Individual
Worksite
Pre-employment
Ergonomic/Task analysis
Capacity to earn
Training needs
TSA/VA
Work trial negotiation & placement
Job search
Labour market analysis
Manual handling
Training and education
On-site physio services
Early intervention
Same and new employer
Workplace assessments
Return to work planning
Case conferencing
Key party liaison
Strategic claims review
Employer Interlink Services
Exercise prescription
Educational information
Many injuries that occur in the workplace can be handled with simple medical support, however a small costly percentage require more comprehensive management. These cases test the resources available to the employer. Edge People Management is skilled and experienced in dealing with cases just like these. Edge People Management’s team of experienced injury management consultants can assist in solving the problems and overcome the barriers that may prevent an injured worker from returning to productive employment through strategic resolution practices.
A number of injured workers experience difficulty with a straightforward return to work following their injury. These workers, and their employers, often require assistance in structuring a programme that maximises the worker’s likelihood of returning to productive employment. The coordination of this process is called ‘injury management’. Edge People Management’s consultants assess the barriers impeding full return to work and recommend appropriate services and plans to achieve the most favourable outcome for all parties. This is facilitated through ongoing liaison between the injured worker, employer, treating doctors and insurer.
Edge People Management draws on a range of expertise appropriate for the injured worker’s particular requirements. These include: Psychologists (specialised in rehabilitation counselling and organisational psychology) Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists. In addition, Edge has access to resources required to assist with any other specific needs that the injured worker or your organisation may have.
Many of the injuries that occur in the workplace are physical in nature. These injuries all contribute to significant lost work time and productivity. One of the most effective ways to manage physical injury is with exercise. This may involve specific exercises to target a particular injury, more generalised exercise for fitness and weight loss, or a combination of both. Edge People Management provides Physical Rehabilitation Programs through our specialised Physiotherapists. Our approach is both structured and innovative, designed to prevent or reduce some of the consequences associated with being injured at work. Edge promotes early intervention, employing therapeutic exercise to help prevent possible deconditioning, depression and dependence, and reinforcing an overall “wellness” model. Our aims are twofold:
– To provide appropriate formal exercise programs based on objective outcome measures which complement existing treatment protocols, and
– To establish and maintain excellent communication channels with all relevant parties.
Implementation of a physical rehabilitation program may reduce the need for vocational rehabilitation, particularly when the injured worker is able to participate in alternative duties and complete their programs on site. Clients referred for a physical rehabilitation program receive extensive subjective, physical and functional assessments and are subsequently provided with exercises tailored to their specific requirements. This may include exercises in water (hydrotherapy) and/or in a gymnasium setting. Home based exercise will also be used if appropriate. They may also incorporate different exercise modalities depending upon the nature of the injury and the level of supervision required. The program is monitored and modified throughout, with outcomes reported to all relevant parties.
Benefits to the worker of such a program include:
– improved cardiovascular fitness
– improved independence
– greater responsibility for rehabilitation
– reduced passive intervention
– reduced medication
– reduced chronicity of injury.
Work Site assessments are a valuable tool used to analyse the duties and job tasks of a particular role. This provides information with regard to associated work demands and potential areas of risk. Each job is divided into a number of general work duties which is then broken down and analysed by task (e.g. sitting, bending, lifting etc.). The types of postures, techniques, loads and equipment used are recorded as well as other environmental factors such as temperature, noise, and work heights. A detailed report is then compiled and provided to all key parties along with strategies suggested to address any concerns.
Ergonomic assessments are undertaken for office based employees, particularly those who utilise a computer in their role. Musculoskeletal abnormalities that result from poor work postures and badly designed workstations can affect both employee’s work performance and productivity, and could ultimately lead to a workers compensation claim. Examination of the workstation includes an analysis of the desk, chair, keyboard, phone, computer and any other equipment utilised in the performance of daily tasks. During the assessment, the worker is also educated with regard to ideal ergonomics and posture. They are also provided with simple preventative exercises to undertake whilst at their workstation, such as daily stretches.
Worker education is based on findings outlined in the company work site assessments. Education seminars may be provided on a one-on-one or group basis, and target specific duties and tasks where there is potential for injury. Most training sessions involve a theoretical presentation combined with practical demonstrations in the workplace. Following training, we recommend a follow up session whereby the Physiotherapist visits the workplace to view the work practices and ensure that the training is taken on board. This allows the workers an opportunity to ask questions and to solve any problems they may be experiencing in the application of the new work practices.
Functional Capacity Assessments accurately assess a worker’s physical capacity to work through a series of standardised measurement tools. This physical capacity is then correlated to either the worker’s pre-injury role or other prospective jobs.
Many musculoskeletal problems can be effectively managed with physiotherapy. By providing specialist occupational physiotherapy services, you can improve your productivity, reduce waiting times for treatment, eliminate time away from work, and provide a faster return to work process.
