Programme
- Day One
-
Tuesday 24 March 2026
Module 1: The role of OH – context, challenges & objectives
Dr Paul Litchfield, Corporate Medical Adviser
This module looks at the changing role of OH in organisations today and the impact of the political, social, healthcare and business environment in which it is being delivered. It is designed to enable delegates to: set clear objectives, standards and performance indicators for an OH service; to monitor and audit its effectiveness to ensure it meets the needs of the organisation; and to address challenges which arise in the course of service delivery.
The module will cover:
- The current context of OH delivery
- Different models of service delivery
- The contribution OH can make and objectives for OH services
- The importance of standards, performance and audit in OH
- Ethics and OH delivery • Balancing professional and commercial priorities
At the end of this module, delegates will have the ability to:
- Evaluate the OH requirements of a business and understand the various models of OH service delivery
- Understand the importance of standards, performance and audit in OH
- Manage the potential tension between business-driven demands, professional requirements and ethical considerations
Module 2: Managing occupational health staff
Jo Berriman, Health Management ConsultantThis module will enable delegates to identify the skills necessary for their own organisation’s needs and to develop these in line with the requirements of the professional bodies. They will learn about the key techniques for effective staff management, teamwork, and the implications of managing a specialist department and the resulting needs for support, mentoring and professional networking.
The module will cover:
- Particular challenges for an OH manager
- Recruitment
- Building a team
- Developing and maintaining skills
- Managing underperformance
- Effective communication styles
- Developing excellence and vision
At the end of this module, delegates will have the ability to:
- Understand the particular challenges facing OH managers and implement effective solutions
- Understand the range of competencies needed to deliver an effective OH service
- Manage performance and development of OH staff
- Day Two
-
Wednesday 25 March 2026
Module 3: Resourcing & budget management
John Humphrey, Management Consultant
This module is designed to enable delegates to understand the financial pressures within which the OH function operates and to prepare and justify budget proposals. They will be able to present the financial costs and benefits associated with occupational health delivery including, if appropriate, the direct generation of revenue. They will be able to monitor performance against budgets and take action to correct budget anomalies.
The module will cover:
- Revenue and capital budgets
- Demonstrating value and cost-benefit
- The profit and loss statement
- Managing financial risk
- Income generation
- Cost-effectiveness of alternative interventions
At the end of this module, delegates will have the ability to:
- Construct a profit and loss statement and budget for an OH function
- Demonstrate the impact of employee health on the performance of an organisation and compare the effects of different interventions
- Present the case for an OH service against competing service providers or alternative demands for resource
Module 4: Problem solving & influencing skills
Carolyn Graham, ConsultantThis module will equip delegates with a range of communication and problem solving skills with numerous applications in the workplace. Delegates will learn how to use persuading and influencing skills to generate buy in. They will learn the ‘interest’ based approach to problem solving and understand how to apply the different stages of interest based negotiation strategy to generate sustainable and win/win outcomes.
The module will cover:
- Influencing others
- Reconciling differences of opinion
- Generating consensus
- Identifying the real problem and delivering sustainable solutions
At the end of this module, delegates will have the ability to:
- Sell their services and present their ideas persuasively
- Apply principled negotiation techniques to generate successful and sustainable outcomes
- Day Three
-
Thursday 26 March 2026
Module 5: Legal framework
Diana Kloss, BarristerThis module enables delegates to understand the statutory and common law framework within which the OH function operates, and the requirements and constraints of their own employment contracts, including the implications for professional confidentiality and maintenance of records. They will be updated on the OH implications of recent case law*.
The module will cover:
- Control of sickness absence
- Confidentiality
- Duty of care
- Case law update
- Data protection and the GDPR
- Outline of statutory and common law framework
At the end of this module, delegates will have the ability to:
- Understand the legal duties of OH practitioners
- Provide general advice to an employer about employment law relating to sickness absence, ill-health dismissal and disability discrimination
- Understand how the courts and tribunals work
* This session covers UK law, and in particular, the law of England and Wales
Module 6: Marketing OH and embracing technology & innovation
Dr Steve Boorman, EmpactisThis module is divided into two parts. Part 1 examines planned and structured communications in marketing OH to relevant stakeholders. Part 2 looks at understanding and benefiting from technology and innovation, so that your OH service is prepared for the future – and the present!
