A complex case management referral may be relevant for employees who may, or who may not be present at work. These referrals may present with one singular but significantly impactful factor, or conversely, a multitude of factors. Either way, complex case management referrals will often have the potential for capability consideration, medical redeployment consideration, and / or ill health retirement (IHR) consideration.
Occupational Health may also be asked to determine whether an employee is fit to be involved in any formal discussions, such as a formal sickness absence management meeting, or a probationary review, disciplinary or grievance meeting, and due to the complexities regarding what may be deemed as a complex case, there may also be potential workplace litigious factors of relevance.
It is vitally important that you and your managers have all the right information, advice and guidance available when managing a complex case, and this includes receiving appropriate and up to date OH advice, guidance, and information; if being suitably informed in such circumstances is lacking, this can significantly impact on how the proceedings run, which in turn can have a negative knock-on impact to the employee.
To ensure that the employee’s circumstances are appropriately assessed, and that both the employee and employer are advised and informed accordingly, a referral to OH is strongly advised.