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Bloom Health × Hessington Health

Occupational Health For
Schools & Education

Specialist occupational health services designed around the unique pressures, staffing structures and legal obligations of the education sector. Trusted by some of the UK's most distinguished independent schools - and now accessible to schools and academies across Milton Keynes and the surrounding region.

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At a Glance

Location

Bloom Health, Milton Keynes

Referral required

No

Urgent assessments

Within 7 days

Face-to-face assessment

Within 2 weeks

Sector experience

15+ years

Legal compliance

Equality Act 2010

Assessment formats

In-person · Video · Phone

Clinical partner

Hessington Health

Nurse administering Edu vaccination

15+

Years delivering OH to the education sector

7 days

Urgent assessments via video or telephone

8 → 1.8

Average sick days reduced through Hessington Health programmes

90%+

Of face-to-face referrals seen within 2 weeks

Schools Need More Than
Generic Occupational Health

The education sector carries a distinct and demanding set of occupational health challenges. Teaching and support staff face pressures that are rarely replicated in other working environments: high emotional labour, term-time intensity, significant safeguarding responsibilities and - increasingly - the weight of mental health demands from both pupils and staff alike.

Hessington Health has been one of the UK's most trusted occupational health providers to the education sector for over 15 years. Their client list includes some of the country's most prominent independent schools - and in every case, the service has been tailored to reflect the particular structure, culture and legal obligations of that institution.

Through the Bloom Health partnership, that depth of education-sector OH expertise is now available to schools, academies and education trusts across Milton Keynes and the surrounding region. The same standard of care that Haberdashers Elstree, North London Collegiate and Francis Holland Schools Trust rely upon - accessible locally, without referral, without delay.

Dr Harjeev Rai

Clinical Partner

Dr Harjeev Rai

MB BCh DFFP DRCOG PGDipCard MRCGP MSt MedEd (Dist, Cantab) · Medical Director, Hessington Health

Dr Rai has been the sole occupational health provider for some of the UK's most distinguished independent schools - institutions that demand a level of clinical rigour, discretion and legal expertise that few OH providers can match.

His willingness to support HR teams and senior leaders directly through complex and sensitive cases - with real-time advisory conversations, not just written reports - is consistently cited as one of Hessington Health's most valued differentiators.

Every report is evidence-based, clearly written and fully compliant with the Equality Act 2010. No ambiguity. No fence-sitting. No reports that create more questions than they answer.

ICO registered. Fully GDPR compliant. Secure case handling via SharePoint.

One of our key differentiators in the occupational health sector is our specialisation in the education sector. We understand the HR structures, the safeguarding obligations, the term-time rhythms and the specific pressures that make school staff management uniquely complex. Generic OH providers rarely do.

Speak to Our Team

What School HR Leaders Say About Working With Us

Hessington Health is the sole occupational health provider for some of the UK's most distinguished independent schools. These are their words.

Dr Rai and his team have been wonderful in supporting our school with employee health and wellbeing. Their timely response to referrals and expert knowledge when providing robust reports with clear advice and recommendations have been integral to making our employees feel supported whilst at work or returning from a period of absence. The team work to a high standard and provide all the necessary referral forms and letters that comply with our legal requirements and governance. This allows us to feel reassured we are meeting our employer obligations.

HR Business Partner

HR Business Partner

Haberdashers' School, Elstree

right info

Everything Your School Needs.
Nothing Generic.

All services can be taken as a full end-to-end OH solution or on an individual basis - tailored to the size, structure and needs of your institution.

Pre-Employment Health Assessments
Pre-Employment Health AssessmentsA structured occupational health assessment for all new staff - exploring health history in depth, identifying any role-relevant conditions, and producing a clear Equality Act 2010 compliance report with specific reasonable adjustments guidance. Includes advice on pre-employment health questionnaires for HR.
Sickness Absence Management
Sickness Absence ManagementStructured monitoring and management of short and long-term sickness absence - supporting return-to-work planning, identifying underlying patterns, and providing HR with the clinical guidance needed to act decisively, lawfully and with confidence.
Complex Case Management
Complex Case ManagementExpert management of long-term, complex and sensitive sickness absence cases - including mental health, stress-related conditions, musculoskeletal issues and chronic illness. Dr Rai is available for direct advisory conversations with HR and senior leaders throughout the process.
Equality Act 2010 Compliance
Equality Act 2010 ComplianceClear, unambiguous guidance on your legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010 - with specific, actionable reasonable adjustments recommendations written with legal rigour. Reports that give your school confidence to act, not more uncertainty.
DSE Workstation Assessments
DSE Workstation AssessmentsErgonomic workstation assessments for teaching and support staff - conducted in-person on site or remotely - ensuring full compliance with the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992, with clear written reports.
Flu Vaccination Campaigns
Flu Vaccination CampaignsOn-site annual flu vaccination programmes for all staff - reducing term-time absence, protecting vulnerable pupils, and demonstrating your institution's commitment to staff health. Administered by experienced nurses, coordinated around your school calendar.
Staff Wellbeing Webinars & Seminars
Staff Wellbeing Webinars & SeminarsEducational webinars and lectures delivered on-site or via video link - addressing stress management, mental health, physical wellbeing and work-life balance. Designed specifically for the education environment and its particular pressures.
Night Shift & Cover Staff Assessments
Night Shift & Cover Staff AssessmentsStatutory health assessments for boarding school staff working overnight or irregular hours - ensuring compliance with the Working Time Regulations 1998 and identifying any health risks associated with shift or extended working patterns.
Digital Case Management & HR Support
Digital Case Management & HR SupportAll referral documentation handled securely via SharePoint - GDPR compliant, confidential, and accessible through our online OH client portal. Full referral form templates, letters and policy documents provided, ensuring your HR team has everything needed to refer correctly from day one.

