The Fit for Work assessment scheme is to end in the spring following low referral rates the Government has announced.
The Fit for Work assessment scheme was introduced in 2014 was set up to help employers manage sickness in the workplace and provided free access to an occupational health professionals for people who are off work for four weeks or more. Once an employee reached, or was expected to reach, four weeks of sickness absence they could be referred to Fit for Work by their GP or their employer.
A recent survey by GP magazine found that 65% of GP’s had not referred a single patient to the Fit for Work assessment scheme and a lack of publicity was been blamed for his. Another survey found that only 21 of HR professionals had used the Fit for Work assessment scheme.
The Government has announced that no new referrals will be accepted after the 15th December 2017 but employers, employees and GP’s would be able continue to use the Fit for Work assessment scheme helpline and website for workplace health advice and support on sickness absence until the 31st March 2018 after which time the scheme would cease completely.
Over the next 10 years the Government has announced ambitious plans to get one million more disabled people into work. A report, Improving Lives: the future of work, health and disability, sets out how Government will work with employers, charities, healthcare providers and local authorities to break down employment barriers for disabled people and people with health conditions. The Government has also said that all 40 recommendations of the recent Stevenson/Farmer review of mental health and employers will be progressed, including reform of statutory sick pay and the introduction of a framework for large employers to voluntarily report on mental health and disability within their organisations.
More than 5,000 companies have now signed up to the Disability Confident scheme to promote disability inclusion.
For more information, please contact us on 0800 024 1976 or via our online form and a member of our Employment Law team will be happy to help.