News

Treasurer: Vocational Rehabilitation Association

The VRA is leading the professional delivery of effective vocational rehabilitation.

Wellness Policy Toolikit: Physical Activity

Wellness Policy Toolkit: Physical Activity takes a deep dive into physical activity as a domain of wellness policy.

Andrea Collin featured in an article in OTNews

Here at the VRA work really is our business. In the February 2023 edition of the OT News we ask the question "Work - is it really everyone's business?"

Health and Wellbeing @ Work

With 17 successful years of leading the way in improving workforce health, wellbeing and culture.

Congratulations to the 2022 VR Award Winners

We're delighted to announce the winners in the 2022 VR Awards.

Maria Morris our 2021 VR Practitioner reflects on her Award

On the eve of the 2022 Vocational Rehabilitation Awards we caught up with our 2021 Practitioner of the Year Maria Morris, to find out about her experience.

2022 VR Awards Finalists

Thanks to everyone who took part in the 2022 Awards for their time and effort! The judges have deliberated and the finalists have been selected.

The Commission on the Future of Employment Support

The Institute for Employment Studies (IES) has launched the Commission on the Future of Employment Support to develop evidence-led proposals for reform of our system of employment support and services.

Support with Employee Health and Disability service

Thousands of businesses across the UK will benefit from a new £6.4 million online service to help employers better support disabled people and those with health conditions in the workplace.

What jobs do blind people do?

People with sight loss succeed in a wide variety of jobs across almost all employment sectors. Just like everyone else, it comes down to whether they have the training, skills and experience.

Hearing loss needn’t mean job loss

Hearing loss, deafness and/or tinnitus affect 12 million UK people so being fully aware and catering for the requirements of any staff members with additional needs is essential for inclusive employers.

2022 Vocational Rehabilitation Awards - DEADLINE EXTENDED to 24 October

£7.6 million to help 2,000 adults with autism into work

A new £7.6 million government initiative has been launched to help over 2,000 adults with learning disabilities and autism move into work.

The IGLOo: Sickness absence and sustainable return to work pilot study

Returning people back to work after sickness absence and enabling them to stay at work is challenging, especially where the person is experiencing mental ill health – either as a primary reason for absence or a

Employability Day: Free e-learning from RNIB

Today, Friday 17 June, we're recognising Employability Day by sharing some great free resources from VRA member RNIB.

Tesco announced as a Visibly Better Employer

Congratulations to Tesco who have been recognised as a Visibly Better Employer.

More healthcare professionals given powers to certify fit notes

From 1 July 2022 nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists, and physiotherapists will all be able to legally certify fit notes – something that at present only doctors can do.

Breaking Down Barriers

On the 24th May, we at the VRA held our annual Spring Conference. We decided to take a different tack for our theme this year.

Local Supported Employment

The Government has published Local Supported Employment: guidance for local authorities (23 May 2022).

Statutory Sick Pay reform could boost UK economy by £3.9bn

The UK economy could get a £3.9bn boost over the next five years if the government reforms the 40-year-old Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) system, a landmark report from Unum UK, claims.

Over one million more disabled people are in employment compared to five years ago

Over one million more disabled people are in employment compared to five years ago according to the latest ONS (Office for National Statistics) on 17 May.

Mental health should be included in the Covid-19 public enquiry according to its Chair

Today the Chair of the COVID-19 public inquiry Baroness Heather Hallett, has written to the Prime Minister with recommendations to expand the terms of reference.

VRA makes urgent call for mental health to be added into COVID-19 inquiry’s remit

The VRA is one of 23 organisations that have joined BACP in calling for mental health to be urgently added into the Public Inquiry into COVID-19 calling inquiry’s remit.

Employment Minister backs drive to bring excluded workers into employment

Employment Minister Mims Davies has praised efforts by employers and specialist service companies to bring more workers excluded by disability and mental health issues into employment.

Inspiring future OTs towards Vocational Rehabilitation

On February 22nd myself, trustee Emma Drinkwater and member of the VRA Jo Vallom-Smith got together via teams and delivered a talk to Northampton University Occupational Therapy Society.

Work related support for people who have been displaced from Ukraine

It is important that Ukrainians arriving in UK have support with their work needs.

Looking for experts in Rehabilitation for Chronic Neurological Disorders

The National Guideline Alliance (NGA), on behalf of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Allied Health Professionals supporting people’s health in work

The Royal Society for Public Health is producing a resource for Allied Health Professionals, showcasing their role in supporting people’s health in work.

Turning Tragedy into Victory Using Smart Vocational Rehabilitation

We asked Maria Morris, who in December was named VR Practitioner of 2021 at the VR Awards to tell us a little more about her work.

RNIB’s Work Based Assessment offers specialist recommendations for Blind and Partially Sighted Workers

With one in four registered blind or partially sighted people of working age being unemployed (RNIB, 2020), the difficulties faced finding or remaining in work can be incredibly challenging.

The Empowerment Project

We asked Mandy Whalley, Associate Specialist Rehabilitation Occupational Therapist at Think Therapy 1st to tell us about the Empowerment Project.

From our new Chair, Dr Julie Denning

I am delighted to be able to advise you that following the recent election, I have now taken up the post of Chair of the VRA.

50% of unemployed men aged 50+ are out of work for at least a year

There were nearly 200,000 men aged 50 and older out of work between September and November 2021 – an increase of 24% in two years – and 50% of them were unemployed for at least a year, according to new analysis

VRA AGM & CPD Webinar: Vocational Case Management

We do hope you will be attending our AGM and CPD webinar at midday on Tuesday 25th. Please book your place here.

