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Advice on returning to work, health conditions and fit notes

You can get help and advice with:

• returning to work after absence
• information on health conditions
• information about fit note
• work and financial support during coronavirus (COVID-19)

The following information has been archived:

The latest from the Governments Fit to Work scheme – GPs are now able to refer patients who have been, or are likely to be, off work sick for four weeks or more. This means employers may start to receive ‘Return to Work Plans’ for their employees.

These are designed to help both employees who are off sick return to work, and employers to manage the impact of sickness absence on their business. They also provide evidence of sickness for pay purposes, replacing the need for a fit note.

Fit for Work helps you to better understand and manage sickness absence within your organisation. Expert and impartial advice is delivered by a team of occupational health professionals.

The Fit for Work referral service is rolling out across England and Wales over the coming months. A gradual roll-out will enable building of experience, learning and implementation improvements into ongoing plans. If you are in a roll out area, and you have employees who are, or are likely to be, off work for four weeks or more, you may start to receive step-by-step Return to Work Plans tailored to your employees’ needs. All employers nationally will be able to refer from autumn 2015.

Sign-up to get involved and receive updates about roll-out of the service.

Employer referrals have now gone live in Scotland. To find out more visit: www.fitforworkscotland.scot

Employers in England and Wales will be able to refer their employees to Fit for Work from the autumn.
Credits: DWP Touchbase

“How helpful this service will be is to be proven”