Service Standard 2 – Return to work management

Early intervention and rehabilitation assessment

2.1 A provider must ensure the timely acknowledgment, acceptance and recording of referrals for assessment of an employee’s capability of undertaking a rehabilitation program.

2.2 A provider must ensure contact with all key parties (employee, supervisor, case manager, medical practitioner) is made where possible no later than three working days after receipt of a referral for assessment.

2.3 A provider must ensure that within ten working days of a referral for assessment:

(a) a workplace visit has been completed, and

(b) the initial assessment of the employee’s capability of undertaking a rehabilitation program is complete, and

(c) the initial assessment identifies barriers to maintenance at or return to work (physical, psychosocial or workplace) and outlines the most appropriate course of action to achieve maintenance at or the earliest possible safe and sustainable return to work, and

(d) the referring rehabilitation authority has been advised by written report of the outcome of the initial assessment.

Return to work plans

2.4 When requested to do so, a provider must develop a return to work plan, in consultation with the referring rehabilitation authority, as soon as possible and within 10 working days.

2.5 A provider must ensure the employee’s return to work plan details the goals, roles and responsibilities, outcomes, nature of interventions, costs and expected duration of the plan. All elements are aimed to maintain an injured employee at work while recovering from injury or facilitating an early and safe return to work.

2.6 A provider must proactively communicate and collaborate with key stakeholders (the employee, case manager, supervisor and medical practitioner) to ensure that the plan is based on a shared understanding of:

(a) the employee’s injury and any relevant medical restrictions as a result of the injury

(b) the employee’s capacity to resume pre-injury duties, and

(c) any personal, social, or environmental factors that may present a risk of delayed return to work, and evidence-based medical recovery timeframes for the condition.

2.7 A provider must ensure that the return to work plan is workplace-based and includes agreed worksite program review meetings with key parties.

2.8 A provider must ensure that when significant personal, social or environmental risk factors are present or when employee incapacity has continued for more than 12 weeks, the return to work plan includes:

(a) evidence-based strategies to reduce the risk of ongoing chronicity and incapacity, and