The vocational case management and rehabilitation services we provide through our UK network of vocational case managers is well known for helping people following catastrophic injury to overcome barriers and support people through education, training, work and meaningful activity.
Our vocational case managers work closely with people to truly understand the issues they face and how they affect wellbeing and the ability to engage in rehabilitation. For us it’s about finding ways to overcome the challenges, adapting to the changes and compensating for the impairment.
We work with all ages of client because we believe that vocational rehabilitation should not just focus on those of a working age. We particularly pride ourselves on being able to help young people and equipping them with resilience, determination and a desire to work or learn so that they don’t miss out.
With our adult clients we focus on returning to work, career redirection and vocational assessments, whilst with young people we work closely on their transition through education and into work so that they have the best opportunities post-injury.
We place importance on early intervention and ensure that vocational input is introduced at the right time within a person’s rehabilitation goals; in order to achieve maximum potential for the client. Our associate clinical case managers work closely with our vocational rehabilitation team to discuss client need and we are regularly instructed from outside of Bush & Co to support clients throughout the UK.
Our work focuses on overcoming barriers for and with our clients to support them back into work, education, training or meaningful activities. We enable people to start working towards some form of routine and a sense of ‘normality’ following their injuries which has a positive effect on their physical, psychological and social wellbeing.
Vocational Triage
We offer an initial triage service to determine the most effective point in which to introduce vocational input for the client. We recommend that if there is any doubt as to whether a client is ready for vocational input, a triage assessment is carried out.
Our associate vocational case managers are able to set out an expected time frame for when vocational rehabilitation would be beneficial, based on the client and their circumstances and use their experience and knowledge to assess the client; highlighting areas of the client’s life and/or injuries that should be addressed.
The vocational triage can be completed with the associate clinical case manager or directly with the client if there is no clinical case manager in place.
The benefits
- Gain a better understanding of when the client can realistically begin vocational rehabilitation.
- Gain understanding of what form this may take such as returning to the same role or career re-direction; this supports you to forecast costs.
- Your client is given an insight into their rehabilitation and the triage enables them to set achievable goals for their vocational activity.
- Triage also helps the client mentally as stressors of uncertainty around work are a common theme amongst clients post-injury.
Career Re-direction & Return to Work
Return to work assessments are based around the client and employer. The associate vocational case manager meets with client and employer to highlight any proposed difficulties and looks to address these through reasonable adjustments.
These adjustments may be:
- Specialist equipment;
- Change to working hours; or
- Providing human support, including a phased return, where required.
For some clients a return to their pre-injury occupation isn’t always a possibility; it’s with these clients we offer a career redirection assessment. This assessment reviews their current skills and interests to come up with suitable alternative career paths.
Our associate vocational case managers will ensure that any new role a client pursues will be thoroughly analysed prior to the commencement of employment. This will ensure that the individual will have access to relevant reasonable adjustments where required along with building up their working capabilities in line with their injuries.
Job Seeking Support Programme
Our modular based Job Seeking Support Programme assists clients with preparing for vocational activity post-injury ranging from CV support to interview techniques and finding suitable roles.
This work involves the client working through 10 modules which enables them to become work ready (CV building, interview skills, dealing with setbacks, disclosure of disability).
Voluntary roles are valuable experiences when a client is changing career paths and the associate vocational case manager will assist clients with finding suitable opportunities to aid them in their decisions when considering new occupations.
The Job Seeking Support Programme:
- Provides clients with valuable vocational skills to enable them to search for work independently along with preparing for interviews and managing setbacks;
- Works to create a level of independence for the clients when securing employment and enhancing their vocational skills; and
- Enables the client to gain important resilience and skills around search for work and confidence through working with an experienced vocational case manager; which will significantly increase their likelihood of obtaining employment.
Young Persons’ Transition Assessment
The period of transition between educational levels and into the working world for a young person can be a confusing and unsettling time, especially post-injury.
Our Young Persons’ Transition Assessment looks to ascertain the clients vocational situation and how the individuals impairments may affect their future vocation. The assessment will outline how an associate vocational case manager can assist with these transitions with the client, education providers and potential employer’s (including apprenticeships etc).
The associate vocational case manager works with the client to review potential options moving forward; whether this is further education, apprenticeships or employment.
The client may need to gradually be introduced into some of these environments depending on their condition and the associate vocational case manager will manage this process alongside the relevant institute.
The benefits of the assessment:
- Helps a young person to have a better understanding of all the opportunities available to them, along with the support available to assist them.
- Gives the young person a purpose and adds structure to their routine which is known to have a positive effect on physical, psychological and social wellbeing. It also enables the client to potentially pursue paid employment.
Mr P was involved in a road traffic accident where his motorbike collided with a lorry. He was 54 years of age at the time of the accident, in which he sustained severe (de-gloving and crush) injuries to his left arm and hand. He also sustained a puncture wound to his left foot, broke his clavicle, and had lost large amount of blood.
Mr P underwent multiple surgeries to his hand, and was in hospital for almost 2 months. He had skin grafts, and metal plates were inserted. Following failure of skin grafts, Mr P’s had his left arm surgically attached to his stomach to provide a good blood supply to the arm to encourage healing.