Medical Certificate Policy

Medical certificates

If the CWC-placed offender, or the CWA, advises absence due to illness, consider whether or not a medical certificate is required.

A medical certificate should normally be provided within 72 hours of the directed reporting time.

Exemptions

A probation officer has the discretion to exempt an offender from this requirement in respect of absences relating to illness or injury. In exercising this discretion, consider the following factors:

• the nature of the illness or injury, considering existing medical conditions for which a medical certificate may have already been supplied
• previous compliance
• motivation/attitude
• whether the offender is prepared to report on an alternative day
• whether the expected duration of absence due to illness/injury is greater than one day
• the number or frequency of previous absences due to illness or injury.

CWC – offender absence, illness and medical certificates

If an offender is unable to report on a reporting day due to illness (or any other reason), they are required to contact the service centre and/or their probation officer by 10:00 am of the reporting day.

The probation officer can direct the offender to provide a medical certificate. This certificate is to contain sufficient information to determine whether the offender needs to be excused or is fit for “light duties”. If the absence is for other reasons, the offender can be required to provide supporting evidence, e.g. a letter from an employer.