Appendix 1: Rehabilitation programmes

  • Where, following a period of ill-health/sickness absence, the employee’s health does not allow a return to work to the full duties of the post but a full recovery is expected within one year, the Occupational Health Advisor, Line Manager and Link HR Manager, in consultation with the employee, should consider the possibility of arranging a rehabilitation programme.

    The aim of the programme would be to:

    • provide an opportunity for the employee to be gradually reintroduced to the workplace at an earlier stage, in a reduced capacity
    • provide an opportunity to assess capability without the pressures of a return to work to full duties
    • provide cost effective assistance to departments that may be employing temporary staff to cover long term sickness absence

    Options may include:

    • normal work at reduced hours
    • job modification
    • special adjustments/adaptive technologies
    • retraining
    • temporary redeployment within the Faculty/Directorate or University

    Principles

    • Rehabilitation programmes should normally last for a pre-defined period, but may be extended in exceptional cases by the Director of Human Resources
    • The programme must be agreed by the employee and Line Manager, in consultation with the Link HR Manager and Occupational Health Advisor
    • The programme will be reviewed regularly by the Line Manager and Occupational Health Advisor and adjustments made if necessary
    • When the period of rehabilitation ends the employee will be expected to return to work in their normal employment capacity. Where this is not possible the Line Manager , Link HR Manager and Occupational Health Advisor will jointly investigate alternatives, including:
      • permanent redeployment
      • early retirement on grounds of ill-health
      • dismissal on the grounds of medical incapability under the capability procedure
      • negotiated resignation

    Appendix 1: Rehabilitation programmes

    Appendix 2: Redeployment

    Appendix 3: Ill Health Early Retirement

    Appendix 4: Telephoning staff off sick and return to work meetings

    Self certificate (Word doc 176KB)

    Updated May 2011