Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Health services
The Public Services Programme is designed to reduce work related accidents and ill health and the subsequent loss of productivity in the public services sector. Its key objective is to make a major contribution to HSE’s PSA target for lost days, and particularly:
There is close Ministerial involvement with this area of work across health and social care as part of the overall drive towards the public sector reform and efficiency agendas. The Ministerial Task Force on Health Safety and Productivity is relying on HSE to engage with and co-ordinate efforts in reducing sickness absence. It is also looking to lead by example. The recent publication of DWP proposals on Incapacity Benefit reflects the role that HSE plays in ensuing that workplace health is improved and that suitable arrangements are in place to facilitate better absence management. Similarly, the Health, Work and Well-Being Strategy aims to improve the health of the working population and again, and gives HSE another driver to continue with activities which will make a significant impact on the PSA target.
The Public Services Programme (PSP) involves a portfolio of projects, ranging from direct interventions with dutyholders to assess standards in managing the main causes of sickness absence and ill health, through to engaging with stakeholders to develop guidance and common initiatives on overlapping interests.
During Autumn 2006, HSE ran 18 workshops across the UK for health and social care organisations to help them address high levels of sickness absence and to give them practical support in adopting HSE's Stress Management Standards. HSE is currently planning activities for 2007 during which we will check with those who have attended the workshops on progress made on adopting the Stress Management Standards.
We will also be contacting those organisations who did not attend the workshops to establish what arrangements they have in place for managing sickness absence.
