Occupational Health telephone apt

[BG2015]

I've dealt with OH a few times now and I know they can be very supportive and helpful.

I'm a primary school teacher. I've been teaching for 28 years, 21 at my current school. I'm 54.

I'm currently off sick after having a severe asthma attack and chest infection. I have developed a condition called severe eosinophilic asthma as a result of treatment from breast cancer in 2021. I have had a great deal of time off since my return to work in April 2022 with my asthma.

I've struggled a great deal,to do my job and have had my role changed significantly to benefit the school & children and also myself.

I've now dropped a day so am only working 4 days a week.

My headteacher has asked the OH assessor if I should be considered for ill health retirement. This is something that I have discussed with my HT but it really is the last resort. I'm hoping that the assessor can answer that question too, but I do believe any application for IHR would be refused as I still have treatment that is planned for the new year via my respiratory team.

Can my HT actually make me leave?

They cannot force you to apply for IHR, but to be fair it is entirely normal and appropriate to ask the question of OH. They are asking OH to advise them as to the options available. However, you really need to consdier this as an option is it were available. That is not saying you should do it. But they can terminate your contract at some point if you are having as much time off sick as you indicate here. So IHR is a far better option than simply being dismissed on capability grounds. You need to understand your options just as much as the HT needs to, so I would suggest that you discuss your feelings with OH. They will listen to why you don't want to consider it, and may incorporate that as part of their assessment. But they will still advise whether or not you might qualify, and you might consider keeping an open mind?

Thanks for your reply.

Part of me does want to retire but when you've worked all your life it's a very big step. I'm only 54.

There are 2 tiers to teachers IHR - one means you can't work at all at anything, the other means you can work but not in teaching. But, that's decided by the medics and out of my hands.