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Top Incapacity related benefits topic #4958

Subject: "Fit notes – wishful thinking? " First topic | Last topic
rspence
                              

Benefits Adviser, Essex County Council
Member since
29th Jan 2010

Fit notes – wishful thinking?
Mon 08-Mar-10 01:40 PM

In the DWP’s Feb2010 leaflet, A guide for General Practitioners and other doctors at www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/fitnote-gp-guide.pdf , there are 3 "case studies". I wonder if any employment advisers out there find them credible – I don’t.

In one case study, a GP advises a patient called Kareena that she may be fit for work taking account of certain advice:- “Kareena takes the Statement of Fitness for Work to her employer and they discuss the advice. They agree that Kareena should return to work on a phased return to non-complaints, non-customer facing duties before gradually returning to the complaints desk for shorter then longer periods. An experienced member of the team is nominated as a ‘buddy’ to support her and advise on techniques to deal with handling difficult customer issues. Kareena returns to work immediately and after 3 weeks returns to her normal duties.”

Having worked on an employment advice helpline not that long ago, I anticipate that this type of employer response will be the exception rather than the rule. I’d expect many employers to either say ‘stay off work’ (with the threat of ultimate dismissal on incapability grounds) or put pressure on the employee to return to a more demanding role than the one recommended in the Statement of Fitness for Work.

I’d be interested to know what misgivings employment advisers have about the Fit Notes. Are there any discussion boards on the subject? (There is www.elaweb.org.uk but it is subscription only.)

Robbie

  

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