- Are your arrangements for managing and reducing sickness absence effective?
- Do you know how well your managers are implementing your policy and procedures?
- Are you supporting the welfare of your employees, including attention to their health and well-being?
- Will you meet the ten year sickness absence national targets due in 2010?
10.3 million working days are lost annually through sickness absence costing £1.7 billion to the NHS in England. Preventing people from falling ill at work and getting them back sooner is a significant area for targeting cost savings and improving staff morale. The NHS Health and Well-being Review (2009) highlights higher levels of sickness absence in the NHS than in other public sector organisations.
Our analysis will provide senior management with valuable information and assurance over this area.
How you can benefit from our approach
1. Diagnostic review
We analyse the results from a self-assessment of your progress in promoting positive health and well-being in the workplace. We use an electronic survey of your line managers to identify their expertise and confidence in managing sickness absence when it occurs. Results are analysed by staff group and by service and business unit.
We then explore the results with focus groups to build a full picture of the barriers and levers for improving both absence management and preventing sickness absence.
This essential first step will show where there are opportunities to improve and potentially reduce sickness absence.
2. Focused review
We deliver our reviews using performance specialists who use a tailored approach to focus on your specific issues and priorities for reducing sickness such as:
- How effectively is data and management information used?
- Are managers implementing policy and procedures consistently?
3. Reporting and action planning
We can deliver our findings to you in various formats such as reports, presentations or as facilitated workshops according to your preference. All of which will provide:
- practical recommendations to improve performance
- useful references to notable practices
- a sound basis for an action plan owned by management.
How do I find out more?
Contact your Trust Practice auditor or the regional lead for your area:
- Phil Johnstone, London - Tel: 0844 798 2304
- Simon Garlick, Southern England - Tel: 0844 798 1741
- Rob Murray, Central England - Tel: 0844 798 5777
- Damian Murray, Northern England - Tel: 0844 798 6620
or email tpe@audit-commission.gov.uk