Rehabilitation, in the health context, involves facilitating optimal participation for disadvantaged individuals in society. Furthermore, vocational rehabilitation (VR) maximises participation in the workforce. Vocational rehabilitation practitioners (VRPs) tend to be health/rehabilitation professionals, specialising in understanding health in the context of work. Other VRPs are employment experts with specialist knowledge of health and/or disability issues.
VRPs assist:
The VRA represents all those involved in delivering VR services. Consequently a number of groups are involved from both health (NHS and private) and other government agencies e.g. the Department for Work and Pensions.
We are aware of the deficient VR services in the UK and strive to develop greater provision with an appropriately skilled workforce. We help and encourage employers (through both HR and occupational health) to be more aware of, and better understand, the value of providing VR. In turn this assists employers retain employees despite of ill health. It also helps reduce sickness absence and aids the economy through reducing the costs of ill-health benefits.
"I have always felt that getting people back to or remaining in work is what I consider to be ‘real OT’ and is such a valuable contribution we can make to people who are disadvantaged by illness or injury."
Vocational rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary intervention offered to those with physical, psychological and/or social difficulties enabling a return to work or preventing loss of work.
VRA – Informed Consent Guide
