A Workplace Mental Health / Neurodiversity Assessment
This Workplace Mental Health &/or Neurodiversity Assessment is an in-depth assessment by an Occupational Therapist. It helps employers understand how a health condition may be affecting an employee’s work performance, attendance and wellbeing. It assists in fulfilling employer Duty of Care responsibilities. Early intervention can help reduce the risk of relapse and improve long-term outcomes. The individual may be continuing to work or be on sick leave.
It provides advise on:
- Whether an employee is fit for work, to perform job duties
- How a mental health condition is affecting workplace performance/productivity
- Whether workplace factors may be contributing to difficulties
- What support or Reasonable Adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 may be appropriate. Flexible working, workload adjustment – support/IT tools, environmental modifications, temporary or longer term
- How to facilitate a safe and sustainable return to work (RTW) after sick leave, graded/phased plan of hours, following a Med3 ‘fit note‘ (since April 2010)
- Whether further intervention or rehabilitation may be beneficial
- How to manage complex cases with confidence, including support links to further advice and information.
Our reports provide practical recommendations that help employers make informed decisions while supporting employee wellbeing.
We see those experiencing anxiety, panic and mood changes, emotional wellbeing concerns. Also work-related stress and burnout. Diagnoses including Depression/bipolar. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Psychotic and personality disorders. Eating disorders and obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD). Substance/drug abuse.
Neurodevelopmental conditions: Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC/ASD). Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder (AD(H)D). Specific learning needs – dyslexia (reading) and dyscalculia (maths). Developmental Co-ordination Disporder – dyspraxia (DCD) balance/co-ordination. Communication/speech disorders. Tourette/Tic disorders. Sensory sensitivities that inpact the workplace (brightness, noise, smells etc)
A formal diagnosis is not required to implement reasonable adjustments and support in the workplace. Individual strengths are focussed on and solutions to ease challenges.
How a Mental Health/Neurodiversity Assessment Works
Initial Referral: We begin by gathering information regarding the employee’s role, concerns and referral objectives.
Assessment: We spend 2 – 3 hours with the employee, either via video call or F2F (at workplace/hired meeting room/at their home). The assessor uses their clinical and observational skills gather the information.
The assessment considers:
- Current health and diagnoses, including wellbeing history
- Current symptoms/difficulties as detailed by the individual. We also use standardised questionnaires to gether more details
- Existing treatment and support
- Impact on work performance and attendance
- Workplace/role demands and pressures
- Psychological and environmental factors
- Barriers to work participation
- Strategies that may support recovery and work performance
Send a message via our Contact Form today.
Comprehensive report: Following the assessment, a detailed report will be sent via email.
Our reports are typically 10-15 pages, (other providers may be 1-2 pages mainly only answering current questions). as we explore all aspects and provide extra information – as the report includes many practical workplace solution options, including information/links which may be beneficial to the employer/referrer but also to the individual, e.g. further condition management advice and self-help information, to assist in the suopport and management of the employee for several months (revisit the report at a later date to further fokllow up with additional advice options).
Also if there are any workplace issues impacting the individual’s health, eg with tasks, work relationships etc. we will aim to detail these, as reported by the individual, sensitively, in order that they can be addressed.
This valuable document provides comprehensive answers to any questions raised by the referrer and discusses the current ability of the worker to perform a work role, for example:
-
- What is the exact nature of the condition(s) the employee is experiencing?
- How long have they been experiencing the condition, and how long would you expect it to last?
- What are the likely causes of the condition?
- What treatment (if any), including medication, is the employee currently receiving for the condition?
- What is the effect of the medication in your opinion?
- Is the condition considered a disability within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010? If so, what substantial long-term effects does the condition(s) have (if any) upon the employee’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities and what activities are affected.
- Could the condition be aggravated by workplace issues?
- In your opinion, is the employee fit to continue working in their current role?
- Please provide details of what (if any) aspects of the role the employee is not fit to continue with or which duties require reasonable adjustments.
- Can you recommend further rehabilitation, recommendations or equipment requirements?
- Do you have any special recommendations regarding the hours that the employee may be able to work and the frequency of their attendance at work, e.g., if a phased return, on what basis?
- Is the employee fit to participate in a meeting to discuss their capability to continue in their current role if not, are there any adjustments which would enable the employee to participate in a discussion about their capability with us?
- In your opinion, are there any types of alternative roles or any changes that can be made to their current role that might enable them to continue in employment with us?
Meanwhile, you can read our Mental health and Wellbeing Support Handout which is provided at each assessment and as an appendix in the report: Mental health and Wellbeing Support – English qr code April 2024
What are the benefits of a Mental Health Assessment with Healthywork?
- We are experienced specialist Occupational therapists, familiar with the field of occupational health, providing our clinical opinion and advice to assist the referrer in their decision making process.
- We conduct a detailed assessment with the individual regarding their health situation and work circumstances; gathering up-to-date information. Establish if the individual is accessing relevant NHS/Private services.
- Helps to identify any other barriers to employment, such as physical health issues, social, financial factors that may need to be addressed.
- We focus on actionable recommendations that employers can implement immediately.
- Speeds up the return-to-work process, reducing the length of time the worker is absent. Early resolution and addressing of issues reduces the negative impact of longer-term absenteeism and pressure on other employees.
- Gives clear guidance on how to manage and support employees.
- Saves the employer money on work days lost (by prevention of sick leave) so minimises sickness absence management costs.
- Sends a positive message about the employer’s active management and support regarding health needs and sickness absence, to achieve positive outcomes for employers and their employees.
- We offer an independent UK wide service, with no ongoing/retainer contract. We can provide an adhoc assessment service as required, especially beneficial for more specialist/complex cases. We can often be instructed whilst another more general occupational health service contract is already in place.
What is the cost of the Assessment?
A mental health assessment estimate is packaged into 12 hours of professional input, which is £1200.00* (F2F assessment/travel costs would be additional).
We keep a timesheet of our actual input. If the input required is of a longer or shorter duration, we will adjust the fee accordingly.
*In our 25-year experience of delivering Occupational Health input, we estimate an average of 12 hours of professional input is required for this type of assessment (some are 8-9 hours, others are 15-17 hours, occasionally over 20 hours, dependant on how complex the situation is).
Send a message via our Contact Form today.
See our Mental Health Assessment Case Study
See our blog article on Mental Health Awareness at Work
See our Useful Links page, which includes diagnosis-specific advice from organisations which can help.