The module will cover:
- Marketing and communication
Marketing the service • Planning communications • Involvement of
stakeholders • Impact of organisational politics - Technology and innovation
• Changing technology landscape • Opportunities – AI and more!
• Data capabilities • Learning from elsewhere • Risks and rewards
At the end of this module, delegates will have the ability to:
- Understand communication channels and identify the best means of promoting OH services
- Embrace technology and innovation in OH
Benefits of attending
How will gaining this qualification benefit you and your organisation?
This certificate provides you with the essential management tools to deliver a successful OH service – from the effective management of staff and programmes to managing departmental budgets – with a clear understanding of corporate and financial objectives, the organisation’s legal responsibilities and the needs of different stakeholders.
The course equips you with the skills to create an OH service that meets the needs of your employer and where departmental performance is constantly monitored and improved.
The certificate enables OH professionals to operate confidently within the workplace, whether public or private sector, and to present the case for OH to different stakeholders. Occupational health professionals attending this course will come away with the knowledge to manage their department with confidence, financial acumen, legal awareness and the wider management skills to develop their department’s work.
Who is the course designed for?
The course is designed for occupational physicians, occupational health nurses, case managers, health and safety professionals, human resources managers and other professionals involved in the delivery and management of occupational health services.
For any delegates from overseas, please note that the legal teaching in the course is based on the law in England and Wales.
Course format and timings
The course is delivered as a virtual course on Zoom over three full days and comprises six half-day modules. Each day runs from 9.00am – 5.15pm.
If you have any problems with accessing Zoom, we can arrange rental of laptop/iPad for a small additional fee.
Assessment and certification
To qualify for the Certificate in Managing Occupational Health Services, students must attend the full course. During the course, multiple choice questions will be set to help students monitor their own progress. Following the course, students undertake a 3,000-word written assignment, demonstrating their ability to apply the theory and skills behind one of the modules covered in the course. The certificate will be awarded to students on the satisfactory completion of the written assignment. Marking will be moderated by Professor John Harrison.
CPD
This course provides 19.5 hours of CPD for self-certification schemes. Undertaking the assignment offers additional opportunities for CPD.
Our expert tutor team
John Humphrey – course chair and tutor
John is a management consultant specialising in occupational health and employee wellbeing. John founded BMI Occupational Health and was the founding managing director of Minerva Health Management. He advises many leading organisations in the public and private sectors on workplace health interventions and strategic planning.
Dr Paul Litchfield CBE
Paul has practised occupational medicine in the UK at senior level for many years and has led international initiatives for the EU, WHO, ILO and the World Economic Forum. He was chair of the What Works Centre for Wellbeing. He is currently independent chief medical adviser to ITV and Compass Group and sits on a number of national bodies framing public policy for health in the workplace.
Jo Berriman
Jo is an OH practitioner and coaching psychologist. Jo has worked as a health management consultant for a large professional services company in the UK since 2010, and was previously head of OH at Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd.
Carolyn Graham
Carolyn is an experienced mediator, facilitator, trainer and coach who specialises in mediating in employment and workplace disputes. She is a regular conference speaker and has been involved with the Certificate in Managing OH Services course for the past few years.
Professor Diana Kloss MBE
Diana is a barrister, former employment judge and honorary senior lecturer in OH Law at the University of Manchester. She is an honorary fellow of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine and ACAS arbitrator. Diana is honorary president of the Council for Work and Health and in 2011 became a visiting professor at London South Bank University.
Dr Steve Boorman CBE
Steve is an independent occupational health specialist. He has run four national OH services and was the former chief medical officer at the Royal Mail (21 years), where he managed one of the first outsourced OH functions. In 2009, he led the NHS Health
and Wellbeing Review – the Boorman Review – and was on the NHS Improvement HWB Advisory Board.
About Brunel University London
This qualification is organised by The At Work Partnership with the support of Brunel University London.
Brunel University London’s College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences runs the NMC accredited Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) for entry on Part 3 of the NMC register for three pathways namely OH, Health Visiting and School Nursing. Part 3 registration is sought by many OH employers. The College prides itself on delivering high quality professional and public health education in line with the University’s mission “to bring benefit to society through excellence in education, research and knowledge transfer”. Find out more about Brunel Univeristy London here: PGDip and MSc
