Online Pre-employment Medical Assessments & Fitness for Work Certificates
Fast, compliant health screening for new starters
Competitive: £50 pay-as-you-go; discounts for groups
Fast: Instant booking, certificates in 24-48 hours
Compliant: GDPR and Equality Act 2010
What are pre-placement medical assessment?
Pre-placement medical assessments are confidential, professional, remote health checks to confirm new starters’ fitness for the role.
The primary goals are to:
- Assess the medical fitness of the applicant to ensure they can safely meet the physical and psychological demands of the job.
- Identify the need for workplace adjustments, particularly for candidates who may be protected under the Equality Act 2010.
- Establish a health baseline, a crucial step for managing future workplace health risks.
Also known as pre-employment health screenings, post-offer medical checks, or new starter health checks, these assessments are conducted after a conditional job offer has been made in compliance with the Equality Act 2010.
Our clinicians conduct the assessments in compliance with the GMC and FOM guidelines to ensure a fair, non-discriminatory, safe and compliant recruitment process.
The value of pre-placement screening
Pre-placement screening is a low-cost and high-yield management tool for all employers.
It helps employers make informed placement decisions for new starters:
Ultimately, the process ensures a fair, non-discriminatory, and safe start for every new employee, in compliance with the Equality Act 2010, GDPR 2018, and the new employment laws from day one under the upcoming Employment Rights Bill.
How our online pre-employment screening works
Why choose us for pre-placement assessments?
As a small, family-run occupational health service, we offer direct, responsive service with minimal overheads. Our clients value fast turnaround (24 hours), cost-effective service (at £50) delivered by experienced occupational health physicians.
Over the last 20 years, we have provided pre-placement occupational health advice to employers and employees across most sectors in Bristol, South Wales and UK-wide. Some of our clients include health and social care, education, retail and hospitality, engineering and IT companies, public administration and more.
Book your new starter screening online
or request more information
More information about pre-employment health assessments
Why do we recommend online health assessments?
| Aspect | Remote on-line screening | In-house or paper-based assessments |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | Online, convenient, bookable anytime | On-site, requires scheduling |
| Turnaround Time | Certificates within 24–48 hours | Varies, depending on system complexity |
| Suitability | Fast for routine cases; support available for complex cases | Delivery times depend on the system in place |
| Cost Implications | Lower, scalable for large hires | Higher, due to administrative and clinician time |
Legal compliance and data protection
Section 60 of the Equality Act 2010 allows health inquiries:
1. Pre-offer: related to adjustments during the selection process
2. Post-offer:
– To determine if an applicant can carry out functions that are intrinsic to the work concerned.
– To consider workplace adjustments for candidates with disabilities.
Health-related questions are not allowed before the job offer. Therefore, the occupational health screening takes place after a conditional job offer is made, subject to medical fitness for the specific role. This ensures compliance with the Equality Act 2010 and prevents workplace discrimination.
Our confidential assessments also comply with GDPR 2018. Workable Occupational Health is a registered Data Processor with the Information Commissioner’s Office under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018.
Under our Confidentiality and Data Protection Policy, applicants submit their medical information directly to our occupational health team. The employer receives only information on fitness. The medical details are never shared with the employer or third parties without the applicant’s explicit consent (unless for specific safety-critical reasons).
The process is designed to protect the candidates’ health, safety, and well-being at work and ensure the employer’s legal compliance. In most cases, it does not prevent candidates from starting work but provides support and advice on managing any existing medical risks.
Advisory OH recommendations
The process ensures the Employer’s autonomy. Employers must assess whether the recommended adjustments are available and reasonable for applicants who may be protected under the disability provisions of the Equality Act 2010.
An optional pre-placement assessment by our occupational health physician
The occupational health advice is based on the information provided by the applicant. For candidates with significant medical vulnerabilities, we may recommend an additional, optional occupational health assessment by our in-house physician or request an up-to-date medical report from the applicant’s GP (with the applicant’s consent).
Specific fitness for work medicals
Certain safety-critical and industry-specific roles require more comprehensive pre-placement medical examinations. For example, food handlers, drivers, offshore workers and other safety-critical workers require specific new starter (and periodic) procedures. These often include in-person examinations and additional tests, e.g., spirometry or exercise testing.
We offer DVLA medicals for LGV/HGV (Group 2) drivers, Offshore OEUK (OGUK) medicals, and night worker or food handler screening.
Statutory health surveillance is required for specific roles. We can support employers with statutory asbestos medicals, ionising radiation medicals, Tier 4 HAVS assessments and lead medicals.
FAQs: Pre-Placement Health Checks
What is an occupational health assessment for a new job?
An OH assessment for a new role (also known as a new starter health check or pre-placement medical) is a health screening that evaluates a candidate’s fitness for a specific role. It helps identify health considerations and consider workplace adjustments.
What does a pre-employment medical involve in the UK?
We offer a simple, quick, online pre-employment screening:
- The candidate completes and submits a confidential health questionnaire.
- The questionnaire is reviewed by an OH clinician.
- We issue a certificate with advice on fitness for work and recommended adjustments.
Additional, optional OH assessments are available for complex cases.
How quickly can I get a pre-employment medical?
24-48 hours after online booking, UK-wide. Please get in touch for more urgent pre-employment screening. We can prioritise urgent cases; please contact us or book online.
What is the cost of a pre-employment medical in the UK?
Our new starter health checks cost £50 for pay-as-you-go customers and £40 for contractual customers who need regular pre-employment screening.
How do I book a pre-employment medical assessment online?
Do you provide fit-to-work assessments for night shift workers?
Yes. We evaluate medical history for contraindications to shift work (e.g., epilepsy, diabetes), risk of fatigue (e.g., chronic fatigue or sleep apnea syndrome), and mental resilience for candidates for shift work.
Where can I find a pre-employment medical assessment near me?
We specialise in remote, online pre-employment medical assessments, UK-wide. If you require an in-person assessment, we will be happy to review the candidates in our Bristol or Chepstow clinic.
Do you offer online pre-employment medicals for healthcare workers?
Yes, we offer remote pre-placement screening for health and social care professionals. If required, we can discuss our pre-placement questionnaire design to tailor it to the clients’ needs.