rehabilitation coordinator training

Ideal for return to work coordinators, rehabilitation managers and HR managers, a return to work coordinator training course will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to manage rehabilitation or return-to-work programs for an organisation.

In our Certificate of Rehabilitation and Return to Work Programming course you will learn how to analyse, process and dispute claims; consult with medical professionals; undertake risk analysis; and understand breaches of return-to-work programs.

You will also gain insights into how to design a rehabilitation and return-to-work program, including job redesign, reduced hours and alternative duties. You will also gain an understanding of legislative requirements, including safe work practices, how to use appropriate terminology and the correct documentation of client information.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking return to work coordinator training include:

• Learning about organisations workers compensation insurance police
• Exploring schemes and registration certificates
• Gaining an understanding of self-insurers
• Studying how to process claims and notify rehabilitation providers
• Examining how to advise claimants if their claim is accepted
• Understanding how to identify illness and prepare required documents
• Attaining knowledge of period of absence and rehabilitation assistance required
• Gaining insights into risk assessment and ensuring consultation occurs
• Learning about rehabilitation and how to coordinate job redesign and reduce hours
• Exploring how to design a return to work program
• Exploring how to obtain approval for program and coordinate with the employee
• Gaining an understanding of risk analysis
• Studying regular communication between all parties and common challenges and solutions
• Examining how to identify breaches and suggest remedial action
• Understanding resignations and notice
• Attaining knowledge of how to notify workers compensation authorities when breaches occur
• Gaining insights into modifying return to work programs
• Learning about evaluation and relevant legislation
• Exploring the roles of health professionals
• Gaining an understanding of client rehabilitation, rehabilitation programs and nutrition support
• Studying supervisory requirements and relationships
• Examining family, community groups and care workers
• Understanding client status and progress
• Attaining knowledge of rehabilitation services, support/advocacy groups and Job Service Australia
• Gaining insights into Green Corps, voluntary work, educational needs, diabetes educators and disability liaison officers
• Learning abut ADCET, how to engage interpreters and identify client risks in their home
• Exploring hygiene and infection control
• Gaining an understanding of home care, community settings and housekeeping
• Studying the disposal of sharps and how to report hazards
• Examining how to document client information and requirements
• Understanding feedback
• Exploring how to monitor and evaluate return to work and gather feedback from all parties
• Gaining an understanding of how to facilitate communication between parties and monitor a return to work plan
• Studying how to identify and address any non-compliance and any hazards
• Examining the hierarchy of controls model
• Understanding how to evaluate programs and case managers’ and rehab providers performance

And more!

Return to Work Guidelines

A Return to Work (RTW) program is a framework that supports an individual to return to work after a work-related injury. Each state has different legislation and regulations to guide employers, workers and other stakeholders through this process.

When someone is returning to work, there are several parties involved, all of whom have a part to play in assisting the injured worker. This includes employers, doctors and other health professionals, insurers, rehabilitation providers and, of course, the worker themselves. A safe return to work is more likely to be successful when the worker takes an active part in the planning for this outcome.

As you will learn in our return to work coordinator training course, the responsibilities of each stakeholder involved in the return to work process include:

Worker

They should actively contribute to their own return to work planning and participate in treatment and rehabilitation. They should also communicate openly and honestly with insurers and their employers to keep all parties informed and make a reasonable effort to return to work when possible, even if this means performing alternative duties.

Employer

They are responsible for reporting the incident in which the worker sustained an injury, and initiating the claim with the insurer. Employers are tasked with providing rehabilitation to the worker and assisting them to return to work as soon as possible, even if a claim has not been fully processed.  The employer should also offer support to the worker, empathising with their position and encouraging them to return to work as soon as it is safe to do so.

Rehabilitation and Return to Work Coordinator

This role may be performed by an employee if the organisation doesn’t require a dedicated Rehabilitation and Return to Work Coordinator. They are responsible for coordinating the worker’s return to work, liaising with the worker to ascertain the extent of their injuries, consulting with the worker about suitable duties and ensuring their work remains within these parameters, and liaising and communicating with other stakeholders including the employer and insurer.

Insurer

These differ by state (for example, in Queensland, they are called WorkCover Queensland) and responsibilities include assessing claims and deciding on compensation, financial entitlements and ongoing benefits, as well as coordinating the rehabilitation and return to work plan for the injured worker.

Health Providers

These are tasked with assisting in the ongoing clinical care of the worker in terms of assessing and treating their injuries. They are also responsible for completing a Work Capacity Certificate and providing medical advice to the worker, their employer and the insurer.

Injury Management Coordinator

This person may be engaged by the employer or an insurer to provide assistance with injury management, including developing rehabilitation, injury management and return to work plans, providing workplace assessments, and liaising with the medical practitioners involved.

Rehabilitation and Return to Work Plan

When undertaking return to work coordinator training, you will learn about rehabilitation and return to work plans. This is a document that outlines both the rehabilitation objectives for a worker and the steps that must be taken to achieve these objectives. The insurer is responsible for formulating this plan in consultation with medical practitioners, the worker and the employer.

The rehabilitation and return to work plan should include:

• Information about the worker and who their support people are (including a RTW Coordinator if applicable).
• Information about the suitable duties program.
• The rehabilitation and return to work goals of the worker.
• The advice of the medical practitioners on their return to work, treatment and capacities, and tasks/duties that should be avoided.
• Any modifications or accommodations to the workplace that are required.
• A schedule for reviewing the plan.

All stakeholders should sign and date the plan.

Injury Management Programs

Injury management programs in workplaces are designed to promote sustainable employment outcomes for individuals who have experienced an injury. These programs are an effective way of assisting workers to return to work and controlling the compensation costs for an employer. An injury management program documents the procedures that staff should follow when and after an injury occurs, and outline how the worker’s safe return to work can be facilitated. They should include:

• Measurable goals.
• Guidance on the compensation process.
• Guidance for how the injured employee should be communicated with.
• A framework for open communication between all stakeholders.
• Expectations of all stakeholders and role clarity.
• Related prevention and health promotion programs to minimise chances of future injury.
• Guidance on how staff will be made aware of the injury management program.
• Information on how conflicts or disputes will be managed.

Suitable Duties

If an injured worker cannot safely or practically return to their pre-injury tasks or duties, it is the responsibility of the employer to identify alternative tasks, duties or working arrangements. These are referred to as “suitable duties” and take into account the physical and psychological capacities and restrictions of the worker, any training required and a schedule for the duties to be performed.

The Rehabilitation and Return to Work Coordinator is responsible for developing a suitable duties plan for the worker. If no suitable duties are able to be identified in a workplace, the employer should contact the insurer to discuss the possibility of the worker using their skills and abilities at a different workplace while they recover. This is known as “host employment”.

 

Gain the knowledge, skills and tools you need to manage a rehabilitation and return-to-work program and to work within a community rehabilitation environment with return to work coordinator training such as our Certificate of Rehabilitation and Return to Work Programming.