This month sees the launch of the first Occupational Health Awards, which will celebrate the achievements of individuals and teams making a difference in improving employee health.
If you can demonstrate you have made an intervention that has boosted the quality of workplace health services, do not miss this opportunity to see your efforts rewarded.
The awards are open to teams and individuals from both public and private sector organisations of all sizes in the UK.
As the judges are selected by Occupational Health, the leading journal for all those involved in OH, they will be fully independent and fair.
Entries will be accepted from OH practitioners, HR managers, wellbeing managers, or anyone else who can demonstrate their intervention has improved the health of employees in their organisation. External OH providers may enter jointly with their clients or support a client’s entry.
The inaugural awards demonstrate Occupational Health’s commitment to supporting good practice in OH leadership, quality, return on investment and innovation. The journal has joined forces with six sponsors who share the objective of raising awareness of good practice in OH.
Many believe that there has never been a better time for the OH profession, with the government’s Health, Work and Wellbeing strategy directing the focus to the health of working-age people, and extending good quality OH to more staff. These awards support the profession in making this ambitious agenda a reality.
If you or your team are setting standards in any of the six awards categories, complete the simple entry form and provide a brief submission explaining what you did and why before the closing date of 29 June.
Once we have received all the entries, a neutral judge, who is well-respected in the OH field, will decide on a shortlist of three teams or individuals.
Those shortlisted will be showcased in an issue of Occupational Health in the autumn, and invited to a prestigious awards lunch at the Riverbank Park Plaza Hotel in London on 4 December 2007, where the winner of each category and an overall winner will be announced.
For more information on how to enter call 020 8652 3304, or download an entry form at www.occupationalhealthawards.com
Awards categories
- The Atos Origin Award for Best Occupational Health Intervention
- Capita Health Solutions Award for Absence Management
- The Kays Medical Award for Innovation in Occupational Health
- The National Britannia Award for Health Promotion and Wellbeing
- The Specsavers Award Recognising Achievement in Occupational Health
- The XpertHR Award for Vocational Rehabilitation
This month’s award categories
XpertHR Award for Vocational Rehabilitation
This award will recognise organisations that can show success in getting staff to return to work after sickness absence and keeping them there. Entrants should show the benefits of their rehabilitation schemes both for the employee and for the employer. Teams or individuals must be able to show they have taken a leading role in early intervention and case management, and demonstrate the results.
Category sponsor XpertHR, part of the XpertHR Group, brings together the expertise of IRS, Butterworths Tolley, Personnel Today and a dedicated team of experts to meet the information needs of the HR professional. XpertHR provides comprehensive and up-to-date coverage on all the key issues: employment law, legal advice, surveys and statistics, named best practice case-studies, news and more.
Atos Origin Award for Best OH Intervention
The judge in this category will be looking for teams or individuals who have shown initiative in introducing a particular intervention within their organisation, and are able to show its benefits for staff and the employer. Entrants must explain the challenge faced before the intervention, how the intervention was introduced, and how stakeholders were involved, and the benefits produced. Any area of occupational health and safety is eligible, provided the entrant can show they have made a difference for the better in the workplace.
Category sponsor Atos Origin Medical Services is a leading provider of occupational health, primary care, capability assessment and diagnostic services. It makes a positive difference to the health and wellbeing of some of the UK’s largest organisations, delivering services that benefit more than two million people a year. Its OH, counselling and screening services enable employers to proactively promote employee wellbeing, reducing sickness absence and ensuring maximum workforce productivity.
Next month’s featured categories are:
- Capita Health Solutions Award for Absence Management
- Kays Medical Award for Innovation in OH
Entry information
To enter, just fill in the short entry form and provide a description of what you have achieved, in 250-1,000 words.
Entry details
You need to explain what you did and why, and the benefits for the employees and the organisation. The following questions are for guidance only, but may help you structure your entry:
- What was the occupational health challenge you faced?
- What interventions or other actions did you take in response to this challenge?
- How did you or your team take a leadership role?
- How did you get commitment from managers?
- How did you require the time and resources needed?
- How did you work effectively with other professionals?
- What benefits can you demonstrate for employees and for the organisation?
- What do you think was exceptional and/or innovative about your achievement?
Assessment process
The judges will assess your entry against five basic criteria, which are:
- Innovation
- Teamwork (including communication with parties outside the department)
- Leadership
- Effective use of resources
- Impact on employees and the business/organisation
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Closing date for entries is 29 June 2007
For more information on how to enter call 020 8652 3304, or download an entry form at www.occupationalhealthawards.com
