Senior Occupational Health Adviser

Dorset Council; Dorchester; Hybrid; Part time

Job summary

A local governmental organization in Dorchester is seeking an Occupational Health Lead to help shape an in-house service. You will deliver high-quality occupational health services, manage caseloads, and advise on health risks, ensuring employee wellbeing across the council. The role offers flexibility with a minimum commitment of 26 hours weekly and opportunities for professional development. Ideal candidates are registered nurses with experience in occupational health and strong communication skills.

Benefits

Flexible working

Ongoing professional development

Collaborative team environment

Qualifications

• Experience in pre-placement screening, case management and managing a clinical caseload.
• Registered nurse on Part 3 of the NMC register with occupational health qualifications.
• Confident conducting assessments and writing clear reports.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of a high-quality occupational health service.
• Carry out health assessments and manage sickness absence.
• Influence wellbeing policy and contribute to service improvement.

Skills

Pre-placement screening

Case management

Clinical assessments

Communication skills

Understanding of workplace health risks

Education

Specialist occupational health qualifications (degree or diploma)

Job description

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About the role

This is a rewarding opportunity to lead on occupational health at Dorset Council, helping shape an in-house service that makes a real difference to our people. You'll enjoy varied and meaningful work, a collaborative team environment, and the chance to influence wellbeing policy and practice across the council. This role offers flexibility, autonomy, and ongoing professional development, with the scope to grow your leadership skills and make a positive, lasting impact.

This role can be offered full time or part time, with a minimum commitment of 26 hours each week.

What you'll be doing

You’ll support the delivery of a high-quality occupational health service, carrying out health assessments, supporting sickness absence management, advising on health risks at work, and overseeing wellbeing initiatives. Working closely with internal teams and external customers, including schools and academies, you'll analyse trends, contribute to health promotion, and mentor colleagues. You’ll also support policy development, contribute to service improvement, and act as deputy for the Occupational Health Lead.

The role will involve pre-placement screening, case management, and providing managers and staff with appropriate health advice and guidance.

About you

• you'll have experience in pre-placement screening, case management and managing a clinical caseload
• you'll be a registered nurse on Part 3 of the NMC register with specialist occupational health qualifications, such as a degree or diploma
• you'll be confident conducting assessments and writing clear, practical reports
• you'll be a skilled communicator able to work with staff at all levels and with external clients
• you'll bring a good understanding of workplace health risks, relevant legislation and best practice
• you'll be organised, emotionally intelligent, and able to balance competing demands
• experience working in a large organisation or supervising others would be an advantage, as would holding a NEBOSH certificate

This is a great chance to join a small, supportive team where your expertise will directly contribute to improving employee wellbeing across Dorset Council and beyond. If you're passionate about occupational health and keen to develop your career in a varied and influential role, we'd love to hear from you.

Further Information

This role can be offered full time or part time, with a minimum commitment of 26 hours each week.

Interviews will be held on Thursday 15 January 2026.

For an informal conversation about this role please contact Rose Hill, [email protected], Occupational Health Lead.

About Us

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

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At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you're passionate about making a difference, we'd love you to join us.

Find out more about how to apply.