Scrumconnect Consulting has revealed it was awarded a contract by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for a new online digital service that it said will remove barriers between Occupational Health Assessment Providers and SMEs.
The service will enable employers to apply for a government subsidy that will reduce the financial burden of occupational health assessments for employees suffering with physical and mental health issues. Scrummconnect said the project will positively impact thousands of vulnerable people that could otherwise be at risk long-term sickness, absence from work and a potential significant drop in income.
The £3.6 million contract – which started in September 2023 – will be spread over two years. In addition to enabling SMEs to apply for the government subsidy, the service will include a register of approved Occupational Health Assessment Providers and help to increase awareness of available services.
“Creating an inclusive, diverse workforce is vital for SMEs to be successful. And although occupational health assessments for individuals struggling with physical and mental health problems have always been available, awareness is low and the process can be costly,” said Praveen Karadiguddi, CEO at Scrumconnect Consulting.
“By providing an online digital service for SMEs to apply for subsidised assessments, we can empower them to support employees. This will help to prevent talented individuals from falling out of the workforce.”
Elsewhere, Scrumconnect has worked with DWP to transform Pension Credit into an online digital service. The platform, which was launched in May 2020, enables low-income individuals over State Pension age to apply for additional money from DWP. The service supported more than 12 million people over State Pension age to discover whether they qualified for additional financial help throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and cost-of-living crisis.
