What is a Needs Assessment?
“A systematic method for reviewing the health issues facing a population, leading to agreed priorities that will improve health and reduce inequalities” (NICE 2005). From this, your organisation can then decide how to meet these occupational health needs.
Who Benefits from the OH Needs Assessment?
As an employer, the results of the OH needs assessment will identify what needs are required, whether they are being met, and costs to implement solutions to address the needs. This will ensure your money spent is targeted to where it needs to be. Your employees will benefit from knowing that their Occupational Health needs will be met, providing a safe and secure working environment where they can flourish and enjoy.
Why have an Occupational Health Needs Assessment
A health needs assessment provides the opportunity to gain an awareness of the current health of the workforce and to identify the gaps in healthcare provision, as well as to make recommendations to the organisation.
Around 1.2 million working people suffering from a work-related illness, with 27.3 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury (HSE 2014/15). The financial impact of work-related ill health and associated absence from work to employers is enormous, as well as the impact of illness on employees and their families.
Did you know that 2,538 people died from mesothelioma in 2013 and thousands more from other work-related cancers and diseases such as COPD. (HSE)
How do I Implement a Needs Assessment?
Assessment of needs within your organisation can be across the business or within a specific dept. We will work in consultation with you to identify your target population and then undertake a needs assessment which will raise issues and highlight problem areas. From this, we will help you to develop an action plan to help meet the health needs of your population.