VRA AGM 2022 and Trustee Nominations

The VRA AGM is taking place at midday on Tuesday 25th January 2022 as part of an extended session for our monthly CPD webinar.

Winners 2021 Vocational Rehabilitation Awards

Thanks to everyone who took part in the 2021 Vocational Rehabilitation Awards and we are delighted to announce our winners.

Finalists 2021 Vocational Rehabilitation Awards

We received some great entries for the 2021 Vocational Rehabilitation Awards and the judges had a real challenge arriving at our finalists.

Get to know our trustees: Alan Bradshaw

We asked Alan who has recently become a trustee of the VRA, to tell us a bit more about himself and his work. Find out more about becoming a trustee here.

Managing Long-Covid and Sleep

‍Fatigue is a common symptom of long-covid and post-viral syndrome (PVS) more generally.

Case Management Standards Consultation: Your input is needed!

The Institute of Registered Case Managers is consulting on draft standards and we are keen to ensure that vocational practitioners have the opportunity to contribute to this important work.

Deborah Edwards in conversation with Sabrina Lawlor

Solicitor Sabrina Lawlor in conversation with VRA Chair, Deborah Edwards.

Member discounts

VRA members receive discounts on two current training opportunities:

Find out more about becoming a VRA trustee

As the end of this calendar year is approaching, it is the right time for each of our members to consider their commitments for 2022.

How Do I Compare? A Snapshot of our VR Community,

A survey from the VRA - Click HERE to begin the survey.Why are we looking at gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, and health status in the VR community?

International Opportunity to share your research on Return to Work or workplace wellness

One of the Canadian members supporting the international VR network the VRA is part of is the Work Wellness Institute.

International Vocational Rehabilitation Network

The VRA have been involved in setting up an international vocational rehabilitation network.

Call for VR practitioners working with people experiencing chronic pain

I am an OT who is part of the chronic pain management team at the Walton Centre in Liverpool.

Promoting VR to AHP Students

Are you a student on an allied health professional training course? Want to know more about a great way to use you OT skills in Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)?

Early intervention through specialist workplace assessments

Social businessman and VRA member Dan Williams of Visualise Training and Consultancy helps people with visual impairments retain their employment rather than being signed off from work.

Emerging Insights into VR Conference - Access the Recordings

If you were unable to attend our recent online conference Emerging Insights you can now purchase access to the recordings of the event.

Looking for a new role?

You can find some great VR-related opportunities on our vacancy page here.

Reflections of a rehabilitation professional: A pain in the neck

We have all used the expression “a pain in the neck” on occasions. Google describes this as ‘someone or something that is annoying or difficult to deal with’.

Post pandemic: Mental wellbeing in the workplace

VRA member Lisa Whittleton of Illuminate VR Services Ltd joined the panel at a recent event for Birmingham, Coventry and Warwickshire CIPD branches on mental wellbeing in the workplace.

Long Covid Roundtable

Insurance Post has published an article about the VRA's recent roundtable on long covid and work.

New e-learning course enhances skills when assisting people with disabilities

A new e-learning course to develop knowledge of all aspects of disability has been designed and launched by VRA member Dan Williams of Visualise Training and Consultancy.

Institute of Registered Case Managers: update for VRA members

This is a recording of the June 2021 presentation in which VRA Chair Deborah Edwards updated members on the development of the Institute of Registered Case Managers.

Council for Work and Health

We asked Joy Reymond VRA Trustee and the VRA's representative on the Council for Work and Health to tell us more about their work.

Leaning on the past to benefit the future

There is no doubt that living and working through a pandemic has changed the landscape of rehabilitation and vocational support, but when is the right time to stop reflecting and start using the way we adapted

Reflections of a rehabilitation professional: Nutrition – don’t forget about Vitamin D.

Apart from the needs of those with profound eating/swallowing issues, nutrition was not an important part of my professional life apart from vitamin D.

Apply for a free student place at our conference

Student members of the VRA are able to apply for a free place at our event Emerging Insights into Vocational Rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation after critical illness: vocational rehabilitation can begin in critical care

This is a copy of a rapid response published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). It was written by Dr Andrew Frank VRA Trustee and past Chair.

Research participants needed

The VRA is always keen to support researchers and so is sharing details of this survey.

Supporting organisations to manage long term sickness

Sickness absence costs UK businesses approximately £9 billion per year

VRA's Irish Network: assistive technology that is available / used by people with dyslexia

All those working within vocational rehabilitation on the island of Ireland or with links to Irish VR are welcome to join our network.

Reflections of a Rehabilitation Professional: Research 4 - Quantitative Research

Throughout my early years in clinical research, I was fortunate to work with highly experienced researchers from the Medical Research Council and so I didn’t have to think too much about research methodology.

Employers prioritised employee mental health and communications as a result of COVID-19

According to Aon’s UK Benefits & Trends Survey, 86% of employers said they prioritised employee communications as a result of the pandemic.

Project Manager for IRCM

The Institute of Registered Case Managers (IRCM)

Talking VR: an exciting new series from the VRA

VRA Chair Deborah Edwards shares the idea behind the new 'Talking VR' video series from the VRA.

Reflections of a rehabilitation professional: research 3 – qualitative research

Firstly, a big thank you to the VRA member who wrote to me saying that she had changed her feedback questionnaire in the light of my last reflection.

National Strategy for Disabled People

The Disability Unit in the Cabinet Office is working with government colleagues, disabled people, disabled people’s organisations, charities and businesses to develop and deliver a National Strategy for Disable

Returning to work after Covid research

A research team based at the University of Derby and University of Huddersfield is conducting an online survey to investigate.