VRA 30 Year Milestone Conference Round Up
Thank you to everyone who attended our conference last week. What an amazing day with some fantastic examples of incredible VR practices.
We wish to extend a huge thank you to our Speakers, Attendees, Trustees and Sponsors for enabling us to put on such a fabulous event.
Please find below our event round up:
We started the day with our Chair Dr Julie Denning delivering a welcoming address and preparation for the day
Session 1 with Professor Nancy Doyle
It’s been a while since neurodiversity hit the radar of the diversity and inclusion sector and most people have heard of it, and know some affected. As a result, there’s a surge of diagnoses and disclosures at work and a difficulty in meeting the need. This talk discussed the latest research based evidence on what works, what’s missing, and how we scale.
Session 2 with Professor Sarah Vickerstaff
Managing health issues at work: Are we ready for the older workforce?
The relationship between health and work is increasingly significant in the context of an ageing population who are expected to extend their working lives. Research suggests that responding to the health issues that older workers may face requires not simply a focus on managing diagnosed health conditions and returns to work but also more proactive health promotion activities and creating an age positive environment. Offering a more age positive organisational climate encourages more openness about health and is likely to be a more supportive and productive environment for older workers and everyone else. The role of occupational health and wellbeing initiatives in this field is an under researched area but a very important one given the policy drift to encourage people to work for longer and delay retirement. This presentation assessed what we know currently and what we need to know to improve the management of older workers.
With a well earned break for lunch and networking we were refreshed for the afternoon
We opened the afternoon with fantastic presentation from IRCM, joining forces with the VRA, CMSUK and BABICM
Keynote Speech by Professor Dame Carol Black
“Work and health, acknowledging 30years of VRA”
Renowned for her extensive research and leadership in public health and work environments, Professor Dame Carol Black will share her insights on how to create healthier workplaces and more engaged teams. This thought-provoking session is a must-attend for anyone looking to influence positive change in their organization.
We closed the day with our Annual Awards Ceremony
Celebrating the achievements of industry leaders and innovators as we presented this year’s Annual Awards. This prestigious event honoured those who have made outstanding contributions to the field, driving excellence and inspiring others to reach new heights.
Thank you to Zofia Bajorek for coming along to present the awards for us. It was a pleasure to have you join us.
VRA Team of the Year 2024
Legal & General and Vitality360 – ‘The Super team’
For over 12 years, the Vocational Clinical Specialists (VCS) at L&G and Vitality360 have collaborated to support individuals with persistent pain and fatigue in optimising their recovery and returning to work. Although both teams operate independently and partner with various organisations, our close relationship allows us to function as a cohesive ‘super’ team, placing the individual at the heart of our interventions.
This ‘super’ team leverages extensive clinical experience and insurance sector knowledge to provide seamless care. We share expertise through webinars, training events, and ad hoc discussions, ensuring our solutions are evidence-based and aligned with national guidelines. Our long-standing collaboration has built trust and understanding, enhancing our ability to deliver integrated care.
VRA Project of the Year 2024
Swiss Re Biopsychosocial Triage Tool: Revolutionising VR Practice in Claims Management
Swiss Re’s project, the Biopsychosocial (BPS) Triage Tool, represents a groundbreaking initiative in the field of disability claims management and drives the use of vocational rehabilitation (VR) practice. This innovative tool leverages the BPS model of healthcare to predict the likelihood of an individual’s return to work (RTW) which helps Claims Assessors target vocational rehabilitation support to help an Income Protection claimant return to work.
VRA Practitioner of the Year 2024
Stuart Miller from SDM Training Services
Bee Work Ready is our primary employability support service, providing a customised and flexible approach to meet individual needs. We accept referrals from case managers, vocational rehabilitation providers, and self-referrals, ensuring focused one-on-one support for each participant.
Link: www.sdmtraining.co.uk/confidence-health
Congratulations to all of you and thank you for sharing with us the incredible work that you have done over the last 12 months. It really is inspiring to see all of these contributions to the world of VR.
As we continue to reflect on the days events, it is with great please that we can announce Pre-order tickets are now on sale for our 2025 event. Secure your seat today at ridiculously low prices and watch this space as details are revealed over the coming months.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1088467889759?aff=oddtdtcreator
If you wish to sponsor our 2025 programme, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Thank you again,
Your VRA Admin Team