The first step in the OPAL programmes asks you to think about the demands of your job.
When thinking about what your job involves, consider the job demands, work pattern, safety at work, travel to work, work environment, and use of equipment.
Below is an example of how the “What does my job involve?” form from Step 1 has been completed.
Please remember to include as much information and detail as you think is useful. This will help you when planning your return to work. Further examples are accessible as PDF downloads below the example provided on this page.
Example 1: Voluntary advisor for the local council
| 1. Job demands: What are the demands of your job? (This might include physical, mental or social demands) | |
| I’m a voluntary adviser for the local council, so I give advice and visit council offices, and I also work in the family business which is a greengrocer in the town centre. There’s a lot of standing at the counter, and sometimes it’s very busy so it’s difficult to take a break. | |
| 2. Work Environment: Where do you work and are there any hazards you need to think about? Are there any specific issues relating to the layout or design? | |
| There’s not much space in the shop. | |
| 3. Work pattern: What is your pattern of work, are your hours fixed, do you work shifts and how does this affect your ability to work? | |
| My hours aren’t fixed – I was working most mornings in the shop up until about 2 months ago, I get there around 8am. It depends how much local government work I’m asked to do. | |
| 4. Travel to work: How do you get to work and do you have to travel or drive while at work? | |
| I don’t drive. The council pay for a driver when I’m visiting other offices. My husband drives me to the shop. | |
| 5. Support and interaction: Do you have colleagues to support you in your place of work or do you work alone? Do you have to interact with members of the public while at work? | |
| Yes there are other staff in the shop so I can choose how much I do. I interact with the public in both jobs, that’s what I like to do. | |
| 6. Equipment: Do you use equipment at work? | |
| Yes, shop equipment including tills and weighing machines. |
Additional examples
Example 2: Part-time shop worker
Example 3: Full-time maintenance engineer
Example 4: Full-time acute mental health, on shifts
Example 5: Construction manager
Example 7: Teaching assistant, Local Authority
Example 8: Self-employed shop proprietor and craftsman
Example 9: Full-time warehouse worker for large multi-national company