Working Health Services Scotland
If you or your employees have a health condition impacting work, they could benefit from Working Health Services Scotland (WHSS).
WHSS provides free and confidential advice and health support for the self-employed and people working in companies with fewer than 250 employees.
About WHSS
The service aims to help:
- employees manage their condition and remain at work
- a return to work if a short period of sickness absence occurs
- prevent them from having further periods of sickness
Where necessary, the programme can provide quick access to:
- counselling
- physiotherapy
- occupational therapy.
Who it helps
WHSS is for employees who can refer themselves or, with consent, be referred by you or other parties. To be eligible for this service, your employee must be:
- self-employed, at work or absent from work for any length of time
- employed by a company of 250 employees or less, and have been at work or absent for any length of time
How it helps
Employees will be assigned a case manager to help them through the process. A case manager will:
- complete a comprehensive assessment
- develop an action plan
- co-ordinate treatment
- liaise with GPs, if required, and other relevant professionals
- liaise with employers where required
The case manager may also provide signposting to services for help and advice on issues such as:
- housing
- employment
- debt management
All treatments and interventions are delivered in local community venues whenever possible.
Contact
WHSS has appointments from 8 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday. You can refer yourself or be referred, and book an appointment using the WHSS website.
Longer-term absences
If you or an employee has been, or is likely to be, absent for 4 weeks or longer, information for supporting a return-to-work is available.
Role of the employer
As an employer, you have an important role to play in supporting your workers to:
- remain in work when experiencing ill health
- encourage them to return to work as soon as possible after a period of absence
WHSS is a free and confidential service for your member of staff. We encourage you and your workers to engage in open and honest discussions about what would help them remain in or return to work before you refer them to WHSS.
Staff with health conditions can explain:
- how their condition impacts their work
- what would help them to continue to work? Some temporary or permanent adjustments to their work activities or routine may be enough to keep staff in employment