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RTW Self Assessment using the 5 Steps

Safety Groups Workshop

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What is a Return to Work Program?

• A Return to Work Program is a company-wide program that outlines the policies, procedures and processes that a company uses to manage a worker’s safe and early return to work after an injury or illness.

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Introduction to the Self-Assessment Guide

The Return to Work Self-Assessment Guide is used to assist employers wanting to realize the benefits of having an evidence-based good practices approach to returning their injured and ill workers to work in a safe and timely manner.

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Structure of the guide

Guide contains three areas of assessment:• Organizational Framework• Return to Work Program Management• Strategies for Successful Return to Work

Outcomes

It also provides an Assessment Summary that assist an organization to identify:

• What’s Working• Improvement Opportunities• Next Steps

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Written Standard

• Step 1The written standard for RTW Self-Assessment

should include:• A policy and procedure that identifies why an

assessment is needed, how often an assessment will take place, who will conduct the assessment and

• A standard form/questionnaire or survey to be utilized to conduct the assessment - ie: Self-Assessment Guide

• Specific statistical performance indicators that the program will be measured against – suggestions offered in the Self-Assessment Guide

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Communication

• Step 2Determine the way the standard will be communicated to staff and possibly other stakeholders:– Written memo or notice– Newsletter– Verbal-Staff meeting– Posting in workplace-neutral location where employees

are made aware– Annual business plan-could be incorporated as part of

the business plan

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Communication

• Does the communication of the RTW Assessment include all employees/stakeholders?

• Does it clearly outline what is expected of all parties during the RTW assessment?

• Does it identify who is responsible for the RTW assessment?

• Does it include when the RTW assessment will be taking place and when the results are anticipated?

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Training

Step 3• Do the individuals responsible for the RTW

assessment have the appropriate skills and knowledge to conduct the RTW assessment and analysis ?

• Will you use the same method of training for everyone ? Are there other options?

• How will the training records be maintained?• Is the training made available to other stakeholders?

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Evaluation

• Step 4Evaluate how the RTW Self-Assessment assisted your firm.

• How are you going to evaluate the assessment?– Process - Did you meet your standard established in step 1?– Outcome - Were performance or procedure gaps identified?– Who is responsible to evaluate whether or not the RTW

assessment was successful and how will that be determined?– Were the results of the assessment openly shared with the

organization?

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Acknowledge Success/Make Improvements

• Step 5Based on the results of the evaluation -

Acknowledge your Successes and make any necessary improvements to your RTW Program

• Is there an action plan developed to address those gaps and to make improvements?

• Is there a process to acknowledge RTW success stories?

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Thank you

Questions?