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12 May 2025Webinar
For the MFOM Part 1, DOccMed and DipOHPrac*, The Occupational Health Academy with SOM presents... MCQ Weekend
THIS IS NOT A LIVE SESSION; THIS IS A RECORDING OF THE 2023 MCQ WEEKEND.
This recording will expire on Monday 12th May 2025.
Finding the vast amount of information from your CPD course a lot to take in? Never done occupational health and wondering how you will understand the concepts and pass the exam? Busy with your own personal life and work, and wanting to know the core information to help pass the MCQ exams? If you have any of these queries then why not purchase the very popular MCQ Weekend at The Occupational Health Academy.
Over two days, The Occupational Health Academy will cover the key principles and information for the exam with OH Ethics and Law, Occupational Hygiene, Occupational Medicine and Exam Tips/Past Topics and help you grasp the key concepts to improve your knowledge for the more difficult MCQ exam. Check out some of the reviews on The Occupational Health Academy website to see it's definitely worth it - the Academy boasts some high scoring previous attendees!
This recording will expire on Monday 12th May 2025.
Full SOM members receive a 20% discount on the course fee. To receive the discount, please log in to your SOM account before registering and the discount will automatically apply at checkout. To upgrade to full membership from associate/student categories, please email membership@som.org.uk
Non SOM-members can sign up as a full SOM member first and then access the 20% course discount. Join SOM here. If you have any queries, please email membership@som.org.uk
*Could also be utilised for LFOM exam preparation although not specific.
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12 May 2025West Midlands
FOR SOM MEMBERS ONLY £30
We have booked a tour of the JCB Factory for Monday 12th May 2025 commencing at 13.00, timetable below.
13.00 Arrive for refreshments
13.15 Company AV
13.30 Story of JCB
14.15 BHL tour
15.00 Meeting in the Green Room C with JCB Occupational Health nurse Helen McCarthy.
16.00 DepartSpaces are limited to the first 14 SOM members to book on.
JCB's nurse won’t be present on the tour just the meeting afterwards.
Photography is only allowed in the Story of JCB not the shopfloor
You can find out more online here https://www.jcb.com/en-gb/about/factory-tour
SOM Members ONLY. If you are not a member, please join here https://www.som.org.uk/membership
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13 May 2025Webinar
Certificate in Managing OH Services 2025
Tuesday 13th - Thursday 15th May - A Virtual Course
Calling all professionals responsible for managing or creating an occupational health service!
Join The At Work Partnership for the fantastic three-day Certificate in Managing OH Services course! Now in its 18th successful year, the course has become one of the leading short management courses for OH professionals.
The course is specifically designed to provide you with the essential management tools to deliver a successful OH service – from the effective management of staff and services to managing departmental budgets. It will cover the financial, political, legal and employment issues that OH professionals need to address in order to ensure that they function successfully and deliver maximum benefit to their employer.
EXPERT TUTORING TEAM: This comprehensive course is delivered by a team of expert tutors with an outstanding level of industry knowledge and expertise. Led by John Humphrey, with other speakers including Dr Paul Litchfield, Jo Berriman, Carolyn Graham, Prof Diana Kloss and Dr Steve Boorman, you will leave the course equipped with the necessary skills to manage your department.
View the full programme at the link below.
Course Testimonials
“A comprehensive overview of effective OH management, delivered by leading industry experts” Andrew Wiggans, Bentley Motors Ltd
“Fantastic course – a MUST for OH Managers” Justine Whitmore, head of wellbeing – George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
EARLY BIRD RATE OFFER: Book and pay 28th March 2025 and save £100 + VAT!
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14 May 2025Webinar
For the DOccMed and DipOHPrac*, The Occupational Health Academy presents... Portfolio Morning
THIS IS NOT A LIVE SESSION; THIS IS A RECORDING OF THE 2023 PORTFOLIO MORNINGThis recording will expire on Wednesday 14th May 2025
Struggling to know what workplace to do for the FOM portfolio or which clinical case is reasonable to undertake and analyse? Wondering what information to put in each of the boxes or how to keep your word count down but still keep the relevant information? Want to see examples of high scoring portfolios? Then why not purchase The Occupational Health Academy's Portfolio Morning session.
The Occupational Health Academy's Portfolio Morning will take you through an ideal risk assessment, clinical case and give you ideas for finding a suitable case for your portfolio. You will go through and analyse the FOM portfolio and the type of information needed, whilst also being mindful of its other purpose which is for your Mock Viva and make the latter process easier. The example portfolios and Q&A at the end is a very useful session to get more ideas on what to write. The Occupational Health Academy is here to help you with your exam application & portfolio submission!
This recording will expire on Wednesday 14th May 2025.
Full SOM members receive a 20% discount on the course fee. To receive the discount, please log in to your SOM account before registering and the discount will automatically apply at checkout. To upgrade to full membership from associate/student categories, please email membership@som.org.uk
Non SOM-members can sign up as a full SOM member first and then access the 20% course discount. Join SOM here. If you have any queries, please email membership@som.org.uk
*Could also be utilised for LFOM exam preparation although not specific.
