External providers can help you to deliver your health and wellbeing strategy. Providers can tailor their services to different sectors or workplaces and can facilitate information sessions, conduct health assessments, organise workshops or develop your program goals.
If you need an external provider to run elements of your health and wellbeing strategy, it’s important to make sure you find the right people for the job who can offer a high-quality service. Service providers will be responsible for nurturing a positive, healthy culture within your workplace, so they must bring the necessary skills and right attitude.
Key questions to ask your service provider
Can you provide the services we need?
Make sure you brief the provider well. Be clear about the services you require and your budget. Outline your specific expectations, performance indicators and timing based on the goals of your program.
Are you accredited and do you have the necessary qualifications?
Ask for evidence of appropriate skills and training. Most professionals also belong to a professional body that requires ongoing accreditation or registration. This helps to make sure that professionals maintain their skills and knowledge.
Is your course accredited?
If you’re engaging a service provider to deliver learning modules or training courses, it’s important to know if the course is accredited. Accredited courses guarantee quality of information and can help your staff reach professional development goals. Where possible and relevant, look for a course that is accredited through a registered training provider.
Are your services based on sound and healthy practices?
You have a responsibility to provide a safe, quality workplace health program or activities. Avoid fad or gimmick ideas and stick with subjects containing quality evidence.
Can you provide all necessary liability insurance documents?
Make sure your provider holds the required professional indemnity/ liability insurances and that you have prepared appropriate risk management strategies.
Will you use safe, quality equipment?
Seek assurance and evidence. Ask prospective providers if the equipment will be covered by their liability insurance or yours.
How will you support participants with a high health risk?
The contracted organisation should have skills and ability to recognise and mitigate not only participation risk but also advise on available health interventions for those at risk of, or with, health conditions. On a practical level, this might mean first aid qualifications, participation clearances or pre-participation health assessments, and referrals to quality health services when a need is identified.
How will you maintain participant privacy and confidentiality?
Ask for assurance and evidence. The provider should possess and deploy a comprehensive privacy policy.
What information will we receive after you’ve provided the service?
It is important that you are clear from the start what reporting requirements you want your provider to meet. Ask for a comprehensive report and analysis of any data collected.