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27 April 2026West Midlands
Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) for Occupational Health Technicians & Nurses
Monday 27 April - Birmingham
Course tutor: Dr Roger Cooke, consultant in occupational medicine, and a leading expert in hand–arm vibration syndrome
Are you getting started in HAVS? Do you want to improve your confidence, knowledge and skills? For OH technicians and screening nurses with no prior knowledge of HAVS, this new introductory course is designed to meet your needs.
Join The At Work Partnership face-to-face for this one-day training course in Birmingham, that provides a solid introduction and significant background knowledge on HAVS to assist OH technicians, and screening nurses in their role undertaking delegated tasks for statutory health surveillance. The day will feature practical training on specific clinical assessments
Course testimonial from previous delegates
“Great course, a pleasure to attend. Very beneficial to my learning and development. Would highly recommend.” – Clinical Nurse Advisor, Airbus
“Excellent…very well structured, with a great balance of theory and practice. I would definitely recommend this course to others.” – OH technician, Global OHS
How will attending this training benefit you?
You will gain:
• Detailed background knowledge of hand-transmitted vibration, its health effects and symptoms
• An understanding of your role in undertaking delegated tasks for statutory health surveillance at Tiers 1, 2 or 3, and how you can work under supervision to assist suitably qualified occupational health staff
• Comprehension of the legal requirements relevant for workers exposed to hand-transmitted vibration
• Hands-on, practical experience of how to conduct different assessments for HAVS
• Improved confidence in your HAVS knowledge and skills
Who is the training designed for?
This training is designed for OH technicians and screening nurses that are new to HAVS (little or no experience). Previous experience of HAVS is not essential, but experience in OH is required.
SPECIAL OFFER: Book & pay for an early bird place before 6 March to save £50+VAT
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28 April 2026West Midlands
Course Overview
This 2-day course on Tuesday 28th and Wednesday 29th April, offers training to those working in occupational health or respiratory medicine/physiology with an interest in occupational asthma. It covers the core investigations into occupational asthma, how to do them and interpret them, with a case-based approach throughout.Dates
Tuesday 28th and Wednesday 29th April.Location
The course will be held face-to-face at Voco St John's Hotel, Solihull, West Midlands.Costs
2-day Occupational asthma course: £450. Trainees and ARTP members £395.Target Audience
This course is aimed at Respiratory Physiologists, Occupational Health Doctors and Nurses, GPs, Asthma Nurses, and others involved in diagnosis or screening for occupational asthma.Course Programme and Form to Book
Please click here for the Course Programme, which includes the form to book. To reserve your place, complete the form and return it to Vicky Moore at vicky.moore@uhcw.nhs.uk -
30 April 2026S Wales and W of England
SOM Occupational Health Practitioners Conference
Thursday 30th April 2026 9:00am-4:00pm (in-person only)
Future Inn Cardiff, Hemingway Road, Cardiff, CF10 4AU (free parking)
£65 SOM members (please log in before registering); £95 non-members
Reduced rate for students: £47.50 - Email Mimi.Eyeoyibo@som.org.uk for the discount code.
This conference is open to all occupational health professionals and those interested in the sector, including nurses, AHPs, students, occupational therapists and GPs.
"An excellent opportunity to meet and network like minded people as well as updating in best practice." - 2025 Conference Delegate
Draft programme:
9:00 - Coffee and networking
Morning Chair: Prof Anne Harriss, SOM Past President
9:30 - Communication within Occupational Health - Janet O’Neill, Deputy Head of the National School of Occupational Health
10:00 - Drug and Alcohol issues in the workplace - the latest issues - Helen Vangikar, Independent Toxicology Consultant
10:30 - HAVS - Dr Roger Cooke, Occupational Medicine Consultant
11:00 - Break
11:15 - Neurodiversity in the workplace - Nina Parson, Chartered Occupational Psychologist
11:45 - Respiratory issues in OH - Prof Jo Szram, Consultant Respiratory Physician
12:30-13.20 - Lunch
Afternoon Chair: Caroline Whittaker, MBE, retired Professional Lead, Nursing, Midwifery and Standards Manager
13:30 - Introduction to Fitness to practice, changes to threshold, record keeping – Sharon Clement-Thomas, Nursing and Midwifery Council's Regulation (NMC) Adviser for Wales
14:00 - Clinical audit – Hilary Winch, Associate Director at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
14:45 - FOHN Accreditation Update - Josephine Amahoro, Lecturer in SCPHN & OHN programs, University of the West of Scotland
15:00 - Stretch and comfort break
15:15 - ICO information sharing and code of practice - Chris Burn, Managing Director & Certified Data Protection Officer, CSRB Limited
15:45 - What does today mean for good OH report writing? - All Speakers Panel
Close
In partnership with the SOM South Wales and West of England Regional Group
With thanks to our generous sponsor Insight Workplace Health
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06 May 2026Webinar
FREE for SOM Members (please log in on the SOM website first).