No Referral Needed

All occupational health services for schools are accessible directly through Bloom Health. Contact us and we will respond within one working day.

Speak to Our Team

What You Can Expect When
You Work With Us

Every school that works with Bloom Health and Hessington Health receives the same standard of service - clinically rigorous, legally compliant, and genuinely responsive to the rhythms and pressures of school life.

Urgent OH assessments within 7 days via video conference or telephone
Face-to-face assessments within 2 weeks for over 90% of referrals
Evidence-based reports fully compliant with the Equality Act 2010
Clear, unambiguous guidance on reasonable adjustments - no fence-sitting
Direct advisory support for HR managers and senior leaders on complex cases
Joint case ownership with HR on long-term or sensitive cases
Full referral documentation: forms, letters and policy templates provided
Secure case management via SharePoint - confidential and GDPR compliant
On-site or remote flu vaccination campaigns coordinated around the school calendar
Staff wellbeing webinars and educational seminars - on-site or via video
The Business Case for Schools
8 → 1.8Hessington Health's own data shows that organisations working with their OH programmes have reduced average sick days per employee from 8 per year to 1.8 - a reduction of over 75%. For a school of 80 staff, that is the equivalent of recovering over 496 lost teaching days per year.
The Cost of Unmanaged Absence
£495The CBI estimates sickness absence costs roughly £495 per employee per year - before supply cover, management time and legal exposure are factored in. For schools, where cover costs are immediate and visible, the true cost of unmanaged absence is considerably higher.
Mental Health in Schools

13.8 million working days were lost in a single year due to work-related stress in the UK. The education sector accounts for a disproportionate share. Proactive mental health OH support is no longer a benefit - it is a legal and operational necessity.

A Thorough Evaluation Of
Every Element Of The Workstation

Each assessment evaluates six core areas of the workstation environment - producing specific, practical recommendations for every element identified as a risk.

Mental Health on Par with Physical Health
Mental Health on Par with Physical HealthEmployers must now include mental health provisions within health and safety policies. Stress, anxiety and other mental health conditions must be recognised as critical factors in workplace safety and productivity - not separate from it.
Statutory Sick Pay Reform
Statutory Sick Pay ReformSSP is now available to all workers regardless of earnings threshold. Schools must ensure robust mechanisms for monitoring and supporting staff who are off sick - particularly for long-term physical and mental health conditions.
Holistic Sickness Absence Management
Holistic Sickness Absence ManagementReturn-to-work strategies must incorporate both physical and mental health. Failure to comply leaves schools exposed to claims of unfair dismissal, discrimination or workplace safety breaches - risks that well-managed occupational health eliminates.
Day-One Rights for All Workers
Day-One Rights for All WorkersWorkers now have statutory rights - including sick pay and unfair dismissal protections - from day one. Pre-employment occupational health assessments are no longer best practice. For schools, they are essential risk management from the moment a new member of staff joins.

What This Means for School HR Managers

Ensuring compliance with the broadened definition of health - which now fully integrates mental wellbeing alongside physical health

Updating sickness absence policies to meet SSP reform requirements and ensure staff are properly supported throughout

Proactively managing long-term health conditions and return-to-work processes from day one of employment

Keeping pace with legislative changes that require real-time adjustments to employment contracts and OH provisions

Navigating complex cases - mental health, disability, long COVID - where expert clinical guidance is essential to avoid legal exposure

School HR managers discussion
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Frequently Asked Questions

Explore answers to common questions about blood tests, appointments, preparation, results, and the support available from our clinical team at Bloom Health.

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163-175 Grafton Gate, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom, MK9 1AE
01908227777
info@bloom-health.co.uk
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