Barriers to returning to work after depression & psychosis

[forsummer]

Are there any occupational health workers on here who could advise? Or anyone been through similar?
Husband has been off work for approaching 6 months now. Diagnosed with psychotic depression. He is stable and recovered. He's ready to return to work.
He has a senior management role. After speaking to HR, his direct manager & now an external occupational health doctor it seems that they don't want him to go into work in person until they have reassurance from someone involved in his care and they also want him to be part way through CBT therapy. There are huge waiting lists for this and he hasn't even started it yet.
Occupational health have said this is because they need to consider the safety of the other staff, and also make sure that he is actually OK to do his job. They want him to work from home on light duties & have no contact with any other staff. Usually he's speaking on the phone to staff all day.
Now I completely understand why they feel this way but can they legally stop him from going in? Or from speaking to people?
On top of this is the financial worry. He's had 3 months full pay, 3 months half pay and now just SSP. We cannot manage any longer without his full wage.

Sorry forgot to include treatment!
He takes sertraline and an anti psychotic medication aripriprizole.
He is under the care of the early intervention team. We have a home visit from his mental health nurse once a week and he sees the psychiatrist once a month. They are both happy that he is stable and said he's fine to return to work. So from the medical side he has permission and also a fit to work note from the gp.

What has his GP said in his sick note?

When my DH had time off for mental health he was put on a phased return initially. In fact seeing colleagues again in person was part of his treatment; however, he also had therapist support in days not working to help process the return to work.

Does he have private medical insurance through work or other mental health provision for the CBT?

Has he been given a fit note certifying him fit to work?
CBT isn’t a treatment for psychosis

Because he's had psychosis he is able to access an entire team of people who aid his recovery from psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurses, social workers, etc. They are and have been so wonderful in his recovery and supported us. His work have been kept updated throughout

Yes he has a fit note. The occupational health has said CBT is required to give him an "armour for returning to work" whatever that means.
Our actual mental health team said it was optional. He chose to do it as he thought it may help with the depression /anxiety side of things, but not even been seen at all yet

I'm afraid that whilst sympathetic, I can see their point of view. He's returning to work because he needs the money. Or that's how you are presenting it, and I'm due that's hour they are perceiving it too. That doesn't suggest "recovered", it suggests "need the money". From their point of view then, he hasn't completed treatment, he had six months with no work pressures, and gets no evidence in front of them that they can protect him or others. That is what they are looking for - evidence that his return is based on being recovered, not on desperation for money where the stain of his work could cause further problems.

His best position is to co-operate. They aren't blocking his return. They are managing it. That is the reasonable and responsible thing to do.

I think his work are on dodgy ground tbh if he has paperwork certifying he’s fit for all work. To count as a disability the condition has to have been there or likely to be there for more than a year so not totally clear cut in his case.
the light duties should be on his full wage. It might be best to compromise with a plan as phased return would be normal after 6 months off. If it’s on his full wage would he be amenable to coming to an agreement over a few weeks?

It’s not up to a non specialist occupational health dr or service to dictate this to someone under a mental health team. CBT is not mainstay for psychosis. It’s first line for affective disorders

I'd have a chat to a solicitor

I've contacted the mental health nurse again today and she says she has no idea as to how long the wait will be for the CBT.

I completely agree with what everyone is saying here. I totally understand that his employers need to know all is OK. And also that we need the money. Just don't know what else we can do now. Of course he will cooperate with whatever they ask him to do, but I mainly wanted to know if it was legal that he isn't allowed into work.
The thing is, he didn't even need to tell them his diagnosis and he was actually advised not to by the nurse because of judgement. He wanted to be open and honest with his employers which he has been all through

Occupational health, occupational therapists are a totally different thing!

You’d need to see a solicitor. If he’d had the diagnosis over a year it would be easier as he could claim disability discrimination. Incidentally, that’s a reason that diagnosis should be declared as if he didn’t he’d have no legal protection. Possibly his team could argue the condition is likely to be long term and thus a disability but that may be quite a costly process

@Wellwell82 he had no issues at work prior as he was mostly working from home. The colleagues were shocked.
Pyschosis doesn't need to be treated with CBT. He's chosen to do it.
When you have involvement of the early intervention team it lasts for 3 years. Over time, frequency of visits etc reduce. They are very happy with him

I think you could easily argue a psychiatrist opinion is far superior. There are also NICE guidelines which list many different options including medication only. CBT is not effective for everyone, nor is it appropriate in some cases. Insisting on one specific treatment is inappropriate and makes the OH Dr appear to not be very knowledgeable in this particular area