Benefits and key elements of early intervention
Early intervention is one of the better practice principles of occupational rehabilitation.
Benefits
Early intervention has the following benefits:
- Providing a productive and supportive workplace
- Demonstrating management commitment to the employee
- Preventing long term absence from the workplace and the development of chronic illness
- Reducing the adverse effects on co-workers of the injured employee
- Improving staff confidence and morale
- Increasing management involvement in the injury management process
- Increasing the probability of return to work
- Containing the cost of incapacity and in the long term, the premium
- Reducing the indirect costs to employers such as lost productivity, recruitment and training costs for replacement staff
7 key elements in early intervention
1. Clear policy or guidelines on supporting employees exhibiting early warning signs of not coping at work. This support need not be contingent upon the employee submitting a claim, or a claim being accepted by Comcare.
2. Line manager awareness of the early warning signs, and how to respond appropriately (achieved through training, policy and guidance material).
3. Early contact with the employee to offer assistance.
4. Early and expert assessment to identify employee needs.
5. Employee and supervisor involvement in developing an agreed plan to enable the employee to remain at work or return to work.
6. Access to effective medical treatment and evidence-based therapeutic interventions if there is a psychological condition.
7. Flexible workplace solutions to support the individual at work.