Module A: Effective disability management programs
In this overview, participants will examine the field of disability management, the rationale for establishing a disability management program, various structures for providing a return-to-work capacity within an organization, and the process followed in setting up a disability management program or analyzing an existing program.
Module B: Introduction to return-to-work coordination
Topics covered include the elements of the plan; the roles of people involved in the process ranging from medical service providers to coworkers; types of accommodations; and the hierarchy of return-to-work options.
Module C: Physical impairments, rehabilitation services and return to work
Participants will obtain a basic understanding of the body systems (respiratory, pulmonary, etc.); treatment providers and the type of information that they are likely to provide; and the impact of physical impairments on individuals and their work.
Module D: Mental health issues, rehabilitation services and return to work
A brief overview of mental health issues in the workplace is provided along with a more in-depth focus on stress and depression. Participants will explore symptoms, treatments and disability aspects of stress and depression and strategies for assisting individuals with stress- and depression-related illnesses to return to work. Disabilities that may have a mental health component and the biopsychosocial impact of disabilities will be considered.
Different approaches to job analysis are examined and participants will be provided with skills and knowledge relating to the job analysis process from the perspective of disability management.
Module F: The role of assessment
(Prequisite is Module E on Job Analysis). Participants will examine the different types of assessment and consider how return-to-work coordinators can identify qualified assessment professionals and interpret their assessments. Medical diagnoses, functional capacity assessments, and vocational assessments will be discussed.
Module G: Communication and interviewing skills
Participants will explore the communication skills that form the basis of the interview and how they are used together to create an interaction in which the returning worker becomes an active partner in the return-to-work process. Communication techniques for formal interviews and informal discussions will be considered including those that involve supervisors and health care providers.
Module H: Interviewing and helping skills
(Prerequisite: Module G: Communication and interviewing skills) Interviewing strategies are explored as is their contribution to a problem-solving process in which Return to Work Coordinators identify barriers to return to work, resources that might be helpful in the process, and options that might be part of an integrated plan. Effective interviewing skills are essential in carrying out the three-stage model of helping that is presented in this module. The difference between helping and therapy is considered along with how and when to refer clients for professional counseling. It is recommended that participants take Module G before Module H unless they have had a recent course in communications skills.
Module I: Legislation and disability management
Participants will examine human rights laws and the requirement for accommodation as it applies to workers with disabilities. Other acts that impact on accommodation and disability will be considered including labor codes and in some provinces, the requirements of workers’ compensation acts. Related acts such as safety, privacy and health information acts will be discussed.
Module J: Workers' compensation and return to work
Workers' compensation income, services, and requirements play a crucial role in returning an employee who has incurred an occupational injury or illness to the workplace. This module explores the knowledge required to provide information about income replacement to employees; to interact with workers' compensation representatives about funding for treatment, rehabilitation and services such as counselling, special equipment or adaptations to the work station, gradual or part-time returns, and training; to identify available expertise within the workers compensation organization; and to fulfill any Board requirements.
Module K: Introduction to conflict resolution
The skills and knowledge required to analyze conflicts and to develop strategies for satisfying the interests of all stakeholders will be covered in this module—with a specific focus on return-to-work situations. The steps in resolving conflicts are explored including initially getting people to the table to discuss and define the problem and, as interests are identified, considering ways to expand the benefits that are available as part of the solution.
Module L: Insurance and other benefits
The workshop covers long term and short term disability, CPP disability, automobile insurance, EI sickness benefits, social assistance, and the hierarchy of benefits when several are available to an employee with an injury or illness. Government programs and community organizations that might provide assistance to workers with disabilities will be discussed.
Module M: Problem-solving with groups
The module covers a range of facilitation skills such as clarifying issues or dealing with obstruction—skills that Return to Work Coordinators will use in return-to-work case meetings involving the employee, supervisor, shop steward or other service providers, and in Disability Management Committee meetings. These group techniques are related to a problem solving process that can be used to move the return-to-work process forward or to deal with issues arising from the program in general.
Module N: Disability management in unionized organizations
Various aspects of labor relations impact disability management including the collective agreement and provincial labor relations act. Memorandums of agreement and letters of intent used in establishing programs and joint committees will be examined. Dispute resolution in a union setting will be explored.
Module O: Disability and diversity in the workplace
The purpose of this module is to examine diversity issues including attitudes towards minorities and people with disabilities, to consider how diversity issues can affect a return to work, and to explore strategies for dealing with cultural differences during the return to work process. Common components of diversity programs will be outlined and the interaction between diversity programs and disability management programs will be examined.
Module P: Disability management from a human resources perspective
The human resources strategy of an organization will influence the benefits that are provided to employees—including assistance with return to work. Benefits and benefit plans and their relationship to disability management will be considered. Provincial employment standards acts that impact return to work in non-unionized organizations, policy and procedures development, and alternate dispute resolution and committee processes will be explored.
