Recovery at work insider - Issue 15
A tailored, person-centred approach improves outcomes
Why is this important?
A tailored, person-centred approach to recovery and return to work (RTW) improves worker engagement and RTW outcomes.
Having a worker involved in planning and decision making helps workers to take ownership of their recovery.
From the evidence
Evidence shows that better return to work outcomes result from a tailored, person-centered approach. To achieve a positive return to work outcome, the process, support and intervention provided by all stakeholders should recognise and respond to an individual worker’s needs1.
A tailored person-centred approach aims to understand a person's circumstances and needs, adapts supports and processes and engages and equips the person to be involved in their recovery 2.
What you can do
- talking with your worker to understand their beliefs about pain and injury, circumstances at work and home, concerns and expectations, needs and preferences
- focusing on your worker’s strengths, skills and what they can do, rather than diagnoses, restrictions and what they can’t do
- planning with your worker rather than for them – provide the opportunity for them to talk about their concerns, needs, goals and suggest their own solutions
- providing recovery at work information to your worker to equip and support them to make informed decisions about their recovery
- setting SMART (specific; measurable; attainable; realistic; time-based) recover at work goals
- ensuring others involved in your worker’s recovery understand the recovery at work goals
- updating the plan to meet your worker’s needs as they recover.
You can apply a tailored person-centred approach to RTW by:
Resources and tools
Next edition
Our June edition will continue to look at recover at work planning to achieve outcomes.
Get in touch
- Visit www.sira.nsw.gov.au
- Call 13 10 50
- Email [email protected]
Subscribe
Subscribe to the Recovery at work e-newsletter.
Previous editions
Missed an issue? Read our most recent issues below:
- Issue 14: Identifying suitable work
- Issue 13:Providing suitable work improves recovery outcomes
- Issue 12: Identifying risk factors for delayed recovery improves outcomes
- Issue 11: Recovery through work, 2021 a year in review
- Issue 10: Support your workers to recover at work through a coordinated approach between stakeholders
- Issue 9: Equipping workers to take an active role in their recovery achieves better outcomes
- Issue 8: Early, supportive contact improves recovery at work outcomes
- Issue 7: Support workers to report an injury early
- Issue 6: Ensure leaders are engaged and committed to a positive recovery culture
- Issue 5: Leaders are committed to building RTW capability
- Issue 4: Design and implement effective return to work systems
- Issue 3: Promote the health benefits of good work and recovery at work
- Issue 2: Positive workplace culture improves recovery at work outcomes
- Issue 1: Successful recovery at work strategies
References
- Safe Work Australia. National RTW Strategy 2020-2030.
- Moo, A, Bywood, P, Clark, and McMillan, J. 2021. Best practices for person-centred case management: literature review. ISCRR