In house occupational health services seems to be a luxury that only the large companies can afford. Added to that most companies are looking to cut costs and occupational health services are often not part of the strategic vision. We are seeing more and more larger OH service providers only getting bigger and less bespoke services. If you are one of those services under threat or you might want to just get in on the outsourcing - look at these 10 steps that can help you take control and give your career a boost too.

1. 10 Steps to
Outsourcing
Yourself in
Occupational health
http://www.workingwellsolutions.com

2. In times like this everyone in business is looking for ways of cutting costs.
If your occupational health service is in danger of being outsourced. Don’t wait for
the axe to fall. Try these simple steps for grabbing this opportunity
Don’t let others come in as contractors – head them off at the pass
You were here first and you have insider knowledge
Sell yourself and your potential – what have you got to lose
INTRO

3. STEP 1
Talk to the Company Bosses about:
• You want to help them, the workers and yourself
• No redundancies or dismissals
• Suggest a review of the current workload
• Point out the advantages
• Allude to the disadvantages Retraining new contractors
Unknown entity
Confidential transfer of medical
records
Upsetting the workforce
Someone needs to manage the
contract

4. STEP 2
Why Choose you?
Because:
• Your insider knowledge
• Your established network
• You know how the company works
• Less overhead cost as a contractor
• Skills and expertise you haven’t been able to use
• No management required

5. STEP 3Make your case by focusing on 3 categories for the new service
1. Must
Do
Required by
Law
2. Should
Do
Best practice or
evidence based
procedures
3. Could
Do
Benefits to
organisation
or individual
Cost each separately
with discounts for
combined packages eg
• Pre placements
• Health Surveillance
• Health Screening
• DSE Assessments
• Drug and Alcohol
testing
• Management
Referrals
• Absence
management
• Policy Writing

6. STEP 4
Most businesses let you use
site premises as an office

7. You Get the Job
Now What?

8. STEP 5
Implementation Plan
Set up an action plan and start planning right now:
• A start date for the new service
• Your own terms and conditions (payments, hours etc)
• Communications to staff
• New procedures
• Any changes to current practice
Set up a service level
agreement or contract with
business

9. STEP 6
Set up your own Company
Work on:
• Your CV
• Taxes
• Professional Indemnity
• Invoices
• A website
• Drafting your own policies and procedures
• Decide what type of business – how big are your plans?
Develop your own brand, logo
and business cards

10. STEP 7
Spread Your Wings
• Look for more work
• Advertise
• Publish your website
• Join academic chat rooms and web communities
Try working for an agency to get
leads in the early days

11. Don’t rest with just this one job. You never
know when it could end. Start looking around
for other contracts or work.
Develop more skills (it’s all tax deductible)
Become quality accredited with an edge over
competitors (ISO, SEQOHS)
Tell friends, colleagues and neighbours what
you are doing. Ask for support
Can you subcontract? Contact other OH
Providers
Attend national training events and
conferences
Step 8

12. Spread the Word
Social Media:
• Twitter
• Facebook pages and Groups
• Linked pages and Groups
• YouTube
• Start a Blog
Step 9

13. Are you bored with life?
If so throw yourself into
some work you believe
in with all your heart,
live for it, die for it, and
you will find happiness
you had thought could
never be yours
Dale Carnegie

14. Step 10: Get the E-book
Occupational health (OH) is the part of the health market that looks at both
health and job, firstly to protect individuals from any damage due to the work
itself and secondly to enhance and monitor personal health in the environment
where this might happen, specifically the workplace.
During my professional career I have worked in all types of occupational health
roles – from hands on treatment service, to sales and marketing for a large OH
service provider and more recently in strategic roles for a national food
company and as an OH director in the construction sector. I am also a
registered safety professional, writer and policy maker.
So why did I write this particular book? It’s because I see so many wasted
opportunities where good occupational health would have made such a
difference to a person, a manager or an organisation. I also see highly
competent health practitioners held back because of the fear of the unknown
and the thought that they would not be able to survive on their own merit.
This book gives the answers that may prompt those hovering on the brink of
starting a health business to take that next step.
Check out the price at
Amazon – click here

15. Jane Coombs
Follow me on Twitter - @WWSOccHealth