Module Q: Management and organizational skills in disability management
Participants will review and analyze their organizational skills including planning, delegating, negotiating, budgeting, and time management. Many return-to-work coordinators must obtain the cooperation of people who are not under their direct supervision and a variety of leadership, planning and communication skills will help in achieving goals and objectives.
Module R: Assistive technology and accommodation
(Prerequisite: Module E: Job analysis) This module covers the process of implementing low to high tech assistive technology in the accommodation of a worker with disabilities. The process includes evaluating the needs of the employee; researching and choosing the most appropriate equipment, software or other job aid; researching and choosing the best supplier; developing a business case for the application; testing the technology and training the worker as necessary; maintaining the assistive technology; and evaluating the outcomes.
This module is designed to enable participants to apply theories of change in practical ways. Issues of change management are examined from an organizational and individual perspective. The administrators of disability management programs must be able to adapt to external changes ranging from the effects of new technology to new legislation and regulation. Internal policies and procedures will affect, and be affected by, the disability management program. Individual returns to work may be influenced by changes within the organization or by the effect of personal changes in physical and other capacities. A positive workplace culture and effective leadership can help individuals and organizations adjust to change.
Module T: Evaluating disability management programs and assessing return to work processes
(Prerequisites: Module A: Effective disability management programs and Module B: Introduction to return-to-work coordination) An overview of techniques employed in evaluating programs including matching outcomes to goals, benchmarking with other organizations and departments, program audits and cost-benefit ratios will be provided. Participants will consider client satisfaction surveys and other approaches to assessing the return-to-work process.
Module U: Marketing and education in disability management and return to work
This module covers the planning and development of internal communications programs aimed at creating support for disability management among management and labor, employees who might incur disabilities, and their coworkers. The requirement for external communications components is examined including education and information targeted to medical and other service providers.
Module V: Information management
Participants will explore what kind of program and client information is collected, how it is collected and used, and what issues of confidentiality are involved. The applicability of Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) is considered. Also examined will be the Return to Work Coordinator’s role in collecting information on community services and resources, keeping professional skills and knowledge up to date, and researching information on an as needed basis.
Module W: Injury prevention and health promotion
This module provides an overview of safety programs, approaches to ergonomics, and the implementation of wellness programs. The interaction of such programs with the disability management program is considered. (This is not a substitute for a safety course.)
Module X: Professional conduct
Participants will identify and analyze situations in disability management where ethical issues might arise. The module will also examine how codes of ethics are developed and how they are used in dealing with ethical issues.
Module Y: Managing the return-to-work process
(Prerequisites: Module A: Effective disability management programs, Module B: Introduction to return-to-work coordination, Module E: Job analysis, Module F: The role of assessment, Module G: Communication and interviewing skills, Module H: Interviewing and helping skills, Module R: Assistive Devices and Technology) This module covers the case management process including working with a return-to-work team that includes internal personnel and external service providers. The return-to work process including assessment, return-to-work planning, implementation, monitoring and adaptation, and evaluation is examined.
Module Af: Les programmes efficaces de gestion de l’incapacité
Ce module se veut un tour d’horizon du domaine de la gestion de l’incapacité au travail : raisons qui justifient la mise sur pied d’un programme de gestion de l’incapacité au travail; structures permettant la mise en œuvre d’un programme de retour au travail au sein d’une organisation; et processus à suivre pour établir un programme de gestion de l’incapacité au travail ou pour analyser un programme existant.
Module Bf: Introduction à la coordination du retour au travail
Ce module porte sur les éléments d’un plan de retour au travail, le rôle des divers intervenants dans ce processus des fournisseurs de services médicaux jusqu’aux collègues, les diverses mesures d’adaptation, la liste hiérarchique des options de retour au travail, les obstacles au retour au travail et les façons d’atténuer ces obstacles.
Module Cf: Déficiences physiques, services de réadaptation et retour au travail
Ce module propose une vue d’ensemble des systèmes et appareils de l’organisme (respiratoire, pulmonaire, etc.) et de la terminologie médicale. On y explore également l’interaction avec les fournisseurs de traitement pendant le processus de retour au travail ainsi que les stratégies destinées à prendre en compte les conséquences des déficiences physiques pour les personnes et leur travail.
Module Df: Problèmes de santé mentale, services de réadaptation et retour au travail
Ce module constitue un bref survol des problèmes de santé mentale au travail, en particulier le stress et la dépression. Les participants exploreront les symptômes, les traitements, le rôle des fournisseurs de services, les problèmes liés au travail et les mesures d’adaptation appropriées aux divers problèmes de santé mentale. Les problématiques qui ont une composante touchant la santé mentale ainsi que les incidences biopsychosociales liées à l’incapacité seront aussi examinées.
