Phased Return to Work

Support employees back into work safely and confidently. Our Phased Return to Work helps people rebuild stamina and regain routine after illness or absence.

Helping Employees Return with Confidence

A Phased Return to Work plan enables employees to gradually rebuild their work hours and responsibilities after absence due to illness, injury, or mental health challenges. Our tailored programmes reduce the risk of relapse, support employee wellbeing, and ensure business continuity. We work with line managers, HR, and occupational health to agree on a schedule that’s sustainable for the individual and the business, while helping everyone stay on track. Each return is fully supported with clinical oversight, adjustments, and ongoing advice as needed.

Phased Return to Work benefits for employees and employers

Our phased return plans support wellbeing while helping people get back to full productivity.

Faster, safer reintegration

Gradual returns reduce the physical and psychological pressure on employees, helping them rebuild stamina, regain confidence and avoid relapse. With the right pace and support, employees reintegrate faster and are more likely to stay well in the long term.

Confident managers and HR teams

We take the uncertainty out of return-to-work planning. By providing expert guidance, clear timelines and professional oversight, managers and HR teams feel confident handling complex cases, reducing risk, building trust, and supporting a positive workplace culture.

Improved retention and morale

Supporting employees back to work shows that your organisation cares. This builds loyalty and morale, encouraging staff to stay long term. A compassionate approach also creates a healthier working environment for the wider team, improving engagement and productivity.

Our Phased Return to Work Services

Support recovery and reduce absence risk with structured, clinically guided return-to-work plans.

Each return plan is tailored to the employee’s needs, condition, and role. We consult with HR, line managers and clinicians to agree on safe timelines and duties. A structured approach helps employees rebuild routine and stamina, while giving the business confidence that risks are being actively managed.

We support managers with clear advice and practical guidance throughout the phased return. From preparing teams to setting realistic expectations, we help create a supportive environment. Our experts are on hand to answer questions and ensure the plan remains on track for everyone involved.

Where needed, we bring in occupational health to assess the employee’s readiness to return and advise on adjustments. This clinical input ensures that return plans are appropriate and sustainable, supporting compliance, reducing the risk of relapse, and promoting a full recovery.

We understand that returning after a mental health absence requires more than just a reduced schedule. Our team provides emotional support, resilience coaching, and regular check-ins to ease the transition. We help normalise conversations around mental health and ensure lasting reintegration into the workplace.

Our experts can assess and coordinate any reasonable adjustments needed for a safe return, from changes to workload and hours, to equipment and environment. We liaise with HR and line managers to make sure every step is documented and aligned with your duty of care.

Manager support for phased returns

We support managers throughout the return-to-work process — from planning to implementation.

Phased return planning tools

Help managers plan and implement successful returns with clear tools and templates. We provide phased return documentation, adjustment recommendations, and scheduling support, ensuring managers feel confident every step of the way. Our team is also available to review plans and guide complex or sensitive cases.

Manager training and webinars

Our practical training sessions cover how to support employees returning after absence, especially when dealing with mental health, chronic illness, or life events. Topics include how to have sensitive conversations, maintain boundaries, and manage expectations. Delivery options include live webinars, in-person workshops or eLearning.

Occupational health guidance

Line managers can access professional advice from occupational health specialists on how best to support an employee’s return. This includes fitness-for-work input, adjustment ideas, and progress monitoring. Clinical oversight ensures decisions are safe, compliant, and person-centred.