Occupational Health Advisor

Debenhamsgroup; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 92,000 - 148,000; Full time

Job summary

Debenhams Group seeks an experienced Occupational Health Advisor to provide professional occupational health support across Manchester Head Office, London sites and Sheffield Distribution Centre, with some remote working where appropriate.

Working on a flexible, ad hoc basis, you will support with health assessments, fitness-for-work guidance, absence management and workplace adjustments while ensuring compliant, timely advice and confidential record-keeping.

Qualifications

• Qualification in Occupational Health Nursing, Occupational Health Practice or related discipline.
• Current registration with a professional body (NMC, HCPC or equivalent).
• Significant experience delivering occupational health case management.
• Experience assessing office-based and operational/warehouse staff.

Responsibilities

• Carry out occupational health assessments for office and warehouse staff.
• Provide advice on fitness for work, return-to-work plans and workplace adjustments.
• Produce management reports after assessments.
• Advise HR and managers on occupational health matters.
• Support case management referrals and GDPR/compliance.
• Maintain confidential records and liaise with stakeholders.

Skills

Occupational health expertise

Report writing

Stakeholder management

Independent working

Communication skills

Flexible caseload management

Education

Qualification in Occupational Health Nursing or equivalent

Job description

Debenhams Group is one of the UK's most exciting retail transformation stories.

Over the past few years, we've evolved from a traditional online retailer into a technology-led marketplace business, powered by a proprietary platform, a growing ecosystem of brand partners and a portfolio of iconic consumer brands.

Today, Debenhams sits at the heart of the Group as Britain's Online Department Store, alongside boohoo, boohooMAN, PrettyLittleThing and Karen Millen. Together, we're building a more agile, scalable and profitable business focused on long-term growth.

This is an ambitious business undergoing significant change, and Finance plays a critical role in helping shape what comes next.

THE ROLE

We are seeking an experienced and qualified Occupational Health Advisor to provide professional occupational health support across our Manchester Head Office, London sites and Sheffield Distribution Centre (with some remote working where appropriate).

Working on a flexible, ad hoc basis, you will support the business with occupational health assessments, employee wellbeing guidance, fitness for work recommendations and absence management cases. You will work closely with our People Team and managers to help support employee health, wellbeing and attendance while ensuring balanced, practical and compliant advice is provided.

This opportunity would suit an independent Occupational Health professional or consultant looking to work on a flexible basis alongside an existing portfolio of clients. Work will be offered as and when required, with fees agreed in advance. The successful individual must be able to invoice for services provided and maintain appropriate professional accreditation and insurance.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

• Carry out occupational health assessments and consultations for employees across office and warehouse environments.
• Provide professional advice and recommendations regarding:
  • Fitness for work
  • Return to work plans
  • Workplace adjustments
  • Long-term and short-term sickness absence
  • Disability-related support requirements
  • Health conditions impacting work performance
• Produce clear, objective and timely management reports following assessments.
• Advise managers and HR colleagues on occupational health matters and best practice.
• Support with case management referrals as required.
• Assess and recommend reasonable workplace adjustments in line with Equality Act requirements.
• Provide guidance relating to employee wellbeing and workplace health initiatives.
• Maintain confidential employee records and comply with GDPR and professional standards.
• Build positive relationships with employees, managers and key stakeholders across the business.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

We're looking for someone who can combine strong clinical expertise with a pragmatic, commercial approach.

You will have:

Essential

• Qualification in Occupational Health Nursing, Occupational Health Practice or a related Occupational Health discipline.
• Current registration with an appropriate professional body (for example NMC, HCPC or equivalent).
• Significant experience delivering occupational health case management services.
• Experience assessing both office-based and operational/warehouse employees.
• Strong report writing skills with the ability to provide clear and practical recommendations.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage a flexible caseload.
• Full professional indemnity insurance.

Desirable

• Experience supporting retail, logistics, distribution or multi-site businesses.
• Experience conducting workplace assessments.
• Experience delivering wellbeing initiatives and health promotion activities.
• Knowledge of the retail and distribution sector.

WHY JOIN DEBENHAMS GROUP?

2026 marks the next phase of our transformation journey.

We've stabilised the business, rebuilt the foundations and returned the Group to growth. Every brand is now profitable on an Adjusted EBITDA basis, our marketplace strategy continues to scale, and we're investing in the people, technology and capabilities that will drive our next chapter.

Our focus now is around accelerating growth, scaling our marketplace ecosystem, driving operational excellence and building the future of Debenhams Group.

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