Session details:
Dr Sue Law is a GP with over 20 years’ experience working predominantly in deprived inner-city communities and more than a decade’s experience in occupational health supporting professional drivers. She is Founder of Improve My Health, delivering evidence-based lifestyle medicine programmes to businesses and communities. She teaches lifestyle medicine to GP trainees and medical students while serving as an assessor for the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine Core Accreditation. Her approach is known for being clear, compassionate and engaging, combining clinical rigour with warmth, humour and real-world relevance.
This webinar introduces the principles of lifestyle medicine and explores how they can be applied practically within occupational health to improve workforce wellbeing, reduce sickness absence and support retention. Dr Sue Law will share real-world insights from her Driving Better Health interventions, including brief lifestyle medicine consultations delivered alongside D4 medicals and targeted group clinics for higher-risk employees. The session will demonstrate how occupational health teams can move from reactive management to proactive prevention, embedding evidence-based behaviour change approaches into everyday practice to create healthier, safer and more productive workplaces.
The session will cover
• What is lifestyle medicine
• Why and how lifestyle medicine is relevant in occupational health
• Top Lifestyle Medicine Tips
• Driving Better Health - a practical model for workforce health improvement in professional drivers
Chair: Lucy SmithFREE for SOM Members (please log in on the SOM website). You will then be sent the join link.
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12 May 2026London
Women's health at work: Policy, progress and public perception
Society of Occupational Medicine and Royal Society of Medicine joint meeting
Venue: Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, Marylebone, London, W1G 0AE
This conference provides an essential update for occupational health (OH) professionals on women’s health and rights in the workplace, set against the changing legal landscape and the government's preparative work on the Employment Rights Bill. It will examine conditions such as menopause, endometriosis, and the emotional and physical demands of fertility treatment on women’s working lives. Delegates will gain a deeper understanding of how these issues can disadvantage women in the workplace due to women’s sex-specific health factors, and what good OH practice looks like in response.
A key focus will be the government’s preparatory work for the Employment Rights Act and how this may require changes in OH approaches, policies, and advice. Sessions will provide practical insight into how to assess and support women experiencing these health challenges at work, how to advise employers on reasonable adjustments, and how to embed women’s health into organisational culture and strategy.
Aims of the event
- To provide OH professionals and trainees with a structured understanding of current and emerging challenges in women’s health within workplace settings.
- To equip delegates with the knowledge needed to apply best practice, reasonable adjustments and evidence-based thinking to real-world OH scenarios.
- To support the development of critical reasoning skills through expert-led discussions, clinical perspectives and contributions from the Apothecaries Lecture and Medal presentations.Why attend?
- Explore how OH professionals can be a driving force for change in raising public, organisational, and governmental awareness of women’s health needs in a modern, diverse workforce.
- Delegates will receive an up-to-date briefing on the potential implications of the Employment Rights Act for occupational health practice.
- Gain practical tools to improve case management, communication with employers and advocacy for fair and inclusive workplaces.
- The programme also includes the prestigious Apothecaries Lecture and the presentation of the Apothecaries Medal, offering additional opportunities for reflection on professional standards, ethics and excellence in occupational health.
- With its combination of legal and policy update, clinical relevance, and professional development, this event is essential for anyone in occupational health committed to evidence-based, ethical and equitable support for women at work.This event is aimed at: Occupational health physicians, nurses, advisers and trainees, as well as HR professionals and managers involved in workplace health, wellbeing or policy.
Discounted rate for SOM members. For further details and to book, visit the RSM website.
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14 May 2026Webinar
EXCITING NEW COURSE FROM THE AT WORK PARTNERSHIP
AI & Occupational Health
Thursday 14 & Friday 15 May 2026 – Two Virtual Mornings
Chaired by Dr Lara Shemtob, Imperial College London#
The At Work Partnership is pleased to announce the launch of a new training course on the very hot topic of artificial intelligence! Join the Artificial Intelligence and Occupational Health course over 2 virtual mornings on 14 & 15 May 2026, to learn how to use AI safely and effectively in your OH work.
This training course starts with first principles to help you to understand what AI is, and its benefits and limitations in OH, emphasising the importance of remaining vigilant to potential risks and errors. It aims to give you the understanding to ask the right questions so that you can use AI in OH ethically, strategically and appropriately and understand its broader impact on OH practice.
Delegates will be led by a fantastic team with excellent knowledge, passion and interest in using AI in the workplace - course leader Dr Lara Shemtob (Imperial College London), Janet O'Neill (PAM Group), Grace Corby (Cloisters Chambers) and Dr John Ballard (Occupational Health [at Work]).
The course is designed for OH professionals and others working in an OH setting. Prior knowledge of AI is not necessary.
For further details on the programme and to view the course brochure, visit the website link below.
If you have any questions about the course, email conferences@atworkpartnership.co.uk
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL OFFERS AVAILABLE
Book and pay by 30 March and save up to £50 + VAT
Self-funded rates also available.
