Occupational Health for Teachers... AIBU to be freaking out about this?

[MummySparkle]

Does anyone work in occupational health / have experience of occupational health for school staff?

I have complex mental health issues that have blown up a bit recently. I started my job at this school in January so I am right at the end of my 3 month probation. I have a meeting with the head on Thursday (I work part time, that's the next day I'm in) and I am bricking it.

I asked her PA what it was about, her reply was "your occupational health meeting". I haven't had an occy health meeting. I filled out lots of forms, and then filled out a letter they sent me asking to contact my GP for details. And then I moved house.

I can only assume that they sent me an appointment letter through the post to my old address? I have no idea what they have told the head, or what the head will do. I'm still on probation, and my position is subject to occy health coming back clear. I'm assuming it would be quite easy to dismiss me on health grounds.

I was an inpatient in psychiatric hospitals for 15months as a teenager and under section for some of it. I'm currently under the mother and infant mental health team and on a couple of different medications. I am also in the process of an adult autistic spectrum assessment.

I love my job, and I'm petrified of losing it, but this meeting sounds really ominous

[Suddengeekgirl]

I had an occ health meeting after a fall at school (wet gloor, dippy cleaners) and I was off for nearly 5 months.

Occ health were fine and just suggested to school how to phase my return and how to accommodate my limited movement until I recovered fully.

Maybe it's something like that? Or to make sure you are adequately supported so you don't become badly affected by stress like so many other teachers?

Occ health were lovely fwiw.

[Discounted]

I have had to deal with our LA Occupational Health Services in cases for 3 different staff members. In all of them the aim was to support the school and the staff member to ensure both had all the support they needed to keep/get the staff member well and the job done.

The only way it could be "ominous" is if there was a problem with the pre-employment checks that suggested you weren't fit for the role, but that should have been finalised before they allowed you to take up the position. So try not to worry and see it as a positive thing the school are doing to support you.

[monkeysox]

I'd take union rep with you just for some support

[MummySparkle]

Im not in a union at the moment. I know I should be, but its been low down my to do list. I cancelled my last membership whilst on maternity leave because I didn't want to pay for it, and I haven't set one up. I'm support staff, not actually teaching.

Unfortunately these were the pre employment checks. They've taken ages because I was only given the job the week before the xmas holidays. If I was supposed to have a meeting and then didn't attend would occy help clear me for work? Probably not.

Best case scenario, I'm still on probation til it gets sorted. Worst case scenario, bye bye job :(

[gubbinsmcgubbs]

Hi mummy,

I don't have experience in schools, but I do in local authority/nhs. You absolutely cannot be discriminated against because of mh conditions, or any other health conditions for that matter, especially since you are already employed by them. Are you managing the demands of your job? If there are no issues with your practice, then you have nothing to worry about. If you required additional support in which to do your job, then they would need to offer you this and prove it wasn't successful before even considering that your job was not secure.

Please don't worry. More people are affected by mh issues than people realise... Chances are, some of those people are your colleagues or bosses.

You are doing really well to juggle everything with a new job!

[MummySparkle]

Thank you gubbins it's really hard not to worry though!!

I love my job, and I'm bloody good at it. My immediate boss is awesome an I know she has some MH stuff too. I've only met the head once since my interview. She's very businesslike and a bit scary. I really love my job, I look forward to going to work. I really really don't want to lose it.

[clairecasta]

I had to see occupational health for a school (once) and they were lovely, and completely trying to help me. I was panicking about it for weeks in advance, and ended up being a complete mess through most of the meeting (nearly constantly in tears) because the lady was so nice to me and it was such a relief after weeks of worry! I was off school at the time for anxiety and PND. Apparently the school had a long list of questions they wanted occupational health to ask me, but the lady just said to me that I was clearly not even remotely ready to go back to work and that the school would have to wait for their answers. She refused to ask me their questions!

[wannabestressfree]

I have been twice to occ health and have found it very helpful. They just advised the school how to assist me in my role. Nothing at all to worry about :)

[gubbinsmcgubbs]

I know, anxiety has a way of taking over your thoughts! Discrimination on health grounds is illegal though, they wouldn't have a leg to stand on if they were going to penalise you for mh difficulties. Is it a la school you work for or private? Dis you have to declare your mh issues on a pre employment questionnaire?

Its well known that work is an important part of rehab, and it sounds like your managing just fine. Feet up and a .

[Curioushorse]

Join a union ASAP....just because you always should anyway. Do you know if there are any problems? Have you asked?

G'luck. Hope all goes well.

[rumbleinthrjungle]

I had some involvement due to chronic illness, which like your needs qualifies legally as a disability with protection under the law. A lot of it was about the LA covering their behinds with regard to the Equality Act, making sure I was able to do all the aspects of the role I was going back to and any adaptations I needed. Yes they specified risks in the report like my higher risk of absences, but they also insisted I had a gradual and graded return to work instead of starting full time from day 1, and set out some arrangements for support.

