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Enhanced Assessment

What is Occupational Physchology Services ?

Occupational Psychology Services (OPS) offer advice and guidance in areas relating to work, disability and helath. If you have a health condition or disability, OPS can offer an employment assessment to help identify the impact of your condition, your strengths and abilities for work or training. This will help you make decisions about appropriate job goals, the steps you need to progress into work and support to retain work.

How does OPS work?

Employment Assessment

The Employment Assessment will usually last three to four hours, depending on your individual need. The Employment Assessment will involve completing a range of work related exercises tailored to your particular needs. These may include pencil and paper exercises or practical exercises such as working with tools or sorting components.

People with differnet job goals and disabilities will have different exercises to do. You will have the opportunity to discuss vocational options with one of the team, as well as discuss your performance throughout the assessment. A report will then be provided to help guide your next steps towards work.

Who can apply?

Oue assessments are available to people with disabilities or health conditions who are seeking work and those who are at threat of losing their job as a result of illness or disability.

How do I apply?

You can access Occupational Psychology Services through the Employment Adviser team in your local Jobs and Benefits office or JobCentre. Assessments take place either at Gloucester House, Belfast or your local Jobs and Benefits office / JobCentre or at another local venue. You will have reasonable travel expenses met when you arrive for assessment.

Benefits

Employment Assessments can help you to:

  • find out how your disability or helath condition affects the type of work or training you want to do
  • identify your abilities and strengths in relation to employment
  • identify vocational direction and suitable job goals
  • plan the steps you need to take to move towards your job goal.

Retention

Work based solutions are offered to employers to retain and develop employees with disability. Retention support work offers Assessment Services, both in the workplace and offsite, similar to the employment assessment service.

Contact

Occupational Psychology Services
Ground Floor
Gloucester House
57-63 Chichester Street
Belfast BT1 4RA
Email: ops@delni.gov.uk
Tel: 028 9025 2365
Fax: 028 9025 2386
Text Phone: 0800 0284716

The OPS Team

Name Telephone Number Email
Mark O'Hara 028 9025 2174 mark.ohara@delni.gov.uk external link
Rebecca Boyd 028 9025 2326 rebecca.boyd@delni.gov.uk external link
Sarah McCann 028 9025 2368 sarah.mccann@delni.gov.uk external link
Andrew Gallagher 028 9025 2381 andrew.gallagher@delni.gov.uk external link
Mark Elliott 028 9025 2178 mark.elliott@delni.gov.uk external link

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