Intervention > Return to Work Consultations and Counselling


What are Return to Work Consultations and Counselling?
Return to Work Consultations and Counselling assist employers to meet their legal, contractual and duty of care obligations to staff who have been injured or become ill at work.

Return to Work Consultations and counselling is based on the premise that many injured people can safely perform productive work at their place of work during the process of recovery. The workplace is seen as a vital part of the rehabilitation process because injured employees maintain social contact with colleagues and are provided with a sense of being productive and active. This is often quite important in the healing process

How does it work?
In Australia today, there is increasing importance placed upon the rehabilitation of injured and ill workers and the development of strategies that assist them to return to work.

Return to work consultations and counselling take place between employers and/or affected employees and a return to work (RTW) consultant or counsellor who is familiar with occupational health and safety (OHS) legislation and specialises in helping injured and ill employees return to work as early and safely as possible.

In working with employers, RTW consultants assist them by assessing whether their work sites and accompanying policies and procedures comply with Australian OHS standards. They also provide case management for employees with the RTW counsellor who have been injured or fallen ill as a consequence of work. Case management involves working with the employee as soon as possible after the accident or illness to ensure necessary medical, physical and psychological assessments are undertaken and the needs and interests of the worker are not forgotten. RTW consultants and counsellors provide emotional, psychological and pragmatic support to injured workers throughout their recovery and the return to work process.

Professional RTW consultants and counsellors provide a range of preventive and intervention services that contribute to improving safety and productivity in organisations. These services can
• Assist in development of policies and procedures that comply with OHS legislation and workers’ compensation schemes
• Provide case management and counselling for injured and sick employees
• Develop injury management plans
• Create return to work programs
• Provide psychological injury assessments
• Provide occupational stress assessments
• Work and liaise with other specialists, such as insurers, doctors, occupational therapists and physiotherapists
• Work capability evaluations
• Job site analyses

Is it for You?

Return to work consultations and counselling is requested by employers and employees.

Employers who seek the services of professional RTW consultants and counsellors seek to:
• implement policies and procedures that meet OHS legislation
• instigate proactive workplace strategies that minimise risk and injury
• ensure an occupational rehabilitation process is commenced as soon as possible after an employee has been injured or fallen ill, in accordance with medical advice
• have an appointed staff member trained and accredited in injury management
• have someone who will talk with their workers, and any industrial union representing them, to ensure that participating in return to work programs do not expose them to additional risks
• provide injured staff with access to alternate work
• place injured staff in positions that won’t risk re-injury
• re-train employees if necessary
• demonstrate a commitment to the wellbeing of their staff

Employees access RTW consultants and counselling if and when they:
• have been asked by their employer to contact the RTW consultant and counsellor
• have been involved in an accident, critical incident or become ill as a consequence of work
• need assistance in finding work which will not aggravate their injury or illness
• require assistance and support in returning to work at an appropriate time
• want to know their rights in relation to workers compensation, including the choice of doctors and accredited rehabilitation providers.

What are the Benefits?
Professional RTW consultations and counselling provide a range of benefits to employers and employees.

Benefits for employers include:
- compliance with OHS legislation
- provision of up-to-date information on workers compensation and necessary insurances
- demonstrated commitment to meeting the physical, psychological and social needs of injured and ill workers
- reduction in workers’ compensation premiums
- minimisation of further accidents and possible illnesses
- financial savings on premiums
- increased productivity
- more positive workforce

Benefits for employees include:
- having an appointed consultant or counsellor to provide them with up-to-date information and advice on what they can do following their injury or illness
- access to a professionally experienced specialist skilled in providing emotional support during a time of change
- ability to undertake a range of tests and assessments to help them determine other career directions, if necessary
- assistance in finding work that is consistent with their abilities and which will not aggravate the injury
- assistance in returning to work at the earliest and safest time.

Why Choose ITIM?
ITIM:
• has a commitment to workplace safety
• has accredited rehabilitation providers in many states
• has a wide range of specialist and skilled counsellors and consultants in RTW services
• provides access to interpreter services
• can provide one-off specialist or comprehensive and long-term assistance
• is committed to helping the majority of injured workers return to the same employer
• can assist injured workers to use professional career planning consultants specialist at assisting them find alternate career paths and job placement
• is well networked in the professional business community
• has specialist staff who are skilled at finding creative solutions to return to work barriers
• is up-to-date with cutting edge disability management program models and proactive return to work strategies
• is up-to-date with workers compensation, WorkSafe and Occupational Health and Safety regulations
• provides employers with a range of educational materials and training programs to help them address the workplace accommodation of injured workers and prevent re-injuries
• has commitment to ensuring rehabilitation is undertaken safely without risk of causing further injury or illness to employees
• has skilled staff who are experienced in tailored services to meet the needs of the of the affected worker and employer which may involve them initially returning to work on lighter duties and for shorter hours
• will ensure the needs and requirements of affected workers are not jeopardised at any time
• ensures that all all rehabilitation/return to work records remain confidential and are strictly maintained in accordance with the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998.

Training Workshops
ITIM Australia provides a wide range of specialised and tailored training workshops and seminars that meet the existing and future needs of people in organisations. All courses aim to enhance the organisational, professional and personal development of employees. ITIM is committed to assisting organisations to achieve safe, positive and productive work environments.

What will it Cost?
The cost for ITIM’s services varies depending upon the service being selected and if it is being purchased in combination with other ITIM programs. ITIM services organisations throughout metropolitan and regional Australia. Contact ITIM on freecall 1800 337 068 for a listing of services and associated costs. ITIM is a 100 per cent Australian organisation.


Book an Appointment
To book an appointment, telephone ITIM on freecall 1800 337 068. The receptionist will ask you a few questions about the types of services you are interested in before connecting you with an ITIM consultant who will best meet your needs.