Documenting and communicating procedures - Rehabilitation management procedures
Why is this important?
The Rehabilitation guidelines for employers (the s. 41 guidelines), issued by Comcare under s41 of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988, require employers to have procedures that describe how return to work processes will be managed. The procedures should form part of a rehabilitation management system. The rehabilitation management system needs to include appropriate documentation, procedures and contractual arrangements to provide for effective rehabilitation, including the communication of these procedures to employees. Effective communication with employees of procedures, rights and obligations enables them to participate more in rehabilitation.
Although there is flexibility around how employers manage rehabilitation in their organisation, better practice rehabilitation procedures will document an organisation’s approach to:
- assessing an injured worker’s capability to undertake a rehabilitation program
- documenting the process for providing information to employees about their rights and obligations
- working with approved rehabilitation providers
- developing, monitoring and reviewing return to work plans
- making suitable duties available for injured workers, or modifying their work environment
- communicating with all people involved in the return to work process
- collecting and releasing information in compliance with the Privacy Act 1988
- managing disputes arising from return to work issues
- defining the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders.