Evidence shows that better return to work outcomes result from a tailored, person-centred approach. A person-centred approach to recovery and return to work (RTW) improves employer engagement and RTW outcomes. A worker that is involved in planning and decision making helps them to take ownership of their recovery.
You can reshape a more person-centred approach to RTW by:
- Discussing with your employee and understand their beliefs about pain and injury, conditions at work and home, concerns and expectations, needs and preferences.
- Engaging with your worker and concentrating on employee’s strengths, skills and what they can do, rather than obstacles based on diagnoses, restrictions and what they can’t do.
- Team up with the worker and provide the opportunity for them to listen about your concerns, needs, goals and suggestions to their own solutions, plan with them rather than for them.
- Help your worker in recovery by providing relevant work information. Support and equip them by providing anything is needed for them to receive informed decisions about their recovery.
- Put into place SMART (specific; measurable; attainable; realistic; time-based) recover at work goals
- Making sure whoever is involved in your worker’s recovery understands the recovery at work goals
- While your worker recovers update the plan to meet their needs as they recover.
Source: SIRA
Title: RTW & Person Centred Approach
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