It feels when you get that letter like you're being judged or managed out, but the actual meetings were never like that. The LA are worried about you making a legal claim against them if they get something wrong in how they work with you. This is how they get objective advice on anything they should put in place for you, and whether they're putting you into situations or asking activities of you that should be adapted.

[littlesupersparks]

I have a history of depression and declared it when training as a teacher. I had an OH appointment. It was fine, they just wanted to talk it through.

[CharlesRyder]

I was referred to occ health (Teacher) for having a fortnight off with stress and I myself have referred several people to occ health for a variety of reasons. They have always been lovely and totally supportive. I don't think you should worry about them being involved.

[MummySparkle]

i spoke to occy health on the phone a few years ago when I started at my last school, and they seemed nice.

I'm just concerned as to why the head wants to see me about things. I'm paranoid that she won't renew my contract after probation.

I need to join a union. Which ones are good for support staff?

It's a LA school.

[temporarilyjerry]

I think Unison is the union for most support staff.

[fourcorneredcircle]

I was referred to occupational health (teacher) after a botched surgery lead to months of absence and looking back now what I can see was the resulting depression of being housebound and lonely. I was terrified I was going to loose my job! The nurse (?) I saw was nothing but professional and supportive. It was all about how the school could support me - such a positive experience. I'm sure it will be ok. As others have said, take a rep (once you've joined!) or supportive colleague/friend/relative - if only to drive :)

[MummySparkle]

I've checked my work emails today, nothing from the head's PA, despite me sending a slightly panicked email yesterday late afternoon to her. If it was nothing to worry about, surely they would have told me?

I burst into tears on my boss as I was leaving yesterday. Asked her to prepare a list of things that she wanted me to sort out on Thursday before I leave, just in case.

I can't see how this is going to be positive for me. I've had 1 day off due to MH stuff this term, and 1 day with a sickness bug. But 2 days in 12 weeks is quite a lot, so she can probably dismiss me on attendance alone

[Discounted]

Please try not to worry. The reason they're "pre-employment" checks is that they need to know before they employ you, so that they don't if there's a problem. Once you've started it's much harder for them to take any action "against" you, so the most likely action is to support you.

I'm responsible for doing the pre-employment checks in a school and we're not allowed to send them off if the staff member has already started because there's nothing we can do, so it's better not to know IYSWIM.

[MummySparkle]

Thank you for your reply Discounted

So it seems like mine have been sent off, come back as "don't employ this person because she's a raving lunatic got complex MH needs" but because I've started anyway then they can't fire me?

That's a good sign I guess. Do you know what sort of things would flag up as 'don't employ this person'?

[UpNorthAgain]

MummySparkle have you considered posting on one of the TES boards? There are lots of very knowledgeable people there, with experience of schools. Just make clear from the start that you are support staff, otherwise you will have people quoting the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document at you! I sympathise with how you are feeling, because many years ago I got a lovely job when recovering from PND and the head was a complete bitch very unsympathetic about it. The first thing the doctor at my assessment said to me was, "Well, Mrs W is making a big fuss about this, isn't she?"

[Discounted]

It's not as black and white as that Mummy. The only one I've ever had back where there were concerns was a MH issue but there was just some extra investigation and discussions with her GP & OH (which the school were never party to) and she was cleared to start.

[WasWildatHeart]

You have equality rights and it is not ok for you to be discriminated due to your health needs (if this indeed the case). Have a look at Mind's legal advice - I would ring up tomorrow and get advice on your rights so you are prepared for Thurs. Occupational Health have a role to support both your manager and you and, if you need anything, will broker 'reasonable adjustments' to support you to do your job. There is a big push to support people with mental Heath needs to get into and stay in well paid employment. It is brilliant that you have achieved all you have despite some challenges - be really proud of yourself! You sound like a great teacher too.

[MummySparkle]

I had a letter from OH asking for my consent to talk to the GP which I sent back. So they will know I have PND, and know that I am under the perinatal team and have a consultant with them. I've got history as an inpatient and involvement with MH teams over the last 10 years. Abd at the moment in not very stable, and we have social services involved in a supportive role too.

I hadn't thought of the TES pages, chances are the head is on there though. I highly doubt she is on mumsnet

I love my job, the students like me, my head of department thinks I'm fab. And it's one of the few things that keeps me going. I love being at work.

[GreenPetal94]

Good luck. You may well be fine. It depends if you are currently fit for work. I recently started a new job, my first in the NHS, and I have a pretty major mental health history including 3 admissions and 2 sections. I'm now on bipolar meds and been stable for years. After one meeting and one GP report they cleared me as fit for work. I found it all very stressful and upsetting at the time though.

Occupational health depts are not meant to share your medical issues with your employer, they are meant to make a separate decision as to whether you are fit for the job.

[MummySparkle]

I've probably missed some correspondence with them then. Good thing I checked this thread now, their lines close in 15mins so I need to call them now!