There are some milestones you don’t want to quietly “mention” at the bottom of a page, and this is one of them.
We are proud to announce that Healthscreen UK is now SEQOHS accredited, a nationally recognised benchmark for occupational health services in the UK.
If you are an employer, HR lead, or responsible for health and safety, you already know this: choosing an occupational health provider is not just about availability or price, but it’s about trust, governance, and getting it right; for your people, your workplace risks, and your legal responsibilities. SEQOHS accreditation is independent reassurance that the occupational health service you’re working with meets published standards for safety, effectiveness and quality.
In this blog, we will walk you through:
- What Is SEQOHS
- The Scope of SEQOHS and What The Accreditation Covers
- The Aim of SEQOHS accreditation
- How SEQOHS accreditation works
- Why SEQOHS matters for employers in 2026 and beyond
- What our SEQOHS Accreditation means in real terms at Healthscreen UK
- SEQOHS and Occupational Health Services – What Should Employers Look For?
- Thank You and What Comes Next
- FAQs
What is SEQOHS?
The abbreviation SEQOHS stands for Safe, Effective, Quality Occupational Health Service. It is a UK accreditation program designed to evaluate occupational health providers following well-defined standards of practice that address how services are managed, provided, tracked, and enhanced over time.
At the very core of it, SEQOHS exists to bring consistency, transparency, and accountability to occupational health services across the UK. This provides employers with an independent benchmark to help them identify services that operate to nationally recognised standards, rather than relying solely on claims or marketing language.
In simple terms, SEQOHS answers a question many employers are already asking:
“How do I know this occupational health provider is operating safely, ethically, and consistently; not just saying they do?”
SEQOHS is widely recognised across both the public and private sectors and has been part of the UK occupational health landscape since 2010, and has set the standards for occupational health services. It is often referenced by organisations that require assurance around clinical governance, confidentiality, and service quality when selecting an occupational health provider.
When you come across an occupational health provider like ourselves who is SEQOHS accredited, it means the service has been independently assessed against published standards that focus on:
- Safe delivery of occupational health services.
- Effective clinical practice supported by appropriate governance.
- Quality management and continuous improvement to ensure standards are maintained over time.
Rather than being a one-off tick-box exercise, SEQOHS accreditation reflects a provider’s commitment to delivering occupational health services responsibly, consistently, and in line with best practice expectations.
The Scope of SEQOHS & What the Accreditation Covers
When we talk about SEQOHS, it is not a badge for “good intentions”; it is evidence-based and standards-led. The SEQOHS standards for occupational health services are organised into six domains, which cover how a service is governed, delivered, measured, and improved. The six domains include:
- Governance and Finance
How the service is managed responsibly, including governance structures and accountability. - Resources and Processes
Whether the service has the right people, systems, and processes in place to deliver safely and consistently. - Output and Outcomes
How the service measures delivery and effectiveness. - Information and Communication
Clarity of information for employers and employees, and proper handling of occupational health records. - Quality Assurance and Improvement
How quality is monitored and how the service demonstrates continuous improvement. - NHS (Interface / Working Context)
Standards reflecting how OH services work within wider healthcare or NHS-related systems (where relevant).
The important thing here is this: SEQOHS is not only about clinical practice, but also about governance, data handling, communication, quality assurance, and outcomes; basically, the parts that protect employers and employees when occupational health services are delivered at scale.
The Aims of SEQOHS Accreditation
SEQOHS exists to raise standards across occupational health services and to make quality easier to identify. The scheme’s aims include enabling occupational health services to identify the standards they should aspire to and to recognise high-quality services through accreditation. From an employer’s viewpoint, the benefit is pretty direct:
- You’re not relying only on claims.
- You have an external reference point.
- You can choose an occupational health provider with greater confidence.
It also helps to create consistency across occupational health provision, so that employers and employees are less likely to experience “it depends who you get” service delivery.
How SEQOHS Accreditation Works
Accreditation should never be a mysterious process; if you are working with a SEQOHS-accredited occupational health provider, you deserve to know what sits behind that status. While the exact steps vary depending on service type and size, the SEQOHS accreditation scheme generally involves:
- Working through the published standards.
- Gathering evidence against those standards.
- Independent review and assessment.
- Ongoing commitments to quality improvement.
In practical terms, it means providers must be able to demonstrate:
- documented governance and oversight.
- competence and training of staff.
- clear, consistent processes for service delivery.
- secure and appropriate handling of occupational health records.
- quality monitoring and improvement plans.
- clear employer and employee communications.
It’s also worth saying this plainly: SEQOHS isn’t something you “get” and then forget about. Accreditation sits alongside ongoing review and quality improvement commitments. That ongoing approach matters because workplaces change, regulations evolve, and employer expectations are higher than they were even a few years ago.
