Occupational health checks

This page explains Occupational Health (OH) checks for university students, why you might need one, and how to complete the process.

An occupational health check is required for courses where you need to:

  • Demonstrate fitness to practise
  • Receive additional support from the University to help you during your course

An OH check determines:

  • Your fitness to complete the course, including placements
  • Your need for any additional support or reasonable adjustments
  • Your fitness for future employment and registration with your relevant regulatory body (e.g., Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), General Medical Council (GMC), Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), Social Work England (SWE))

The OH check helps the University make informed decisions about your fitness to train and ensures any reasonable adjustments are put in place to support successful course completion. Occupational health support is also available throughout your studies.

Confirmed offer holders will receive a notification from the Admissions Occupational Health Team before the start of the course. This notification explains the OH requirement and identifies which OH provider will complete your check.

ARU uses external, contracted OH providers:

  • Latus Group
  • Cambridge University Hospital
  • North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
  • East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Your OH provider is assigned based on your course and location.

Please do not contact any OH provider until you receive an email confirming your allocated one. Once assigned, you may contact them directly with any questions.

The OH process has two steps:

Health declaration questionnaire

  • Is sent by your allocated OH provider or ARU via email or an online portal link
  • Allows you to disclose any health conditions or disabilities that may affect your ability to study or attend placements
  • Is clinically assessed by the OH provider, who may recommend reasonable adjustment
  • May require you to book a follow-up appointment with the OH provider

Timing

  • Complete your health declaration or portal registration promptly, ideally within 48 hours of receiving the notification.

Immunisation clearance for placement

  • Requires vaccinations and/or blood tests for some courses with practice-based learning in clinical or healthcare environments, in line with Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) guidance
  • Ensures protection for patients, colleagues, and yourself against serious communicable diseases
  • Specifies course-specific vaccinations and/or Exposure Prone Procedure (EPP) requirements
  • Requires full disclosure of your medical history on the health declaration questionnaire and submission of evidence of past vaccinations where appropriate
  • Involves review by your OH provider, who will confirm which immunisations or tests are required

You have a duty to provide full details of any physical or mental health conditions, past or present, to your OH provider. If you do not disclose a relevant health condition that could affect your fitness to practise, this could impact your place on the course.

Making a declaration is viewed positively and shows that you are aware of how your health may affect your ability to practise safely. Failure to provide full disclosure could result in your offer being withdrawn or your studies being discontinued, in line with the Student Suspension Policy.

After you submit your health declaration questionnaire, your assigned OH provider will review the information and contact you with the next steps.

They may require a blood test to confirm immunity if you cannot provide evidence of previous vaccinations. Your OH provider will continue to advise you throughout your studies if any follow-up vaccinations are needed as you progress through your course.

If you do not complete all required elements of the OH process, you will not be ‘clear for practise’. This means you cannot take part in the practice-based elements of your course, which could result in your studies being discontinued.

All medical information is confidential unless you agree to share it with the University through your OH provider. If shared, an Occupational Health Officer will review the information and pass it to the appropriate University support service and/or course leader to ensure reasonable adjustments are implemented. The University is committed to providing equality of opportunity and reasonable support to help all students complete their studies successfully.

Occupational health is a mandatory requirement for overseas students enrolling on health or social care courses at Anglia Ruskin University. The health declaration questionnaire can be completed from your home country, but you must consult your OH provider to arrange any required vaccinations once you arrive in the UK. You should provide evidence of previous childhood vaccinations where possible. Your OH provider will advise which evidence is acceptable.

Anglia Ruskin University is committed to maintaining your privacy, dignity, and confidentiality at all times and adheres to the principles of the Data Protection Act 2018 (GDPR).