Occupational health
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From advisor to manager: navigating a successful career in Occupational Health
An interview with Gary Evans, our Occupational Health Clinical Manager at RPS. From his diverse career beginnings to his recent promotion, he offers a wealth of experience and valuable advice for those entering the field.
09 July 2024 | 5 min read
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In the ever-evolving field of occupational health, leadership and expertise are essential to ensuring the well-being of employees and meeting the rigorous demands of health surveillance. We recently caught up with Gary Evans, our Occupational Health Clinical Manager at RPS, who shares insights into his career progression, the responsibilities of his current role, and the journey that led him to this pivotal position.
Can you describe your current role and your primary responsibilities?
My current role is Occupational Health Clinical Manager. I support a team of eight Occupational Health Nurses who conduct health surveillance reporting for our clients and their employees.
My job is to ensure we maintain a high level of service while meeting stringent targets. I also work closely with our clients to ensure good communication and that they receive the appropriate health surveillance and other occupational health services for their workforce.
You started as an Occupational Health Advisor and have recently been promoted to Clinical Manager, can you tell us what this means to you?
Being promoted to Clinical Manager means a great deal to me. It is a recognition of my knowledge and experience and a trust in my ability to lead a great team of Occupational Health Advisors. This role allows me to utilise everything I’ve learned in my 20 years in Occupational Health.
I enjoy supporting our Nurses and Technicians, introducing new initiatives like the improved Red Flag process, and having direct contact with health and safety managers and staff at our clients' workplaces. This position will enable me to continue developing as a practitioner and making a difference.
Can you tell us about your career journey in the occupational health industry and what motivated you to join RPS?
Before nursing, I had a varied career path, including studying Graphic Design at an art college and working in fields like hospitality, horticulture, care work, and for the Youth Hostels Association. I decided to become a nurse and qualified in 2001 after training in Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides. I worked in various nursing roles including A&E, Community Nursing, Outpatients, and the Medical Ward.
In 2004, I became an Occupational Health screening nurse in the NHS, focusing on vaccinations, blood tests, and health promotion campaigns. After three years, I moved to my local authority as an Occupational Health Advisor (OHA), handling sickness absence cases and health surveillance for seven years after which I returned to the NHS to complete my SCPHN Occupational Health degree. I worked as an OHA for a neighbouring local authority and then as a senior OHA with a private Occupational Health provider at the start of COVID.
After over two years of working mainly from home, I sought a change in direction and joined RPS. I was drawn to the role's focus on health surveillance reporting and the flexibility it offered. My conversations with my manager convinced me that RPS was committed to providing high-quality service to clients and taking care of its staff, both of which are very important to me.
What has your training and support journey been like from RPS?
From my first day with RPS, I have felt well-supported and respected by all my colleagues. Even though I had experience in Occupational Health, the survey role was quite new to me. I was given time to settle in and learn the process of issuing health surveillance and fitness for work certificates, which can be challenging due to the remote nature of the role.
I attended practitioner training days and received external training in Audiometry and blood result interpretation. In March, I moved to a Senior Occupational Health Advisor role, managing a team of nurses for the first time! The support from my director, line manager, and the wider RPS teams has been superb. My subsequent move to Occupational Health Clinical Manager has been equally well supported as well. Although I had experience with audits and creating goals for myself, doing it for a team is very different. I've received excellent support from Clinical Governance and HR to ensure it’s done correctly.
What advice would you give to someone just starting in the occupational health field?
I would advise new professionals to seek opportunities to shadow experienced Occupational Health practitioners in various settings to gain comprehensive experience in health surveillance, health screening, and health promotion.
Joining an Occupational Health professional organisation, such as the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM), is also important to stay updated with the latest developments in the field through their website and publications. Take every opportunity you can to learn and get yourself deeply immersed in your field.
Do you have any tips for maintaining a healthy work-life balance?
It's important to maintain clear boundaries between work and personal life, especially when working from home. I make sure to leave my desk for lunch and take regular short breaks away from screens. I also log on and off at reasonable times and turn off my computer and phone when I finish the day.
Having handled thousands of management referral cases coupled with my own experiences, I've seen the unhealthy patterns and behaviours that can lead to stress and anxiety. Good sleep, diet, and exercise are crucial, as is ensuring your work is fulfilling. If you're struggling, take your time and please speak with your manager or a colleague, as support is always available.
Interested in a career at RPS?
We pride ourselves in making complex easy, and we encourage and value team members that can bring different ideas, perspectives and styles of thinking to all our surveying and inspection activities.
We want you to grow and succeed with us. If you want your work to be varied, to have a sense of purpose and to feel part of a team yet valued as an individual, then RPS is the home you are looking for.
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