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19 May 2026Webinar
Employment Medicals and Fitness for Work 2026
Tuesday 19 May, A Virtual Event
This important training examines why good practice in assessing fitness for work is a key aspect of OH, to safeguard the health and safety of employees and others affected by the work, and to ensure fair and non-discriminatory employment.
Conducted virtually via zoom, the course will look at best practice in the field of employment medicals, fitness for work, and the use of pre-employment/pre-placement questionnaires and health checks.
The course brings together a fantastic line-up of speakers, which include:
Dr John Ballard (Occupational Health [at Work]), Audrey Ludwig (trainer and consultant), Dr Tony Williams (Working Fit), Dr Samantha Phillips (Transport for London), Dr Amanda Edgeworth (DVLA) and Prof Diana Kloss (barrister).
Comments from previous delegates:
“Resourceful and educational, a must in OH learning!”
- OH nurse advisor, Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust“Excellent course, great content, relevant and engaging speakers”
- OH physician, HSE IrelandBenefits of attending:
- Ensure that your organisation is up to date with all of the latest legal and practical issues affecting health issues at recruitment and ongoing fitness to work.
- Gain an up-to-the-minute understanding of how the legislation and case law relating to employment medicals and fitness for work impacts on your responsibilities and your day-to-day work.
- Learn about the issues affecting fitness to drive and drug and alcohol testing
- Gain an understanding of best practice and evidence-based decisions
- PLUS – printed documentation to keep for future reference.
EARLY BIRD RATE OFFER: Book and pay by 27 March and save £60 + VAT!
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22 June 2026Webinar
FREE for ALL (please log in on the SOM website first).
SPONSORED BY ORCHID LIVE
Summary
A panel discussion with experienced Occupational Health clinicians, passionate about delivering robust and effective management referral advice. Our panel will discuss the key elements of a good referral, effective assessment and usable report, providing insight into the standards required. Coming from differing angles i.e. physio, nurse and physician, the discussion will cover a range of perspectives. Attendees will be able to join in the discussion with questions and insights.
Suitable for those referring and those undertaking or considering undertaking management referrals/OH case management.
We will be fortunate to obtain the expertise from Amanda Dowson, SCPHN-OH nurse and lead of the clinical standards for management referrals working group, Dr Kevin Bailey FFOM, contributor to the working group: Stephanie Foster, OH nurse specialist and management referral educator and Tracey Atkinson, clinical governance lead physiotherapist in OH and member of the working group. The session will be chaired by Janet O’Neill, Deputy Head NSOH and fellow contributor to the working group.
Attendees can expect a thought provoking session which will provide them with the ability to reflect on what makes a good report.
BIOs: tbc
FREE for ALL. You will then be sent the joining link.
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24 June 2026Webinar
Introductory course from The At Work Partnership
Foundation Course in Occupational Health
Wednesday 24 - Thursday 25 June - A Two-Day Virtual Event
Chaired by Sandra Winters, Independent specialist (OH) practitioner
“Interesting, engaging, very informative, very relevant and one of the best foundation courses I have attended in my 20 years career as a nurse” – Occupational Health Nurse
The At Work Partnership is pleased to announce the new dates for this introductory course focusing on the fundamental principles of occupational health. Specifically designed to fast-track your knowledge and understanding of OH, the course will help you develop your professional abilities and maximise your contribution to your occupational health team. It will also be valuable for those planning further study in the field.
Taking place virtually over two in-depth study days, the course will guide delegates through some of the most important concepts in occupational health, including developing your legal and ethical knowledge, taking an evidence-based approach to fitness for work, sickness absence, disability and more!
Delegates will be taught by an expert team of tutors, with a wealth of invaluable occupational health knowledge, including course chair, Sandra Winters (independent specialist OH practitioner), Dr John Ballard (Occupational Health [at Work] journal), Prof Diana Kloss (barrister), Dr Sarwar Chowdhury (Work Doctor Occupational Health).
For further details on the programme, view the course brochure and visit the event page at the website link below.
If you have any questions about the course, email conferences@atworkpartnership.co.uk
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL OFFERS AVAILABLE
Book and pay by 6 May and save up to £50 + VAT
Self-funded delegates from only £435 + VAT
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24 June 2026East of England
FOR SOM MEMBERS ONLY £15
The tour will be a 40 minute guided tractor tour around the Tiptree Fruit Farms
where there has been farming since 1757 and quality preserves have been made since 1885.
During the tour you will see traditional methods combined with cutting edge new
technologies in fruit farming. After your tour you will be seated in the Tiptree Tea
Room ‘Tea Garden’ under a marquee where you will be served a Tiptree Cream
Tea with a tea or coffee*. There is also a Jam Shop for all of your Tiptree
favourites as well as a range of carefully selected giftware.*Please let us know of any allergies/dietary requirements
This is an opportunity to meet fellow SOM members in a friendly and relaxed environment.
Unfortunately, there is no Occupational health person available for the tour, however the guide will be able to answer questions as we go round.
You can find out more about the tour online here https://www.tiptree.com/
SOM Members ONLY. If you are not a member, please join here www.som.org.uk