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Occupational Health Advisor
Business Area: Group
Location: Highbridge, Somerset
Contract: Permanent
Working Hours: Part time and Full time hours considered
Salary: Up top £52k per annum dependent on skill and experience

Why join us.
We’re proud to offer you a career with possibilities. Where you’ll be supported to work hard, aim high and bring your best to work, every day. As a valued Occupational Health Advisor we’ll support your ambition, reward your resilience, and encourage you to rise to challenges and create a career you can be proud of too.

What we do.
We’re the market leader in the UK fresh prepared food industry - supplying meals, salads, desserts, pizza and bread to leading grocery retailers including Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose.

About this role.
Join Our Team as an Occupational Health Advisor at Bakkavor – A Role that Makes a Difference!

Are you a dedicated healthcare professional looking to make a meaningful impact? At Bakkavor, we’re seeking an Occupational Health Advisor to lead our Highbridge and Devizes site's Occupational Health & Wellbeing Service, helping to improve the health, safety, and wellbeing of our colleagues.

Occupational Health plays a critical role in supporting the long-term health of employees, ensuring workplaces are safe and conducive to physical and mental wellbeing. As an Occupational Health Advisor, you will be at the forefront of this effort—championing preventative care, managing health surveillance, and guiding colleagues through their return to work after illness or injury.

In this role, you’ll have the chance to directly influence the overall culture of wellbeing at Bakkavor by providing expert advice on reducing workplace risks, supporting mental health initiatives, and creating a healthier environment for all. Whether it’s through managing health surveillance programs, advising on fitness for work, or collaborating with key stakeholders to develop wellness strategies, your work will have a tangible impact on the lives of hundreds of colleagues.

Occupational Health is more than just compliance with regulations—it’s about fostering an environment where people feel supported, valued, and able to perform their best. You’ll be helping to shape a healthier workplace, improving not only attendance and productivity but also the overall quality of life for our employees.

Key role responsibilities.

-Managing health surveillance and ensuring compliance with Health & Safety legislation.

-Leading and developing the Occupational Health Technicians at your site.

-Assessing employees' fitness for work and facilitating their return to work.

-Implementing and driving Bakkavor’s proactive Wellbeing Strategy.

-Working closely with HR, line managers, and external professionals to deliver holistic health services.

-Continuously improving our services to ensure they meet both business and employee needs.

-Manage health referrals from management.

-Provide advice and guidance to the team, acting as a key point of contact.

-Support site teams in absence management and compliance.

-Monitor and analyse health trends to drive proactive wellbeing initiatives.

A day in the life.

-Wellbeing Strategy: Play a crucial role in shaping and implementing our health and wellbeing strategy. This includes conducting health assessments, promoting health awareness, ensuring regulatory compliance, and fostering a healthy workplace.

-Absence Management: Work closely with site teams and HR Business Partners (HRBPs) to manage both short and long-term employee absences, offering tailored workplace adjustments and preventative health measures.

-Health Surveillance: Ensure compliance with health surveillance requirements and act as an escalation point for Technicians needing advice or support.

-Stakeholder Collaboration: Engage with stakeholders, providing guidance and support to over 120 Wellbeing Champions, colleagues, and site teams. Lead health promotion campaigns and network with other Occupational Health Advisors to stay ahead of trends.

-Proactive Campaigns: Identify health trends such as musculoskeletal challenges and implement proactive campaigns to address them. Contribute to Wellbeing Month initiatives focused on mental, physical, and financial health.

-Process Improvement: Contribute to ongoing projects aimed at streamlining workflows, transitioning from paper-based to electronic systems, and improving communication and branding.

About you.
As an Occupational Health professional, your experience, skills, and qualifications will be key in shaping the future of workplace health and wellbeing at Bakkavor. We're looking for someone with a passion for employee welfare and a strong foundation in occupational health practices. Here's what makes you the perfect fit:

-Nursing Qualification (EN/RGN): Your nursing background provides a solid foundation in medical knowledge and patient care, enabling you to confidently assess and manage the health needs of employees.

-Formal Occupational Health Qualification (Level 6 Diploma/Degree): With a specialised qualification in Occupational Health, you are equipped to manage a range of workplace health challenges. Your training will enable you to deliver tailored health assessments, manage workplace risks, and ensure compliance with relevant Health & Safety legislation.

-Experience in Occupational Health Practice (minimum 18 months): Your practical experience means you're familiar with the unique demands of occupational health, from conducting health surveillance to advising on return-to-work programs. You’ve handled diverse cases, allowing you to make informed decisions that benefit both employees and the business.

-Awareness of Health & Safety and Employment Legislation: Your knowledge of regulations such as the Equality Act and health surveillance requirements ensures that Bakkavor remains compliant with current legal standards. You're able to apply these practically in the workplace, ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all.

-Effective Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Your ability to communicate complex medical information clearly to non-medical colleagues makes you a key advisor. You’re able to build strong relationships with employees, HR, and management, fostering a culture of trust and wellbeing.

-Flexible Approach to Working Hours: In a fast-paced manufacturing environment, you’re willing to work across a variety of shifts—including days, evenings, and nights—to ensure the health needs of all employees are met, no matter their schedule.

-Experience in Manufacturing Environments: Your experience within a manufacturing setting, especially in fast-moving consumer goods or chilled food environments, gives you a unique understanding of the occupational health challenges specific to this industry. You know how to navigate the fast pace and high demands of this type of work, ensuring the health service you provide aligns with operational needs.

-Full Driving Licence and Willingness to Travel: As our Occupational Health Advisor, you’ll be flexible and mobile, with the ability to travel across different locations within the region. This ensures consistency and access to high-quality health services across multiple sites.

-Your blend of clinical expertise, strong problem-solving skills, and passion for employee welfare make you an invaluable asset to our team. You’re not just delivering health services—you’re contributing to the overall success and wellbeing of the entire business.

Preferred:

-Experience in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods or Chilled Food industries.

-NEBOSH qualification (advantageous but not essential).

What you’ll receive.
As an equal opportunity employer, we’re committed to providing a safe and rewarding environment for you to thrive in. This is why we work hard to deliver benefits, rewards and wellbeing offerings that are important to you.

You’ll enjoy:

* Life Assurance (2.5 x salary)

* Short Term Bonus Scheme

* 25 days holiday

* Staff Shop

* Stakeholder Pension Scheme

* MyBargains Discount Platform

* Personal Accident Insurance

* Free Independent Mortgage Advice

* Employee Assistance Programme

* A Range of voluntary benefits (holiday purchase scheme, additional life assurance, dental & hospital cash plans)

* Discounted tutoring for children

* Access to financial learning tools and affordable loans via your salary

* Private Medical Insurance (employee)

* Free Carparking

Plus, a commitment to your wellbeing that includes emotional, physical and financial support services delivered by our fantastic team of wellbeing champions.

Proud to be Bakkavor.
We’re proud to be the market leader in the UK fresh prepared food industry. We’re proud to supply meals, salads, desserts, pizza and bread to leading grocery retailers including Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. We’re driven by the hard work and passion of our people and are delighted to offer a wide range of careers across our business – come and join our dedicated Bakkavor team!

Find out more and apply