Events

FREE for ALL (please log in on the SOM website first). 

Session details:

Learn from the experts, in-house and external recruiters in to OH, share their wisdom on how to optimise your CV, interview skills and how to make yourself known on social media. 
If you wish to enter the Occupational Health/medicine speciality, it takes more than just sending in a CV or answering an advert. It takes initiative and drive to get that first step. This webinar aims to provide guidance on what is essentially a skill in today’s marketplace 

Speakers
-    Ellen Harris – OH Medical 
-    Tracey Regan – PAM Group
-    Priya Kanji - OH staffing
-    Rachel Lelliot - Health Partners
-    Jo Vallom-Smith - OTs

Bios:

With over 10 years’ recruitment experience, Ellen Harris joined OH Medical Recruitment in 2021 and now leads the team as Director. She has a proven track record of placing candidates at every level — from trainees to Directors — across both clinical and corporate OH roles. Passionate about growing the sector, Ellen works closely with companies to create and promote trainee opportunities, helping new talent step confidently into Occupational Health. She also champions smart CV, interview, and social media strategies to give candidates the best possible start in their OH careers.

Rachel Lelliott has 17 years of experience in recruitment, with 12 of those spent at an agency specialising in the food industry. For the past 5 years, Rachel has been with Health Partners, where she leads the recruitment team and oversees hiring for a variety of clinical and non-clinical positions. In her previous roles, she provided candidates with guidance on crafting strong CVs and emphasised the importance of thoroughly researching both the company and the role they were pursuing. While her current role at Health Partners is slightly different, she continues to take great satisfaction in helping candidates secure their ideal jobs and join a supportive, caring organisation.

Tracey Regan - An experienced Recruitment Manager with a strong track record in sourcing and placing talent within the Occupational Health and Wellbeing sector. With a background in sales and negotiation, she brings a strategic and people-focused approach to recruitment, ensuring the right fit for both clients and candidates.
Her expertise spans the full recruitment lifecycle, from talent acquisition and stakeholder engagement to offer management and onboarding. She has a strong ability to build lasting relationships and deliver results, and is passionate about connecting professionals with meaningful opportunities that support health and wellbeing in the workplace.

Jo Vallom-Smith – OTs 
Jo Vallom-Smith is an award-winning Occupational Therapist with over a decade of experience in Vocational Rehabilitation and Occupational Health. Jo founded a recruitment agency for OTs in OH and an associated national network of Occupational Therapists in Occupational Health. She is now the Professional Advisor for Health and Work and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and chairs the SOM special interest group for Allied Health Professionals. 

Priya Kanji – OH staffing 
Priya Kanji has been recruiting within the Occupational Health sector since 2003 and founded Occupational Health Staffing in 2010. Since its inception, Occupational Health Staffing has established itself as a trusted and specialist agency, dedicated to placing both temporary and permanent Occupational Health professionals across the UK. At Occupational Health Staffing, we're more than just a recruitment agency — we're here to support you at every stage of your career. Whether you're looking for your next role or just starting out in OH, we offer tailored support to help you succeed. From creating a standout CV to preparing you for interviews, we make sure you're ready to show your best self to potential employers. With our help, you can move through the job market with confidence and find a role that truly fits your skills, goals, and ambitions.
 

Chair: Janet O'Neil and Sarah Holling

FREE for SOM Members (please log in on the SOM website). You will then be sent the join link.
 

SOM Scottish Group Autumn Meeting and AGM

Date: Friday 21st November 9am-5pm

Venue: Surgeon's Quarter, Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh

Fee: £100 for SOM members; £125 for non-members. In-person attendance only. No late booking fee.

Reduced rate for Allied Health Professionals, nurses and students, including OH trainees (SOM members only): £75. Email Mimi.Eyeoyibo@som.org.uk for the discount code.

View the programme here. 

The meeting will be followed by the Scottish Group End of year Committee Dinner at 5.45pm. The dinner will take place at Cannonball Restaurant & Bar, 356 Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NF (Google maps). All members are welcome to attend but you are required to express your interest asap so that numbers for the table booking can be confirmed ahead of time. Please include any dietary requirements you have.

Please note your membership discount will automatically be applied when you log in to the SOM website. Please log in before registering.

Health Surveillance for Occupational Health Nurses and New OHPs

Full day training for occupational health nurses and new OHPs

Date: Saturday 22nd November, 10am-5.15pm

Venue: R-Health, 98 Burnt Oak Broadway, London, HA8 0BE

Price: In person - £300 + VAT, Online - £250 + VAT

Early bird discount available until Friday 31st October: In person - £250 + VAT, Online - £200 + VAT

This is a hybrid event.

10.00 Welcome & Introduction by Anne Harriss

10.30 Vision Screening in Occupational Health

11.15 Coffee Break

11.30 Health Surveillance for Occupational Lung Disease under COSHH

12.30 Health Surveillance for Skin Disease under COSHH

13:30 Lunch

14.00 Health Surveillance of Hearing under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005

15.00 Coffee Break

15.15 Health Surveillance for Hand Arm Vibration under the Control of Vibration at work Regulations 2005

16.15 Consolidation & Case Workshop

Course Leader: Dr Satish Ranka

Dr Ranka is a Senior Consultant Occupational Health Physician, Deputy Chief Examiner at the Faculty of Occupational Medicine, and a CSER Assessor. Dr Ranka is also a Director and Responsible Officer of R-Health Limited, which he co-leads with his business partner, providing specialist occupational health services to police forces and other safety-critical organisations across the UK.

For full details about the course, please click here.

Click here to register.

FREE for ALL (please log in on the SOM website first). 

Summary of webinar: 

Introduction - The UK Economy needs older workers, yet half the workforce aged 50-65 leave before retirement. Current local delivery of programmes to reduce inactivity due to ill health often ignore this key group, particularly older female workers. 

Topic areas
•    What are the predictors of job loss for older workers due to health?
•    What are effective proactive in work measures e.g. functional assessment, reasonable adjustments and use of occupational health that supports older workers remain in work?
•    How can employers and managers support older workers return to work after ill health? 
•    What are the particular issues for female older workers e.g. caring definition, culture  

Speakers: Dame Carol Black, Professor Ewan Macdonald, Emma Persand, Centre for Ageing Better 

Attendees
•    ICS leads in England and Scotland, Wales, and NI leads (e.g. Department of Communities)
•    DWP/DHSC work and health unit including Sir Charlie Mayfield review team.
•    Think tanks e.g. Health Foundation
•    Public health leads

Outcomes
•    Understand what works as to interventions for older workers to stay and return to work
•    Guide and influence local delivery e.g. of Work Well Pilots, Trailblazers, Pathfinders and within Public Health teams
•    Improve national policy making related to inactivity due to ill health e.g. for reform of Access to Work and the Mayfield review.
 

FREE for ALL. You will then be sent the joining link.