HR Consultancy
Welfare and medical capability meetings
When dealing long-term absence or persistent short-term absences, care must be taken to avoid being found liable for unlawful discrimination.
If you have concerns about an employee’s ability to undertake their role effectively, our seasoned HR Consultants can take care of all formal meetings for you and help you to do the right thing by your people and your business.
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How we help
Manage medical capability as quickly and painlessly as possible
The business impact of ill health can be significant. Whether this is manifesting as frequent short-term absences, long-term sickness or a drop in performance, medical capability issues can be nuanced, complex and take many months to resolve.
Whether the outcome is a safe return to work or dismissal on medical grounds, our hands-on HR support can help you move forward quickly and compliantly.
- Follow the correct procedure with support from a named HR Consultant who is familiar with the process and knows what questions to ask
- Have us consultant conduct welfare meetings, medical capability hearings and appeals with the employee on your behalf
- Understand prognosis and likely time periods with help arranging the medical consent and reports
- Minimise the risk of an Employment Tribunal claim with measured advice on reasonable adjustments
- Make reasonable, informed decisions with a summary report of facts and recommendations
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Peace of mind in high-pressure situations
In addition to the amount of time and attention welfare and medical capability issues demand, these matters can invite high emotions and legal risk, making them a daunting prospect for even the most competent managers. As well as not being emotionally invested, reducing the likelihood of enflaming the situation, our skilled HR specialists have an expert understanding of best practice, minimising the scope for litigation later down the line.
Even issues that seem, on the face of it, only very loosely connected to an employee’s medical condition have cost employers thousands at Tribunal. It therefore makes sense to enlist specialist support to not only save time and stress but ensure any decisions taken are proportionate, in pursuit of a legitimate aim and supported by solid documentary evidence.
Popular FAQs
Common queries about our welfare and medical capability support, answered the HR specialists that deliver it.
Can you help us to reach a decision on medical capability?
Any decision in regard to an employee’s fitness for work can only be made by the organisation. However, we can help you to look at the requirements of the role against the person’s limitations and consider whether adjustments can be made to their hours or duties to enable them to return. All the information you need to make an informed decision will be presented in one report produced by your HR Consultant.
What’s the difference between a welfare meeting and medical capability hearing?
A welfare meeting is the initial conversations with the employee, held either during a period of absence or following the absence period. The aim of the meetings is to understanding what issues they are facing, how this impacts them, and what support is required to enable them to undertake their role effectively. It will also consider if further medical evidence is necessary and whether or not any adjustments should be considered. A medical capability hearing is a formal meeting to review the employee’s absence record and all medical evidence received and make an assessment as to the likelihood of an employee returning to work within a reasonable timeframe or sustaining an acceptable attendance level.
Explore Our HR Consultancy Services
We do more than just welfare and medical capability...
Consultation support
Looking to make changes within your organisation? If it will have a fundamental impact on the employment relationship, you have a duty to inform and consult with your employees first.
Whether you’re embarking on large-scale redundancies, considering making changes to employees’ terms and conditions or going through a transfer of ownership, our skilled HR specialists can conduct productive consultations with those affected to help you make informed, commercial decisions.
Dispute resolution
If alternative forms of dispute resolution fail, settlement agreements may be the only viable solution. However, negotiating one can be daunting – that’s why we’re here to make the process as painless as possible, as well as help you avoid legal pitfalls along the way.
Whether you have an employee who’s consistently underperforming or who isn’t suitable for your team, causing disruption and impacting negatively on team output, we can steer you through the legal requirements and iterative processes that need to be followed to deliver the settlement so that you can sever ties and move forward positively.
Investigations, hearings and appeals
There are many components to a fair disciplinary or grievance process. If you’re not comfortable conducting investigations, hearings and appeals yourself, or are simply strapped for time, our seasoned HR specialists can offer on-site support to take the pressure off.
We can conduct the meetings for you or, if you prefer, attend them with you to provide expert guidance and reassurance. This is invaluable when experienced, independent HR support is needed.
Recruitment
Hiring the right people can measurably propel your organisation towards success. Using proven methods, we can maximise your chances of attracting, sourcing, selecting and retaining the most talented personnel.
If you’re spending too much time and money on your recruitment, or struggling to get quality candidates through the process expediently, our outsourced recruitment offerings are suitable for one-off senior-level hires or even for us managing all your annual vacancies in one place.
Staff surveys
There’s only one way to truly evaluate your workforce’s feelings towards your organisation as a place of work, and that’s by asking them. Our staff surveys provide an effective and transparent measure of employee engagement.
After identifying your objectives, we can help you design, implement and analyse your survey. Done effectively, this can enhance your relationship with your employees, address critical issues and direct organisational growth.
Training and organisation development
Equipping your staff with the right skills fortifies your organisation and maximises its success.
Our trainers will apply fresh thinking to your operational and strategic challenges and offer innovative solutions to address your training requirements. Sharing their skills and knowledge, they will facilitate productive and insightful events to enhance your business’s management and leadership capability.
99.2% Client happiness rating
97% Client retention rating
Why choose us?
Experts in HR
At WorkNest HR, we’re known for our bespoke service and the quality of our support. Not only is our expertise unmatched, but we take the time to know you so that we can function as a true extension of your team.
- 40 employed HR Consultants, many of whom are CIPD qualified, chartered and fellows
- A dedicated Organisational Development Team of specialist trainers and consultants
- Cradle-to-grave HR service for new start-ups and growing businesses – everything from managing your HR administration through to defining your HR strategy
- Specialists in managing projects such as pay and reward, recruitment, HR systems, onboarding, redundancy and restructuring
- HR Consultants based in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Chester, Horsham and London, working remotely and in your premises
Who you’ll be working with
Angela Carter
Director of Legal Services
Toyah Marshall
Head of Team
Toyah Marshall
Principal Employment Law Adviser
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Cllr Miss Elaine Best
Chairman, The West Horsley Parish Council