New Starter Health Assessments

Ensure every new employee is fit for their role from day one. COPE's online new starter health assessments are fast, thorough and tailored to your organisation — giving you the confidence to onboard with certainty.

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A New Starter Health Assessment is a confidential occupational health screening completed before, or shortly after, employment begins. It helps employers understand whether a new employee has any health conditions, disabilities or workplace adjustments that may need to be considered to support them in their role.


The assessment is designed to ensure employees can work safely and effectively within their proposed role while helping employers meet their duty of care and obligations under the Equality Act 2010. Rather than determining whether someone is "fit" or "unfit", the focus is on identifying any support, adjustments or recommendations that may help an employee succeed in the workplace.


At COPE, our New Starter Health Assessment services are designed to:


  • Identify any health conditions that may require workplace support or adjustments
  • Support compliance with the Equality Act 2010 and occupational health best practice
  • Help ensure employees can undertake their role safely and effectively
  • Provide managers with clear, practical recommendations where appropriate
  • Establish any ongoing health monitoring or support requirements
  • Promote a positive and supportive onboarding experience for new employees

Where a health concern is identified, our clinicians will undertake a more detailed assessment and provide tailored recommendations to help employers support employees from the very start of their employment.

Our new starter health assessment process is simple, fast and fully managed through our secure online portal:


  • The employer generates the assessment through the COPE portal, triggering a secure link which is sent directly to the new employee
  • The employee completes the questionnaire online at a time convenient to them — no appointments, no travel
  • Live tracking in the portal allows the employer to monitor progress and see at a glance who has and hasn't completed their assessment
  • An Occupational Health Adviser reviews every completed questionnaire, ensuring a clinically appropriate outcome for every employee
  • Clearance or follow up — where responses are straightforward, clearance is provided the same day. Where further information is needed, our OHA will follow up with the employee in a timely manner


Throughout the process, your dedicated Customer Relationship Manager and Clinical Lead are on hand to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Every COPE new starter health assessment is built on a clinically validated question set, ensuring the right information is captured for every employee. Assessments can be tailored to reflect the specific health risks and requirements of each role, with additional questions available for:


  • Night shift workers
  • Fitness To Teach
  • Lone workers
  • Patient contact roles
  • DSE (Display Screen Equipment) users
  • Food handling clearances
  • Vaccination status
  • And other role-specific requirements as needed

Our clinical team will work with you to ensure your assessments capture everything relevant to your workforce, giving you the most accurate and useful picture of each new employee's fitness for role.

Why Choose COPE For New Starter Health Assessments?

At COPE, our mission is to maximise attendance and wellbeing through healthy work. Our new starter health assessment service has been built around that goal — giving you the confidence to onboard new employees knowing they are fit, supported and ready to contribute from day one. Here's what sets us apart:

Same Day Clearance

Where questionnaire responses are straightforward, clearance can be provided on the same day — so your onboarding process is never held up waiting for occupational health sign off.

Tailored To Your Organisation

Every assessment is built on a clinically validated question set, with additional questions available to reflect the specific risks and requirements of each role — from night shift workers and lone workers to patient contact roles and DSE users. Your assessments work harder because they're built around your workforce.

Live Portal Tracking

Through our secure online portal, employers have real time visibility of every assessment — see at a glance who has completed their questionnaire, who is outstanding, and what the outcome is. No chasing, no uncertainty.

Nurse-Led Reviews

Every completed questionnaire is reviewed by a qualified Occupational Health Adviser, ensuring every new starter receives a clinically appropriate assessment — not just an automated tick box exercise.

Your Dedicated Support Team

Every COPE customer is supported by a dedicated Customer Relationship Manager and Clinical Lead, working together to ensure your new starter assessment programme is tailored to your organisation and running smoothly at all times.

Portal For Occupational Health

Our portal has been built and maintained in-house by COPE, designed specifically for occupational health. Generate assessments, track progress in real time, and access outcomes — all in one secure, encrypted platform.

Ready To Streamline Your Onboarding?

Whether you're looking to introduce new starter health assessments for the first time or improve your existing process, our team is ready to help. Get in touch today to find out how COPE can support your organisation.

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What Our Customers Say

"Community Housing has appreciated the support provided by COPE Occupational Health. The service feels caring, understanding, and supportive, with a thoughtful approach to our colleagues. COPE’s team are approachable and considerate, offering reassurance and guidance when needed. We value the positive relationship we have built and the way they help us support us as a team and our colleagues."

Community Housing Group

"We've worked with COPE for many years and found their approach to be highly organized and efficient. From the initial referral to the recommendations is always smooth and streamline with no delays. They identify our priorities and outline a clear plan of action between Managers and their staff. Regular progress updates ensured managers are kept informed, and any adjustments were handled promptly. Based on this experience, COPE offers a dependable and well-structured service for anyone seeking Occupational Health Services."

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

"We have been very pleased with the service provided, and in particular the turnaround times of reports and new starter screening means that issues can be dealt with very quickly. The quality of advice has been very good as has the level of customer service and I pleased to recommend their overall service."

Two Counties Trust

Standards You Can Trust

COPE has held SEQOHS accreditation since 2013, demonstrating our commitment to safe, effective and high quality occupational health services.

View all of our accreditations & certifications