Career re-direction case management assists injured workers to return to work with a new employer when unable to return to their pre-injury occupation. Redeployment is appropriate in cases where:
Edge provides innovative, supportive and effective assistance in circumstances where an injured individual is unable to return to their pre-injury occupation. Typically, the following services are offered in this process:
The Vocational Assessment process assists an individual to identify realistic and achievable employment options based on their level of education and training, prior experience and aptitudes which are measured via psychometric testing instruments. These may include vocational interest surveys, personality assessments and IQ tests.
The Vocational Assessment process provides information such as:
The Vocational Assessment also identifies the:
Case Management requires individualised service delivery based on comprehensive assessment that is then used to develop a rehabilitation plan. The plan is developed in collaboration with the individual and reflects the services required to achieve the desired new employment outcome by empowering the individual to ensure that they are involved in all aspects of the planning and service arrangement in a dynamic way.
EPM has developed a team of specialised consultants who focus solely on meeting the individual’s needs through communication and consultation to promote quality and cost effective outcomes.
Our Job Search Skills Training program assists individuals to acquire job seeking competencies such as résumé preparation, interview technique, cover and expression of interest letter writing, and personal presentation skills.
This training develops the individual’s abilities in areas such as addressing key selection criteria, disclosing their injury (when appropriate), confidently discussing gaps in their employment history, responding to behavioural interview questions and promoting their best attributes in a panel interview context.
This training develops the individual’s abilities in areas such as addressing key selection criteria, disclosing their injury (when appropriate), confidently discussing gaps in their employment history, responding to behavioural interview questions and promoting their best attributes in a panel interview context.
At the conclusion of the Job Search Skills Training program, a job seeker will have gained valuable skills and independence in their ability to identify suitable vacancies or potential employers, express their interest in the potential role and apply and interview for the relevant position with positive results.
This program would benefit those individuals who lack job seeking competencies however present with the drive to secure employment independently of a structured workplace rehabilitation case management program.
This research is particularly useful in identifying the likelihood of an individual securing employment within reasonable distance of their residential area, particularly in regional or remote locations with restricted or limited labour market activity.
This analysis may also assist in identifying an individual’s remunerative potential at a specific point in time, and can define the likely education requirements of a position prior to supporting a job seeker through retraining.
This Vocational Assessment provides an examination of the individual’s capabilities, needs and vocational potential, to assist with the development of a realistic new employment goal that aligns and complies with the related legislation under which the job seeker is insured.
The Vocational Assessment also identifies the:
Transferable KSAs (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities): Based upon previous employment history, hobbies, interests and educational achievements
Individual needs: Such as vocational retraining, job search skills training, vocational counselling to address any adverse events during the program and/or exposure and re-integration into the workplace through Work Trial or Work Placement based work experience
Psychosocial, cognitive and physical barriers that adversely impact their employment potential through expert review and specific assessmentIn some circumstances, EPM’s Registered Psychologists and Rehabilitation Counsellors may use psychometric testing to clarify an individuals’ level of literacy, numeracy, cognitive ability, English language competency and capacity to learn new skills.
The results of this assessment assist in determining suitable job options or recommendations to help with planning a return to work after an injury, either to the worker’s previous occupation or a new occupation.
EPM’s Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists use the Physical Work Performance Evaluation (PWPE) which comprises tasks that evaluate strength, position tolerance, mobility and endurance.
Following injury, a worker may be unable to return to their pre-injury occupation either temporarily or long term. This problem can be resolved by trialling a worker in a new vocation. A work trial assesses suitability of employment and helps to facilitate a successful return to work outcome. Labour market research is used in conjunction with this to further indicate the suitability of employment options for the worker. Edge People Management will access a work trial for the worker and monitor the trial to completion. We support both the worker and the host employer to enhance work trial outcomes.
To enhance a worker’s prospective return to the workforce, a work trial can be organised to assess a worker’s capacity to work, as well as give them confidence to return to a productive working environment. The process of sourcing ‘host employers’, i.e. suitably placing a worker into a physically appropriate job role and supervising their progress, is termed placement services. Edge People Management provides placement services to complement its extensive range of injury management products.
Our Job Search Skills Training program assists individuals to acquire job seeking competencies such as résumé preparation, interview technique, cover and expression of interest letter writing, and personal presentation skills.
Labour Market Research involves conducting an investigation into the status of the labour market to assess such current factors as job availability, remuneration, demographics and training requirements of positions. The results of this research allow parties concerned to draw informed decisions toward practical outcomes.
Edge People Management canvasses potential employers to host work trials, presenting them with the following benefits:
Along with assessing their physical capacity to perform in an alternative job role, the following benefits exist for workers in the undertaking of a work trial:
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