27 October 2004 - Key findings and publication of DWP research: Vocational Rehabilitation, towards a Framework
A research report published today by the Department for Work and Pensions carried out by Andrew Irving Associates provides findings from research to establish the level of awareness of, and the perceptions and attitudes towards vocational rehabilitation (VR). The purpose of this research was to assist in the development of the DWP Framework for Vocational Rehabilitation also launched today available at www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/vrframework/
Interviews were conducted with a range of stakeholders including employers, insurers, occupational health and safety providers, vocational and general rehabilitation providers.
The main findings are:
Viewpoints of stakeholders
- There was wide-spread recognition that the term ‘vocational rehabilitation’ is not readily understood by most people.
- Employers’ interests in VR depended upon the nature of the organisations human resources and occupational health functions. The primary focus appears to be on managing short term absences.
- Those employers providing generous sickness packages could see the immediate benefits of managing absence effectively, whilst for those offering the basic statutory sick pay more or less immediately when the employee becomes sick, the cost benefits are not seen as so immediate.
- Particularly amongst small employers where the HR function is quite basic, employees deemed to be ‘genuinely ill’ are left alone out of a sense of politeness but also a lack of awareness as to what the employer could do to help, assuming that the GP is the judge of when a person is fit to return to work.
- Insurers see VR as a means of potentially reducing the size of settlements as VR could be started sooner, without liability, restoring the person back to their former state more quickly. The size of the potential liability and the prospects of the claimant returning to work were likely to weigh heavily in the decision of whether or not to go down the VR route.
- Independent Providers have an interest in providing a viable service which they can 'sell' to employers, insurers and solicitors. Providers working within large companies/organisations have a business interest in demonstrating that their VR processes and interventions are successful at reducing levels of absence and getting staff back to work sooner.
Key elements of VR
There seemed to be some consistency in current common practice for VR - early intervention, a patient centred approach relevant and appropriate to individuals’ needs, and a case management approach whereby allocated case managers have a key role in establishing what kind of help is necessary consulting with multiple agencies.
Barriers to VR and its use
- Employers’ lack of awareness and uncertainty about what they can do to help
- Insurers’ inability to identify appropriate VR cases.
- Solicitors were reported to be encouraging clients to think in terms of a large financial settlement rather than restoration via VR and a reduced settlement.
- Clients were sometimes reported to be unwilling to accept VR for a variety of reasons including, insufficient motivation to return to work often due to psycho-social and circumstantial reasons, but also the complexities of the benefits system is thought to discourage those being offered a phased return to work to accept it.
- Doctors were accused of signing patients off sick too readily and their ability to comment on the patients condition in relation to the workplace was also questioned.
Conclusions and recommendations
Overall enthusiasm and belief in the VR initiative was detected amongst those who were aware of VR. If levels of sickness absence are stemmed by appropriate interventions this could reduce the flow onto Incapacity Benefit.
Recommendations are made by the researchers for a regulatory body or system of accreditation for providers and a toolkit and/or a helpline for employers providing advice on absence management. An information campaign to raise awareness and understanding of VR amongst employers and the general public was also recommended.
Specific recommendations are also made for particular stakeholders. These include DWP looking at the handling of sick notes and the complexity of the benefits system, insurers developing packages and policies to encourage employers to have a proactive approach to employees who are off sick and the Inland Revenue to look at taxation polices which may be discouraging employers from providing support services that reduce absence from work. For example, Insurance Premium tax on employers who offer Private Medical Insurance is a disincentive to provide this benefit.
Notes for editors
- “Vocational Rehabilitation, towards a Framework” by Andrew Irving Associates, is published today in the DWP Research Report Series: report number 224. A summary and copy of the report are available on the DWP website at www.dwp.gov.uk/research
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