Occupational Health Physician

Getlink; Folkestone; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established company is seeking an Occupational Health Physician to support workforce wellbeing and safety compliance. This role involves conducting medical assessments, managing clinical cases, and offering expert advice. The ideal candidate should hold a Diploma in Occupational Medicine and have experience in safety-critical environments. The position is based in Folkestone, with a hybrid working model.

Qualifications

• Experience in Occupational Health settings, preferably in safety-critical roles.
• Ability to handle complex clinical cases and provide medical fitness assessments.
• Strong understanding of clinical governance and medical confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Conduct statutory medicals and fitness-for-work assessments.
• Manage complex clinical cases involving return-to-work planning.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety standards and clinical guidelines.

Skills

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Communication skills

Clinical judgement

Education

Diploma in Occupational Medicine

GMC registration

Job description

This role delivers expert Occupational Health services to support railway safety, workforce wellbeing, and regulatory compliance. As an experienced Occupational Health Physician, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring employees are medically fit for safety-critical roles, helping to prevent workplace-related illness and injury, and promoting long-term health across a diverse rail workforce.

You will be part of a dedicated clinical team, contributing to the delivery of a high-quality Occupational Health service. This includes providing specialist medical advice and support to employees, managers, and key stakeholders.

The Occupational Health Department is central to maintaining employee health and fitness for work through comprehensive services such as pre-employment assessments, routine health screenings, and management referral medicals, all delivered in line with established clinical standards. Beyond these core functions, the department actively promotes wellbeing through expert guidance and targeted health campaigns, fostering a resilient and healthy workforce.

• Conduct statutory and company-required medicals, including:

  • Safety-critical medicals

  • Pre-placement and fitness-for-work assessments

  • Periodic and follow-up safety-critical reviews

  • HAVS Tier 3 and 4 assessments

  • Drug and alcohol screening

• Manage complex clinical cases involving fitness for duty, sickness absence, rehabilitation, and return-to-work planning

• Ensure all services comply with RSSB guidance, ORR requirements, and SEQOHS accreditation standards

• Support internal audits and external inspections through robust clinical governance processes

• Maintain accurate and secure medical records in line with confidentiality, GDPR, and GMC guidelines

• Collaborate with Health & Safety, HR, operational leaders, and union representatives

• Provide expert advice on:

  • Medical fitness criteria

  • Reasonable adjustments and redeployment

  • Mental health and wellbeing at work

• Participate in multi-disciplinary case conferences and absence management reviews

• Work alongside the Clinical Lead Nurse to support service delivery and team supervision

• Contribute to the training of OH staff and internal stakeholders on health-related rail standards

• Support ongoing service development and innovation aligned with operational safety priorities

• Participate in clinical audits and quality improvement projects

• Contribute to the development and review of occupational health policies, procedures, and educational materials.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum Diploma in Occupational Medicine (Dip Occ Med); higher qualifications such as AFOM, MFOM, or FFOM are welcomed

• General Medical Council (GMC) registration for Occupational Health medicine is essential

• ORR Registered Doctor status is advantageous, or willingness to become ORR registered while in post

• Fully qualified and experienced Occupational Health Physician (AFOM, MFOM)

• Experience working in the railway or other safety-critical environments within an Occupational Health role

• Previous involvement in ORR audits or SEQOHS accreditation is highly desirable

• Strong understanding of Railway Standards, ORR requirements, and SEQOHS principles

• Excellent knowledge and application of clinical governance, medical confidentiality, and GDPR

• Proficiency in IT systems, including Microsoft Office and Occupational Health record systems

• Solid understanding of UK Health and Safety legislation

• Ability to build effective professional relationships across teams and with internal stakeholders at all levels

• High attention to detail, commitment to quality, and a proactive approach to service improvement

• Emotional resilience and the ability to remain calm and effective under pressure

• Strong communication, clinical judgement, and teamwork skills

• High level of verbal and written communication skills; basic understanding of spoken and written French is an advantage

• Commitment to maintaining MFOM validation and continuous professional development.

Person Specification

• Four-day-per-week position based at the Occupational Health Department in Folkestone, Kent

• Hybrid working model available, combining on-site presence with remote work

• Standard working hours are Monday to Friday, with flexibility for occasional operational needs

• Demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and consistent respect for confidentiality

• Builds strong rapport with employees and line managers across all areas of the organisation

• Able to form effective, collaborative working relationships with first-line managers and stakeholders

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a courteous and professional manner

• Strong organisational and time management skills; able to prioritise effectively in a dynamic environment

• High attention to detail, ensuring consistent quality and accuracy in clinical work

• Advanced clinical assessment and diagnostic skills, with sound clinical judgement

• Confident working autonomously and managing own caseload independently

• Comfortable working in a busy, fast-paced, and sometimes pressurised environment

• Presents a professional and approachable image, representing the Occupational Health service positively

If you are interested in applying, please submit your application online by Thursday 11th September 2025.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications. Therefore, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Please Note: From 1 January 2021, non-British and non-Irish nationals who do not already hold a UK immigration status will be required to obtain a visa in order to be able to work in the UK. Before applying for this role, please ensure that you are permitted to apply.
For further information, please visit the UK Visa and Immigration Website.

• Durée du contrat en mois / Contract duration in months (CDD/FTC, détachement/secondment, alternance/apprentice, intérim/seasonal):
• Type de contrat / Contract Type: CDI / Permanent