Guest blog by Janet O'Neill
Many clinicians are curious about occupational health (OH) but understandably are unsure how to take the first step. OH is a specialty that many encounter only briefly during training, if at all. Yet it is one of the most impactful, future‑focused areas of clinical practice, and the demand for practitioners has never been greater. If you are a clinician looking for a specialty that blends medicine, psychology, public health, leadership, coaching, and problem‑solving, OH may be the perfect fit.
You will work with people at every stage of their working lives. You will prevent harm, promote wellbeing, and help organisations create healthier workplaces. You will use your clinical expertise in a proactive, holistic way. And you will join a community of professionals who are passionate about making work a healthier place for everyone.
The Occupational Health: Working Better report (DWP, 2023) highlighted the essential role OH play in supporting the health of the workforce. The report called for improving employer access to OH. Employers, government departments, and workforce leaders recognised that without a strong OH workforce, ambitions to reduce ill‑health related job loss and improve access to workplace health support simply could not be met. Workforce development was a core priority. OH is a multidisciplinary specialty - nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, technicians, and others all contribute to modern OH practice.
Yet many clinicians tell us they simply do not know how to enter the field. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Joint Work and Health Unit (JWHU) responded by prioritising workforce growth, with the National School of Occupational Health (NSOH) leading a task‑and‑finish group to explore solutions. One of the most powerful solutions has been mentoring, a solution supported by both the NSOH and Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM).
The mentoring concept is simple: create a national, accessible mentoring portal where aspiring OH clinicians could connect with experienced mentors, gain insight into the specialty, and explore whether OH could be the right career path for them. The design was intentionally lightweight, a digital interface, clear guidance, and a structured but flexible framework that allowed mentees to shape their own learning journey, supported by multidisciplinary, experienced mentors from all areas of OH. Today there are 74 active voluntary mentors from a range of backgrounds including physicians, nurses, OTs, technicians and more. Over 300 mentees have registered.
Mentee feedback collected through the scheme has been invaluable. Many described entering the portal with limited understanding of OH and, for some, their very first exposure to OH. Others had shadowed OH teams briefly or encountered workplace health issues in their clinical roles. Almost all reported that they found the mentoring process both accessible and beneficial.
Mentees value the opportunity to speak directly with an OH professional, ask questions, and understand the realities of the role. Several describe mentoring as the moment OH “clicked” for them, when they realise how their existing clinical skills could translate into a specialty focused on prevention, workplace wellbeing, and enabling people to thrive at work.
Mentors also report positive experiences. Many enjoy supporting clinicians who are curious, motivated, and eager to learn. They value the chance to share their passion for OH, demystify the specialty, and contribute to the future workforce. Several mentors comment that the scheme helps them reflect on their own practice and reconnect with the reasons they entered OH in the first place.
The mentoring scheme was built around a:
- Clear purpose: support clinicians exploring OH as a career.
- Accessible design: a digital portal with straightforward registration.
- Flexible scope: mentoring could include conversations, virtual meetings, workplace shadowing, or guided exploration of OH resources.
- Supportive resources including profession specific guidance, transferable skills, how to write a CV, interview skills, a list of shadow opportunities, a job guide, networking groups, initial learning resources, and many more.
- Feedback loops: mentee and mentor surveys to refine the scheme.
The scheme also benefited from the expertise of NSOH and SOM plus others within a core mentor working group. This depth of professional involvement ensures the mentoring content remains aligned with national OH developments, training frameworks, and emerging guidance.
The scheme has grown steadily since launch. Mentees have come from nursing, medicine, OT, physiotherapy, and even non‑clinical backgrounds for technician roles. Many have gone on to pursue formal OH training, join OH services, or continue exploring the specialty through additional shadowing and CPD. Survey responses indicate high satisfaction, strong engagement, and clear evidence that mentoring helps clinicians make informed decisions about entering OH and supports the process.
The mentoring scheme is evolving - future developments include supporting those progressing to management roles and or into leadership. The goal is simple: make it easier for clinicians to discover OH, understand it, and step confidently into and up in a career that is both rewarding and urgently needed.
Summary
- Occupational health (OH) is a growing, multidisciplinary specialty with increasing national importance.
- NSOH and SOM have a mentoring scheme to support clinicians exploring OH careers.
- FAQs are available for mentees and mentors to review and consider.
- Mentees report high satisfaction, improved understanding, and easier access to OH shadowing.
- Mentors value contributing to workforce development and sharing their expertise.
- The scheme is expanding, with new resources and wider mentor recruitment planned.
- Mentoring is an accessible first step for clinicians considering a future in OH. Visit the mentoring website here.
Janet O’Neill is an Occupational Health Specialist, Deputy Head of the National School of Occupational Health, and Head of PAM Academy, PAM Group.