Injury Management Services

Rehabworks places a strong emphasis on working in partnership with all key stakeholders in order to facilitate safe and durable return to work programs. Our team of allied health professionals undertake Initial and Workplace Assessments to gain an in-depth knowledge of the workplace including the associated physical and psychological requirements and demands of the injured worker’s job. Through an open and transparent process of consultation, Rehabworks is able to provide practical and realistic workplace solutions for injured wo rkers and employers that result in productive and meaningful return to work programs.

Rehabworks provides vocational services to those injured workers who are unable to return to their pre-injury employer as a result of their workplace injuries. Injured workers who are unable to return to their pre-injury employer often express real concerns about their futures. In many instances injured workers have little knowledge of what vocational retraining options are available to them and what assistance can be provided to them in seeking new employment.Rehabworks is a market leader in successfully placing injured workers in suitable new employment. Our consultants enjoy the challenges and rewards associated with helping injured workers start their new working careers in a safe and supportive work environment.Rehabworks can provide varying degrees of services to injured workers and employers from managing the entire return to work process to undertaking specialised one-off services as detailed below.

A Workplace Assessment is a specialised on-site assessment of a workers’ pre-injury duties and/or potential suitable duties and its associated physical and psychological requirements. A workplace assessment will assist in developing a graduated return to work suitable duties plan, identify any proposed modification, work methods or preventative actions to ensure a safe return to work. It is a useful tool for upgrading medical certificates, compliment workplace rehabilitation or can be a one-off service.

Functional education is an evidence-based intervention utilising every day activities of daily living (ADL), work activities and exercise to promote recovery and monitor progress.The benefits of provision of functional education are:

• Increase functional performance which transfers to work environment
• Reduce period of incapacity through proficient and active involvement in home activities
• Reduce the likelihood of exacerbating pain through learned self-pacing techniques
• Empowers an injured worker to control and manage their injury which in turn can motivate them to return to work.

A functional capacity evaluation determines a person’s current functional capacity and work potential. Rehabworks use both standardised and non-standardised assessment tools to evaluate the workers current abilities and limitations against identified work related criteria. The assessment is conducted by an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist.

A vocational assessment allows for the identification of suitable work options that are matched to an individual’s skills, experience, aptitudes and vocational interests. The assessment also takes into account the individual’s functional and work capacity and includes a thorough labour market analysis.A vocational assessment can assist:

• Injured workers looking to return to the workforce
• Employment agencies to determine best fit for job placements
• Exploration of vocational areas for people who are unsure of their next career move
• Identification of retraining opportunities for individuals who are lacking skills or qualifications in a particular area

A transferable skills assessment is an assessment of the skills and knowledge a person acquires from the actual performance of a job and from learned situations, work and school environments.Transferable Skills Assessments are most beneficial when assessing people who have a wide range of skills, employment history and who generally do not require retraining to re-enter the open labour market. This service can also be used as a tool by employers, claims agents, insurance companies and employment agencies to define a person’s skills and experience for new placements or positional changes.

Job Seeking services are tailored for individuals who require assistance with returning to the workforce. Depending on the individual’s needs, these services may range from providing assistance with resume development, compiling job application letters, interview preparation and skills training, cold canvassing techniques and education on other best practice job search methods. For individuals returning to work following an injury, education is also provided on WorkCover incentive programs (ie. Work Trial and Job Cover Placement Programs) to facilitate the individual’s return to work.

Medical case conferences are an integral component of a proactive rehabilitation strategy. They allow key parties including the injured worker, nominated treating doctor, claims agent and workplace rehabilitation provider to mutually agree and set goals, ensure roles and responsibilities are understood and also agree on how outcomes are to be measured.Case Conferences are an effective tool for:

• Medical certificate upgrades
• Challenging unhelpful beliefs about function and for work capacity
• Ensure key parties reach agreement on goals
• Promote positive re-enforcement regarding early return to work and functional restoration