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16 May 2025Webinar
FREE for ALL (please log in on the SOM website first).
Tackling sickness presenteeism in organisations: What can be done?
Professor Gail Kinman and Dr. Christine Grant
Awareness of sickness presenteeism and its impact on employees and organisations is growing. Research shows a rise in presenteeism, particularly for mental health issues, with healthcare workers and home-based employees especially vulnerable. Although working while not fully fit can be beneficial, dysfunctional presenteeism poses significant health and safety risks. It can delay recovery, increase the risk of future health problems and absenteeism, and reduce productivity. Sickness presenteeism can also lead to errors, accidents and injuries, impacting not only the sick employee but also their colleagues and the public. This can be particularly harmful in roles involving the wellbeing and safety of others. To address dysfunctional presenteeism effectively, systemic, evidence-based interventions are required.
This webinar examines sickness presenteeism using insights from the recently published SOM guide and the authors’ own research. It considers the prevalence of sickness presenteeism, the contributing factors and its impact on employee wellbeing and productivity. Research from the education and security sectors is used to illustrate the varied causes and impact of presenteeism across different organisational contexts. A range of evidence-based strategies is presented to help organisations mitigate the harmful effects of presenteeism and promote a ‘healthier’ approach to sickness absence.
The critical role of occupational health practitioners in managing dysfunctional presenteeism is explored, along with practical strategies to address this issue. Time is also allocated for questions and discussion about this important challenge.
Chair: Dr Charlie Vivian
FREE for ALL. You will then be sent the joining link.
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19 May 2025Webinar
FREE for SOM Members (please log in on the SOM website first).
Overview:
tbc
Speaker: Susan (Su) Chantry, Occupational Health Nurse
Europe & Africa Consulting PracticeSu Chantry is a Senior Occupational Health Nurse with the Europe & Africa Consulting Practice, based in London.
Su has extensive experience working in occupational health, specialising in evaluation and assessment of a wide range of work skills and capacities, with a comprehensive scope of occupational health management in the workplace.
Amongst her key competencies are, advising, implementing & managing health surveillance programmes, safety-critical medicals; conducting workplace risk assessments; planning and managing complex return-to-work rehabilitation cases; sickness absence assessments and ergonomic workstation evaluations. Su also provides public health advice related to work activities; oversees travel health and occupational immunisation programmes and addresses and advises on occupational-acquired illnesses and diseases.
Prior to joining International SOS, Su worked across a broad sector of organisations ranging from corporate and manufacturing, to nuclear facility sites, oil and gas, education, as well as Formula 1 motor sport. She has also been involved in practitioner mentorship, civil law expert witness case work, education and research, and has had several papers published in occupational health journals.
Su holds a BSc in Occupational Health Nursing, a Civil Law Expert Witness Certificate and a Certificate in Managing Occupational Health Services. She is also a member of the Society of Occupational Health Medicine, Royal Society of Medicine and Fellow of The Queen’s Nursing Institute.
Chair: Janet O'Neill
FREE for SOM Members (please log in on the SOM website). You will then be sent the join link.
We'd like to thank our sponsor - Orchid Live. Orchid Live is specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1.5 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com
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20 May 2025Webinar
FREE for SOM Members (please log in on the SOM website first).
Overview:
This exclusive webinar for SOM members will:
• Discuss the context of the evolving pattern of shiftwork
• Identify the legal requirements for employers in managing shift work
• Identify best practice for the management of shiftwork
• Discuss the impact of shiftwork and sleep on health
• Provide highlights for:
o sleep management for shift workers
o planning optimal nutrition
o managing family life
o managing fatigue
Presenter: Christine Poulter RGN RM SCPHN BSc BA MSc
Honorary Strategic Clinical Advisor for the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) and Clinical Director of OHCP (an independent Occupational Health Consultancy).
Following a career as a nurse, midwife, and public health, Christine has around 20 years of experience in Occupational Health.
Her broad range of experience includes NHS, corporate, armed services, manufacturing, higher education and public health.As an independent practitioner, she focuses on delivering top-quality service to small businesses, SMEs and charities through her own business, which she set up in 2016.
Christine has had an interest in sleep management since her early career in ENT nursing, as a midwife, health visitor and now with adults, utilising her skills in CBT, CBTi and hypnotherapy.She has assisted several companies move from a one-shift-only system to a 3-shift system, including night work. This required presenting evidence for best practice and management of the impact on health.
She contributes to the SOM Sleep steering group and has published the SOM Managing good sleep practice for night workers guidance document.
Chair: Kim Sunley
FREE for SOM Members (please log in on the SOM website). You will then be sent the join link.
We'd like to thank our sponsor - Orchid Live. Orchid Live is specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1.5 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com
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21 May 2025London
Society of Occupational Medicine and Royal Society of Medicine joint meeting
Venue: Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, Marylebone, London, W1G 0AE
In today’s rapidly changing world, the intersection of health and employment is more critical than ever. This one-day conference brings together leading experts to address the pressing challenges and opportunities facing professionals in occupational health and related fields.
Why is it important?
With workplaces evolving due to technological advances, shifts in workforce demographics, and global and national health trends, staying informed on how these changes impact health and employment is essential for delivering effective support and policies.Why now?
As we navigate post-pandemic realities, a growing emphasis on employee well-being, and complex legislative changes, there has never been a more crucial time to unite and share knowledge.Broader context:
This event situates occupational health within the larger framework of workforce sustainability, public health, and organisational performance, offering unique perspectives from diverse leaders and experts in the field.Why you won't want to miss this event:
- A unique opportunity to hear from high-profile speakers with expertise spanning research, policymaking, and practical occupational health delivery.
- Insight into current trends and future directions in health and employment, not readily available elsewhere.
- A multidisciplinary audience fostering networking and collaboration across HR, healthcare, and occupational health sectors.Learning outcomes:
Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of emerging challenges, innovative approaches, and actionable insights to adapt to this era of rapid change—knowledge not easily replicated at competing events. This conference is a must-attend for anyone committed to advancing health and well-being in the workplace during times of transition.Discounted rate for SOM members. For further details and to book, visit the RSM website.
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21 May 2025North East
ALAMA 2025 Conference
Wednesday 21st - Friday 23rd May
Crowne Plaza Stephenson Quarter, Newcastle
ALAMA is delighted to announce its 2025 Conference: ALAMA Occupational Health: Newcastle
The ALAMA Annual Conferences are unmissable events for Occupational Health physicians to polish their skills, network with others and earn valuable CPD. The Conferences are open to ALAMA members.
The conference programmes are designed to feature topics which confront OH physicians in their day-to-day work and to deliver a comprehensive update on the latest clinical evidence, research results and legal opinions.
Expert speakers have been secured, including leading academics and key medical specialists to ensure that the very latest information is covered in the programme. You can see what is in store so far by viewing the programme here.
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02 June 2025Webinar
FREE for ALL (please log in on the SOM website first).
Engagement with policy makers to prevent ill health at work and to sustain people in their work, and the importance of national standards
The purpose of this webinar is to promote discussion of how we in the occupational health community can most effectively engage in current national initiatives, in the interest of preventing ill health at work and sustaining people in their work.
This exclusive webinar will cover:
• The AOMRC statement
• The Charlie Mayfield Review
• Supporting ICS in implementation
Speaker: Robin Cordell
MBA FRCP FFOM
President of the Faculty of Occupational MedicineRobin Cordell is an accredited specialist in occupational medicine engaged in day to day clinical practice, and in the specialist training of those in the resident posts established in Cordell Health, a social enterprise which provides occupational health services to a wide range of organisations in the public, private and charitable sectors.
Robin has broad experience, including more than 20 years in the Defence Medical Services, as a Past President of the Society of Occupational Medicine (2015/16) and a director of the Council for Work and Health since 2016 (to May 2025). He led the review of the Safe Effective Quality Occupational Health Service (SEQOHS) standards and launch of the new standards, with a focus on outputs and outcomes, in June 2023.
In September 2024, Robin was elected President of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM). As President of the FOM, Robin is also Chair of the Board of Trustees of the charity, and responsible for strategy and governance. He leads the Faculty team’s engagement in initiatives aimed at improving health at work nationally, and in advancing professional education and standards in occupational health. In all his work, Robin is engaged in promoting workplace health, advising on preventing ill health related to work, and on supporting those with health problems to be sustained in good work.
Chair: Dr Lanre Ogunyemi
FREE for ALL. You will then be sent the joining link.
Full session details:
The current two principal consultations on health and work, Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/pathways-to-work-reforming-b... and the Independent report by Sir Charlie Mayfield Keep Britain Working Review: Discovery at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keep-britain-working-review-d... .
We in FOM and SOM will comment on these consultations by 30 May 2025. FOM and SOM will also contribute to a response from the Council for Work and Health, of which both organisations are among the 37 members (as at: https://www.councilforworkandhealth.org.uk/https://www.councilforworkand... ).
FOM is also engaged with those other members of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC), Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and Allied Health Professionals Federation (AHPF) that brought together the 2025 update on the Healthcare Professionals’ Consensus Statement for Action on Health and Work at: https://www.aomrc.org.uk/publication/2025-healthcare-professionals-conse... . Observations from this group representing the breadth of health professionals across the UK include that the work being led by Sir Charlie Mayfield has a focus of those who are in work, and what can be done by employers to prevent people falling out of work. The principle is good work is good for mental health. The Get Britain Working Green Paper is more focused on those with disabilities; there are concerns that those with mental health conditions in particular might be disadvantaged.
We see these as two different groups, for which different approaches may be appropriate.The publication on 10th March 2025 of the Health Foundation’s Commission for Healthier Working Lives report Action for healthier working lives at: https://www.health.org.uk/reports-and-analysis/reports/action-for-health... draws attention to the lack of a universal standard for occupational health service delivery. SEQOHS is specifically mentioned positively in this context, but the report states that it difficult for employers to identify cost-effective, high-quality support. The centrality of standards will be discussed, to provide assurance that occupational health service delivery is of the right quality and delivers value.