Early Intervention Rehabilitation

ETSSC

EARLY INTERVENTION REHABILITATION

Employee Assistance Program

Mediation

Safety and Health

Injury Management

Workers' Compensation

Once an injured or ill employee has lodged a claim for workers' compensation, RiskCover, the Department's insurers, have 17 days to determine liability on the claim. The 17 days, inclusive of weekends, applies from the date the claim is received and signed by the principal.

If liability cannot be determined in this time, RiskCover will write and inform the injured employee of this fact.

If determination on liability is going to be protracted, RiskCover may provide rehabilitation assistance for an employee with a pended claim on a without prejudice basis, if it considers that early intervention will assist him or her return to work.

The aim of early intervention is to return an injured employee to meaningful and productive work when medically appropriate. Where necessary, modifications will be made to an injured employee's duties or workplace. These modifications may include:

reduced work hours per day and/or reduced working days per week;
modified duties that include components of his or her substantive position that are considered medically suitable; and
alternative duties created for the purpose of rehabilitation.

As a result of returning an injured employee to work via the early intervention program, there may be a need for a case team meeting with the injured employee, principal or line manager, Injury Management Consultant for the Department or vocational rehabilitation provider and the medical practitioner. The result of this meeting should be to develop a return to work program to assist the employee.

As part of the management process for injured employees, it is vital the injured employee know that they are a valued member of the school. The principal or line manager can assist by:

attending an appointment with the injured employee (with their consent) to determine the level of support required in their return to work or to discuss alternative duties with the medical practitioner;
advise the employee of the Department's counselling Service (PrimePsych Employee Assistance Program);
forward copies of newsletters, relevant memos and School Matters; and
extend social invitations to the employee. (If there is a work-related meeting, the employee will need to get approval from his or her medical practitioner).

If you would like further information about the early intervention system, please contact the Departments Injury Management Consultants or access the Injury Management and Workers' Compensation Policy from the Department's Our Policies Webpage.

Feedback regarding this website to be sent to the Project Coordinator.

Last updated: 2 February 2007