Helping Employers Keep Communities Moving: Occupational Health Pre-Placement Screening Across the UK
When a long-standing local bus provider could no longer continue operating in Dumfries and Galloway, Houston’s Coaches stepped in to help keep essential services running for the local community. This expansion in service provision created a significant recruitment need, requiring the rapid onboarding of a large number of new drivers.
Here at Genesis OHS, we had already been supporting Houston’s Coaches with pre-placement screening and other occupational health services, so when demand increased, we were able to respond quickly. Rather than introducing a new process, we supported a higher volume of requests through a service that was already in place and working well. This meant Houston’s Coaches could continue moving recruitment forward at pace, with the reassurance of an established, clinically led process.
A practical and responsive approach
Our role was to support Houston’s Coaches with efficient onboarding while ensuring our occupational health team appropriately reviewed health considerations for roles with passenger and public responsibility. Candidates were able to complete health questionnaires digitally, in their own time, making the process straightforward, accessible and easy to manage. Our occupational health nurses then promptly reviewed each questionnaire.
When follow-up was needed, our team arranged this quickly through our bespoke OH portal, with appointments delivered by telephone or video consultation. Where a face-to-face assessment was more appropriate, we arranged that too. This gave Houston’s Coaches confidence that the process stayed consistent, responsive and professionally managed during a period of rapid growth.
Lisa McMurdo, Occupational Health Nurse at Genesis OHS, said:
“As pre-placement screening was already in place, we were able to respond quickly when Houston’s Coaches needed support with a higher volume of requests. That meant recruitment could keep moving, with the reassurance that the right clinical oversight was there from the start.”
Why pre-placement screening matters#
Pre-placement screening helps employers make informed, fair and role-specific decisions before someone starts work. It reduces risk and ensures qualified clinicians appropriately review health considerations. It helps organisations determine whether an individual is fit for the role, identify any adjustments they need, decide whether further assessment is needed, and reduce the risk of problems later. It also gives managers confidence that qualified clinicians properly review health matters and provide the appropriate level of oversight throughout the process.
Leah Carpenter at Houston’s Coaches said:
“At Houston’s Coaches, safety, reliability and professionalism are at the heart of everything we do. Following the award of a large new contract, our business entered a period of significant growth, making it essential that our recruitment process remained robust and consistent. Pre-placement screening became a key part of ensuring we hired responsibly.
Working with Genesis OHS gave us confidence as we brought new people into the business at pace. Their pre-placement screening allowed us to make informed hiring decisions, ensuring candidates met the required standards and were fit for the role before getting behind the wheel.”
Erin Wilson, Head of Business at Genesis OHS, said:
“Using Occupational Health support for onboarding helps take away that grey area for employers. Internal teams should not be left to make clinical judgements or determine whether further assessment is needed. The role of our OH team here at Genesis OHS is to review the information properly, identify where follow-up is required, and give clear, practical recommendations so managers can keep recruitment moving with confidence.”
Support across the UK
While this testimonial highlights our work with a local coach operator, Genesis OHS supports employers across the UK with pre-placement screening. Whether you are recruiting drivers, engineers, warehouse staff, carers, office-based employees or people in other roles, we can provide a responsive service tailored to the role and the needs of your business.
Pre-placement screening is just one part of the wider support that Genesis OHS can provide, alongside services such as health surveillance, drug and alcohol testing, face-fit testing, training, toolbox talks, and ad hoc or retained Health & Safety support.
Find out more
If your organisation is recruiting at pace, taking on new contracts, or seeking a more consistent and clinically led approach to pre-placement screening, please get in touch with us to find out how Genesis OHS can support your business.