Delving into the breadth of VR across different sectors

WOW!! What an AMAZING day exploring the impact of VR across different industry sectors.

Take a look at VRA Chair, Dr Julie Denning’s closing summary to get a feel for what the day had in store:

We heard from a number of fantastic expert speakers where VR is applied, to help people stay in, return to and maintain work.

Iain Downie

Director of Resources, Forces Employment Charity

Session Title: From Military to Civilian – providing through life support to our Armed Forces Community

The presentation will describe some of the challenges faced by military personnel with health and other barriers to employment. It will discuss the support provided through the period of transition from military to civilian employment (from both statutory and charitable sources) and the connections between the two. The session will conclude by highlighting the challenges and successes with this cohort.

Andrea Collin

Senior Occupational Therapist, Northern Rights

Session Title: VR in the DWP’s Welfare to Work Sector:  Does our job title reflect our VR work?

Working in welfare to work since 2011 has been an amazing start to my Occupational Therapy career. Having always wanted to work in VR this was a perfect opportunity. Seeing and supporting a wide variety of clients, all working age but with a variety of differing health & wellbeing needs has allowed me to not just focus on one area but use a bio-psycho-social approach. Often working standalone from a health professional perspective in a team of personal development advisor (PDAs) and employment consultants (ECs) to name a few, I consider myself to be a VR practitioner, addressing the needs and barriers of the clients. However, were I to ask one of the many PDAs who support the customers with a view of sustainable employment being the end goal if they were a vocational rehabilitation practitioner their answer would be no. We’ll explore the varying roles in Welfare to Work.

Will Meredew

Senior Policy Adviser, Association of British Insurers

Session Title: Vocational Rehabilitation and insurance

A summary of findings from recent ABI analysis of 16,000 vocational rehabilitation cases delivered through income protection policies. This evidence points to the valuable role of vocational rehabilitation in promoting good outcomes for the workforce.

Emily Yeardley

Director, Solicitor – Head of Employment Law

Session Title: How can VR help to reduce employment law claims?

A presentation looking at how VR can play an important part of case management and managing disability and ill health in the workplace.

Rachel Sibson

Session Title: Vocational rehabilitation in the NHS – Support to return to work after a stroke

This presentation aims to describe my personal journey into Vocational Rehabilitation and outline initiatives we have undertaken at National and London levels to improve Vocational Rehabilitation for people following a stroke.

On top of this we were also joined by IRCM, talking about their organisation and how to become a member:

It’s not too late to catch up on the days events, each session has been recorded and is available for purchase, along with all provided resources and copies of the Q&A chat files. Simply email enquiries@vrassociation.org.uk to enquire and and advise which session you require.