This practical and authoritative book provides occupational health practitioners (OHPs) with guidance on using the biopsychosocial (BPS) model to assess fitness to work, with a clear focus on strengthening psychosocial assessment through the cognitive behavioural approach (CBA).

The CBA is a formulation-based method that helps practitioners understand how cognitive, behavioural and emotional responses interact with health conditions and the work context within the BPS framework. While the BPS model offers a way to consider biological, psychological and social factors, psychosocial elements are often the most difficult to assess clearly in occupational health consultations. The CBA provides a systematic approach to exploring these factors, supporting the identification of maintaining influences on prolonged absence, ongoing workplace difficulties or impaired functioning. The book explains how the CBA integrates with core occupational health assessment skills to inform evidence-based recommendations for fitness to work. It also introduces brief cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) skills as focused interventions.

Fully referenced throughout and featuring case studies to illustrate the approach in action, this is essential reading for any OHP working today, as well as students training towards the profession.

Marie Church is a Registered Nurse and Queen's Nurse. She has a degree in occupational health and over 40 years of experience across sectors including Police, rail, the Ministry of Defence and social housing. Marie is a consultant cognitive behavioural psychotherapist with over 20 years’ clinical experience and holds an MSc in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy from Goldsmiths, University of London. She trained under Albert Ellis in New York and was awarded an Associate Fellowship of the Albert Ellis Institute in 2009.