INTO Equality Conference March 5 th 2010

1. INTO Equality Conference March 5th 2010

2. Presentation • Medmark • General concepts: Disability and reasonable accomodation • Pre-employment assessments • Occupational health assessments • Ill health retirement assessments

3. Medmark • Experience • Specialists, 1991, large no. & variety of companies. Background in educational sector • Qualifications • Specialists, MFOM/FFOM, training practice • Personnel • experienced OHPs, OHAs • efficient admin staff • Location • All surgeries are close to city centres, easily accessible by public transport.

5. Why is ‘medical fitness to teach’ an issue? • Health, safety and well-being of teachers, students & colleagues • Manage any risk to the health of teachers which may arise from their teaching duties. • To enable all teachers, including those with disabilities, can achieve their potential within the bounds of reasonable adjustment.

6. General concepts • Impairment, Disability & Handicap • Legislative context • The Employment Equality Act 1998 • The Equality Act 2004 • “Disproportionate burden” • Nature, cost,benefit, finances,disruption • Size matters • DoE Vs BOM as employer

7. Pre-employment Assessments • Web-based health declaration • www.medmark4teachers.ie • High volume activity • Typically fit and health applicants • Not a screening tool to exclude from employment • Quite the opposite • Exceptional to find someone “unfit” to teach • Occasional requirement to seek accommodated duties

8. Pre-employment Assessments • Web-based health declaration • www.medmark4teachers.ie • Candidate submits an on-line health questionnaire • Candidates may be passed as fit for employment • Physician may contact candidate for further info • Candidate may need to attend one of our regional centres • Decision will be delivered directly to the school / VEC • Information disclosed will be limited

10. Occupational Health Assessment • School management referral • www.medmark4teachers.ie • Discretionary Vs Non-Discretionary • Delay in referral • Teacher attends Medmark • Teacher is assessed by an occupational health physician • Physician issues recommendations to the employer.

11. Case examples • Medmark sees itself as an advocate for those with disabilities seeking workplace accommodation • Examples include • Voice amplification • White board technology • Classroom layout & facilities • Validating necessary medical absences • Dust extraction in woodwork classroom • Subject rotation • Wheelchair access

12. Medmark is working on a select number of cases to develop a system of using sick leave entitlement to facilitate a phased return to work • Problems for us include • Size of some schools • Delay in referral • Impact on others, precedent for others • Seasonal nature of disability • “Medicalisation” of HR/IR issues

13. Stress • Rapid increase in certification • “work related stress” • Potent cert • Externalisation of problem • May not reflect complexity of situation • May indicate a HR/IR problem • Medical illness the cause and not the outcome • EAS, available but very low uptake

14. Ill-Health Retirement Assessments • Measure of last resort • Requires permanent and total disability • All treatment options explored • All workplace accommodations considered • Not to solve HR/IR issues • Medmark opinion • Appeal process

15. Any questions? • Thank You!