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Competencies in Occupational Health/Health and Work for medical undergraduates

Area of competence	Knowledge	Skills	Attitudes
Competency 2 - Good clinical care: clinical risk management and decision making download full text for this competency
Objective - to understand and manage the legal and ethical implications of advice on suitability for work
Key Messages 1. return to work is one indicator of a successful outcome to clinical treatment 2. individuals do not need to be 100% fit to return to work 3. modified and adjusted work can help people with health problems return to work earlier
Fitness for work	Understand the process of rehabilitation in the context of return to work and the support services available Know the basis of the UK sickness certification scheme. Know when and how certificates should be issued. Understand the impact of certification on work	Access evidence based return to work times	Appreciate the benefits of employment on overall health, and the negative effects of worklessness and unsuitable jobs
Risk management	Understand that advice and treatment of common conditions may impact on fitness for work Understand the concepts of hazard and risk and of occupational and environmental risk assessment and management	Discuss the likely outcomes of any medical treatment or intervention on fitness for work	Be willing to listen to a patient's views, aspirations and fears Understand the differing needs of employer and employee
Decision making	Appreciate priorities – clinical, financial, legal and ethical Be aware of the medico-legal and ethical implications of decision making and accurate recording of data Take into account function and capability in addition to diagnosis	Analyse and synthesise the interaction between clinical and medico-legal aspects of work and health	Be willing to seek advice - and to change own views and to accept a patient can disagree with advice Recognise the need to take unpalatable or difficult decisions about 'fitness for work' issues Be willing to accept that a diagnostic label does not reflect functional capacity
Resources	ROLE PLAY 1 Needle stick injury ROLE PLAY 2 Pregnancy and laboratory work ROLE PLAY 3 ROLE PLAY 4 CASE STUDY 1 CASE STUDY 2 CASE BASED DISCUSSION 3 Train driver and PTSD Powerpoint presentations: An introduction to occupational health - part 1 An introduction to occupational health - handout Is your patient fit for work? Stakeholders and standards Effects of ill health on work History taking, Fitness for Work Links between health and work