Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Occupational Health Nurse Specialist

The closing date is 20 October 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arose to join the Occupational Health and Wellbeing team Nursing team.

The post holder will work within the Occupational Health and Wellbeing Team, providing direct support to and working in collaboration with its assosciated functions to protect, promote and maintain the wellbeing of Gateshead Group Colleagues.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a qualified nurse with extensive experience, who are a Specialist Practitioner in Occupational Health, to certificate, diploma, or degree level, or willing to work towards this, or demonstration of equivalent skills and knowledge.

Significant experience in Clinical History taking, excellent communication skills, and ideally with Occupational Health experience

Common duties associated with this role may include Work Health Assessments, Management Referral appointments, which require excellent clinical history taking, Health Surveillance, and risk assessment. In addition, the Occupational Health remit includes prevention of infection, vaccination programmes, blood borne virus screening and Management of Sharps injuries. Opportunities to develop wider Occupational Health Skills, with training and support.

About us

Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.

Our values should be the 'golden thread' which runs through everything we do - they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronymICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.

We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women's Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.

Details

Date posted

06 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

297-7502165

Job locations

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Sheriff Hill

Gateshead

NE9 6SX


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To record accurate and confidential Occupational Health information into staff records following all appointments and communication with the department. To update computerised records as required.
  • To use Occupational Health knowledge, experience, principles and practice to assess an individuals health capability to perform a particular job role at the pre-placement stage and during employment taking into account any relevant legislation such as the Equality Act. To request additional medical information from specialists and GPs where indicated. To inform managers of the findings within the defined department timescales and in line with confidentiality and consent requirements.
  • To provide advice and inform managers of relevant adjustments and equipment required to maintain health and wellbeing at work.
  • To work in partnership with patients to identify health hazards through the risk assessment process and to implement health surveillance programmes where appropriate. To provide managers with the outcomes from health surveillance. To ensure patients are informed of the risk and hazards associated with their work activity.
  • Using the agreed Occupational Health procedures and guidance to undertake a risk assessment for staff who have sustained a blood or body fluid exposure incident and to advise on any appropriate course of treatment including the need for Post Exposure Prophylaxis. To inform staff of the source/recipient blood results and any implications to working practice.
  • To undertake Management referrals, to provide a written report and advise managers of the appropriate recommendations and relevant equipment required by the individual to perform their job without risk to their health and well-being. To advise on more complex cases as required.
  • To provide telephone advice to all patients on any Occupational Health concern, which may include pre-placement health issues, health capability to work, infection control and blood and body fluid exposure incidents. To advise on more complex issues as required.
  • To identify patients that require a phased return to work and liaise with management in implementing specific programmes for an individual returning to work following a period of sickness absence. To formally advise managers on any work restrictions and adjustments that need to be considered and the approximate length of the phased return. To ensure the manager and client are supported through this process.
  • To assess and refer patients to the relevant Counselling services and Physiotherapy assessment services. Where necessary to liaise with relevant health professionals and external health promotion agencies to support and advise the client on potential solutions to improve their health.
  • To advise on more complex cases as required.
  • To prioritise, plan and maintain own client caseload.
  • To undertake health-screening tests, and to interpret the results in line with procedures and Occupational Health standards. To interpret and inform the manager of results in line with procedures and Occupational Health standards. To provide advice to managers on the results and the impact this may have on working practice
  • Ensure ongoing audit of service delivery and department processes is undertaken and to implement resulting changes to Occupational Health nursing practice alongside the Band 7 Occupational Health Nurse Manager in the development of auditing methods.
  • To maintain confidentiality of client information at all times.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To record accurate and confidential Occupational Health information into staff records following all appointments and communication with the department. To update computerised records as required.
  • To use Occupational Health knowledge, experience, principles and practice to assess an individuals health capability to perform a particular job role at the pre-placement stage and during employment taking into account any relevant legislation such as the Equality Act. To request additional medical information from specialists and GPs where indicated. To inform managers of the findings within the defined department timescales and in line with confidentiality and consent requirements.
  • To provide advice and inform managers of relevant adjustments and equipment required to maintain health and wellbeing at work.
  • To work in partnership with patients to identify health hazards through the risk assessment process and to implement health surveillance programmes where appropriate. To provide managers with the outcomes from health surveillance. To ensure patients are informed of the risk and hazards associated with their work activity.
  • Using the agreed Occupational Health procedures and guidance to undertake a risk assessment for staff who have sustained a blood or body fluid exposure incident and to advise on any appropriate course of treatment including the need for Post Exposure Prophylaxis. To inform staff of the source/recipient blood results and any implications to working practice.
  • To undertake Management referrals, to provide a written report and advise managers of the appropriate recommendations and relevant equipment required by the individual to perform their job without risk to their health and well-being. To advise on more complex cases as required.
  • To provide telephone advice to all patients on any Occupational Health concern, which may include pre-placement health issues, health capability to work, infection control and blood and body fluid exposure incidents. To advise on more complex issues as required.
  • To identify patients that require a phased return to work and liaise with management in implementing specific programmes for an individual returning to work following a period of sickness absence. To formally advise managers on any work restrictions and adjustments that need to be considered and the approximate length of the phased return. To ensure the manager and client are supported through this process.
  • To assess and refer patients to the relevant Counselling services and Physiotherapy assessment services. Where necessary to liaise with relevant health professionals and external health promotion agencies to support and advise the client on potential solutions to improve their health.
  • To advise on more complex cases as required.
  • To prioritise, plan and maintain own client caseload.
  • To undertake health-screening tests, and to interpret the results in line with procedures and Occupational Health standards. To interpret and inform the manager of results in line with procedures and Occupational Health standards. To provide advice to managers on the results and the impact this may have on working practice
  • Ensure ongoing audit of service delivery and department processes is undertaken and to implement resulting changes to Occupational Health nursing practice alongside the Band 7 Occupational Health Nurse Manager in the development of auditing methods.
  • To maintain confidentiality of client information at all times.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Registered Nurse
  • Specialist Practitioner in Occupational health to certificate, diploma or degree level or willing to work towards this or demonstration of equivalent knowledge and skills
  • Extensive experience as qualified registered nurse
  • Significant experience in Clinical History taking
  • Excellent Communication skills
  • Phlebotomy skills
  • Computer Literacy

Desirable

  • Occupational Health experience
  • NHS Occupational Health Experience

Skills

Essential

  • Significant experience in Clinical History taking

Desirable

  • Audiometry and Lung function test experience
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Registered Nurse
  • Specialist Practitioner in Occupational health to certificate, diploma or degree level or willing to work towards this or demonstration of equivalent knowledge and skills
  • Extensive experience as qualified registered nurse
  • Significant experience in Clinical History taking
  • Excellent Communication skills
  • Phlebotomy skills
  • Computer Literacy

Desirable

  • Occupational Health experience
  • NHS Occupational Health Experience

Skills

Essential

  • Significant experience in Clinical History taking

Desirable

  • Audiometry and Lung function test experience

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Sheriff Hill

Gateshead

NE9 6SX


Employer's website

https://www.qegateshead.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Sheriff Hill

Gateshead

NE9 6SX


Employer's website

https://www.qegateshead.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Occupational Health and Wellbeing Manager

Claire Hobson

claire.hobson4@nhs.net

01914455494

Details

Date posted

06 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

297-7502165

Job locations

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

Sheriff Hill

Gateshead

NE9 6SX


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)