Why SEQOHS Matters for Employers in 2026 and Beyond
Let’s be honest, the way employers think about workforce health has shifted. In recent years, UK organisations have become more focused on:
- safety-critical roles and risk management
- data protection and confidentiality expectations
- consistent supplier assurance
- employee well-being and retention
- proving due diligence when something goes wrong
At the same time, there has been increasing attention to how occupational health services are chosen and evaluated, particularly around quality and accreditation.
Here’s why SEQOHS accreditation matters right now:
1) It’s a recognised trust signal – If an occupational health provider is SEQOHS accredited, they have been independently assessed against standards for safety, effectiveness, and quality.
2) It supports compliance and governance confidence – SEQOHS standards don’t just look at “what services are offered”. They look at governance, processes, data handling, communication, and continuous improvement, all the areas that matter when employers need to demonstrate responsible decision-making.
3) It reduces risk in decision-making – For employers, supplier choice can become a risky decision. SEQOHS accreditation helps reduce uncertainty. You’re not starting from scratch when assessing credibility.
4) It matters for safety-critical and regulated environments – In sectors where health assessments, fitness to work, or safety-critical medicals are essential, employers need confidence that services are consistent, clinically sound, and responsibly delivered. SEQOHS is one of the key benchmarks employers look for in that space.
What Our SEQOHS Accreditation Means in Real Terms at Healthscreen UK
We know a lot of people will read the announcement and think: “Okay, but what changes for us day to day?” If you are looking for an honest answer, then it is, the way we work has always been shaped by the same principles SEQOHS assesses: safety, quality, governance, confidentiality, and continuous improvement. SEQOHS accreditation confirms that those standards have been independently validated.
Here’s what you can expect from Healthscreen UK as a SEQOHS-accredited provider:
- Clear clinical governance and accountability – You should always know what service you’re receiving, how it will be delivered, and what the process looks like, with oversight built in.
- Consistent processes, not “best effort” – Occupational health services need consistency. We focus on standardised processes that still allow flexibility when your operational needs require it.
- Professional, confidential handling of occupational health records – Health information requires care, we follow structured approaches to record handling, confidentiality, and secure information management, because this isn’t optional in modern workplace health provision.
- Better communication (yes, it matters more than people admit) – SEQOHS places strong emphasis on information and communication. That aligns with how we work: clear employer communication, clear employee-facing information, and no confusing “grey area” messaging.
- Quality assurance and continuous improvement – Being accredited means staying accountable to quality improvement over time, not only at the moment of assessment.
SEQOHS and Occupational Health Services - What Should Employers Look For?
If you are comparing occupational health providers in the UK, SEQOHS accreditation is one of the most meaningful indicators of quality. But beyond the badge, employers should look for:
- transparent service information
- clear reporting structures
- confidentiality-first processes
- evidence of quality assurance
- a provider who understands your sector risks
- a provider who can deliver consistently across sites (where needed)
SEQOHS accreditation helps confirm these foundations are in place.
For the Employees
If you are an employee who has been referred to an occupational health provider and you see that they are SEQOHS accredited, it means the provider has been independently assessed as meeting standards for safety, effectiveness, and quality. It doesn’t mean occupational health is there to “catch you out”. It means there are clear standards behind how services are delivered, including professional conduct, confidentiality, and quality processes.
Thank You and What Comes Next
This accreditation is a proud moment for Healthscreen UK, and it reflects the work our team has put into delivering occupational health services properly, with safety, quality, and people at the centre.
If you are an employer looking for:
- a SEQOHS-accredited occupational health provider
- safe, compliant workplace health services
- occupational health assessments delivered with clarity and care
- a team that understands operational reality (not just policy wording)
We are here to help. Speak to our team to discuss your requirements, whether you need ongoing occupational health support, clinic-based assessments, on-site delivery, or safety-critical service provision.
FAQs
What does SEQOHS accreditation mean?
SEQOHS accreditation means an occupational health service has been independently assessed against nationally recognised UK standards for safety, effectiveness, and quality. It confirms the provider meets defined requirements for governance, clinical practice, confidentiality, and continuous improvement.
Is SEQOHS accreditation mandatory in the UK?
SEQOHS accreditation is not legally mandatory. However, it is widely recognised as a best-practice benchmark and is often expected by employers, commissioners, and procurement teams when selecting an occupational health provider.
Who oversees SEQOHS standards?
SEQOHS standards are developed and maintained by the Faculty of Occupational Medicine, with input from occupational health professionals and stakeholders across the UK.
How often is SEQOHS accreditation reviewed?
SEQOHS accreditation is not a one-off approval. Accredited services are expected to maintain standards, demonstrate ongoing quality assurance, and undergo periodic review to ensure continued compliance with the scheme’s requirements.
Why should employers choose a SEQOHS-accredited occupational health provider?
Choosing a SEQOHS-accredited provider gives employers added confidence that occupational health services are delivered safely, ethically, and consistently, with robust governance, secure data handling, and recognised quality standards in place.
