative ways of meeting requirements where appropriate.
The Fit to Train Policy makes clear that students should not be excluded from training solely because of disability or health status and that reasonable adjustments should be explored before restrictions are considered.
What About Pregnancy?
Pregnancy does not automatically prevent participation in placement or professional training.
However, some placement environments may require additional planning or risk assessment.
Occupational Health may provide advice regarding:
- placement environments;
- health and safety considerations;
- reasonable adjustments;
- phased arrangements;
- temporary modifications where necessary.
The focus is on supporting safe participation wherever possible.
Occupational Health, Fit to Train and Fitness to Practise – What's the Difference?
Occupational Health
Provides professional health advice.
Fit to Train
Considers whether a student can safely participate in placement or professional training, taking account of support, adjustments, risk and professional requirements.
Fitness to Practise
Considers concerns about professional suitability, misconduct, impairment of professional standards or public protection.
These are different processes with different purposes.
What If I Disagree With Occupational Health Advice?
Students may sometimes disagree with recommendations or conclusions.
If this happens:
- discuss concerns with the Occupational Health practitioner;
- seek clarification regarding recommendations;
- provide additional evidence if appropriate;
- discuss concerns during any Fit to Train meeting.
The University will consider all relevant information before making decisions.
Our Approach
The University's aim is to help students participate safely and successfully in professional education.
Occupational Health is one part of that support system.
It is not designed to exclude students from opportunities.
It exists to help identify support, manage risks appropriately and ensure that students, service users, placement providers and the public are protected whilst enabling students to progress wherever it is safe and reasonable to do so.