Rehabilitation Code
The Rehabilitation Working Party is a cross-market body that has been meeting since 1998 to promote the use of rehabilitation in the insurance claims process. Its members include representatives of the Association of British Insurers, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, the Bodily Injury Claims Management Association, the Case Management Society of the UK, the Forum of Insurance Lawyers, the International Underwriting Association of London, the NHS Litigation Authority, the Personal Injury Bar Association, and the Vocational Rehabilitation Association.
Rehabilitation Code
The working party is responsible for the Rehabilitation Code (“the Code”), a document that sets out a voluntary legal framework for the provision of rehabilitation to injured claimants and has helped hundreds of thousands of people to receive treatment. The Code is recognised by the Civil Procedure Rules Committee and attached to the Personal Injury Pre-Action Protocol. The Code is widely agreed to be influential with both insurers and claimant lawyers. First published in 1999, it has since been revised three times, most recently in 2015.
The working party is unique in that it brings together a wide range of interests and expertise on a regular basis, seeking at all times to achieve a cross-market consensus. The Code has the official support of all the organisations listed above plus the Motor Accident Solicitors’ Society, who were actively involved in its drafting.
The working party also organises conferences, lectures and training sessions and has commissioned several pieces of research.
Future Development
The Vocational Rehabilitation Association is working with CMSUK, BABICM, and BSRM to develop a Rehabilitation Good Practice Guide, which will be read in conjunction with the Rehab Code, and which will inform non-health professionals of the critical importance of client-centred rehabilitation treatment and support.