diff --git a/app/controllers/annual_leave_requests_controller.rb b/app/controllers/annual_leave_requests_controller.rb
index be3a817..e5c96a3 100644
--- a/app/controllers/annual_leave_requests_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/annual_leave_requests_controller.rb
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ def update_status
     @annual_leave_request = line_reports_leave_requests.find(params[:annual_leave_request_id])
 
     if @annual_leave_request.update(annual_leave_request_params)
-      send_status_update_email
-      redirect_to_status_update_confirmation_page
+      helpers.send_status_updated_email(@annual_leave_request)
+      redirect_to status_update_confirmation_page
     else
       render "approve" if annual_leave_request_params[:status] == "approved"
       render "deny" if annual_leave_request_params[:status] == "denied"
@@ -63,21 +63,12 @@ def annual_leave_request_params
     params.require(:annual_leave_request).permit(:date_from, :date_to, :days_required, :status, :confirm_approval, :denial_reason)
   end
 
-  def send_status_update_email
+  def status_update_confirmation_page
     case annual_leave_request_params[:status]
     when "approved"
-      helpers.send_approved_request_email(@annual_leave_request)
+      confirm_annual_leave_request_approval_path
     when "denied"
-      helpers.send_denied_request_email(@annual_leave_request)
-    end
-  end
-
-  def redirect_to_status_update_confirmation_page
-    case annual_leave_request_params[:status]
-    when "approved"
-      redirect_to confirm_annual_leave_request_approval_path
-    when "denied"
-      redirect_to confirm_annual_leave_request_denial_path
+      confirm_annual_leave_request_denial_path
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/app/helpers/emails_helper.rb b/app/helpers/emails_helper.rb
index e7cd919..64c6cd4 100644
--- a/app/helpers/emails_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/emails_helper.rb
@@ -16,11 +16,29 @@ def send_new_request_email(annual_leave_request)
     )
   end
 
-  def send_approved_request_email(annual_leave_request)
+  def send_status_updated_email(annual_leave_request)
+    case annual_leave_request.status
+    when "approved"
+      client.send_email(approval_email_hash(annual_leave_request))
+    when "denied"
+      client.send_email(denial_email_hash(annual_leave_request))
+    end
+  end
+
+private
+
+  def client
+    @client ||= Notifications::Client.new(notify_api_key)
+  end
+
+  def notify_api_key
+    ENV["NOTIFY_API_KEY"]
+  end
+
+  def approval_email_hash(annual_leave_request)
     user = annual_leave_request.user
     line_manager = user.line_manager
-
-    client.send_email(
+    {
       email_address: user.email,
       template_id: "34542d49-8b91-412c-9393-c186a04a7d1c",
       personalisation: {
@@ -29,14 +47,13 @@ def send_approved_request_email(annual_leave_request)
         date_from: annual_leave_request.date_from.to_fs(:rfc822),
         date_to: annual_leave_request.date_to.to_fs(:rfc822),
       },
-    )
+    }
   end
 
-  def send_denied_request_email(annual_leave_request)
+  def denial_email_hash(annual_leave_request)
     user = annual_leave_request.user
     line_manager = user.line_manager
-
-    client.send_email(
+    {
       email_address: user.email,
       template_id: "ec9035df-9c98-4e0e-8826-47768c311745",
       personalisation: {
@@ -46,16 +63,6 @@ def send_denied_request_email(annual_leave_request)
         date_to: annual_leave_request.date_to.to_fs(:rfc822),
         denial_reason: annual_leave_request.denial_reason,
       },
-    )
-  end
-
-private
-
-  def client
-    @client ||= Notifications::Client.new(notify_api_key)
-  end
-
-  def notify_api_key
-    ENV["NOTIFY_API_KEY"]
+    }
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/helpers/emails_helper_spec.rb b/spec/helpers/emails_helper_spec.rb
index c853f68..6eef6c0 100644
--- a/spec/helpers/emails_helper_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/helpers/emails_helper_spec.rb
@@ -18,28 +18,28 @@
     end
   end
 
-  describe "#send_approved_request_email" do
-    it "sends an approval email to the user" do
+  describe "#send_status_updated_email" do
+    it "sends a denial email to the user when status is updated to 'denied'" do
       @client = Notifications::Client.new(ENV["NOTIFY_TEST_API_KEY"])
+      annual_leave_request.status = "denied"
+      annual_leave_request.denial_reason = "some reason"
 
-      response_notification = helper.send_approved_request_email(annual_leave_request)
+      response_notification = helper.send_status_updated_email(annual_leave_request)
       response = client.get_notification(response_notification.id)
 
       expect(response.email_address).to eq(user.email)
-      expect(response.subject).to eq("GOV.UK Holiday Logger – Annual Leave Request Approved")
+      expect(response.subject).to eq("GOV.UK Holiday Logger – Annual Leave Request Denied")
     end
-  end
 
-  describe "#send_denied_request_email" do
-    it "sends a denial email to the user" do
+    it "sends an approval email to the user when status is updated to 'approved'" do
       @client = Notifications::Client.new(ENV["NOTIFY_TEST_API_KEY"])
-      annual_leave_request.denial_reason = "some reason"
+      annual_leave_request.status = "approved"
 
-      response_notification = helper.send_denied_request_email(annual_leave_request)
+      response_notification = helper.send_status_updated_email(annual_leave_request)
       response = client.get_notification(response_notification.id)
 
       expect(response.email_address).to eq(user.email)
-      expect(response.subject).to eq("GOV.UK Holiday Logger – Annual Leave Request Denied")
+      expect(response.subject).to eq("GOV.UK Holiday Logger – Annual Leave Request Approved")
     end
   end
 end