Clinically-Led Case Management
Case Management is a sickness absence management service focusing on early intervention and an early return to work strategy, this service is undertaken by our Case Managers. The service is broken down into a number of component parts as outlined below to minimise costs and maximise turnaround times to ensure the rapid and safe return to work of absent employees.
Health Management will work with you to develop "trigger points" which would be used as guidelines in determining when an employee should be referred to one of our Case Managers. These triggers should form part of your internal sickness absence management policies to ensure a consistent approach and for managers know when to escalate cases for investigation.
Our Case Managers are trained Occupational Health Advisors (OHAs) who will contact the employee within 48 hours of notification from you that they are absent or likely to become absent. The call will provide an assessment of the background to the specific circumstances and ascertain the required level of support needed to achieve a return to health and work. The Case Managers are experienced and expert in engaging with employees to discuss the reason for their absence, their treatment plan or medication, if relevant, and what adjustments or modifications, if any, could facilitate their return.
The organisation will be provided with immediate feedback in the form of a report detailing the principal issues affecting the employee and including the prognosis, agreed return to work plan and target return to work date. Recommendations are made on steps which can be taken to facilitate an earlier return to work, if appropriate, taking into account the disability legislation.
If you choose, our involvement in a case can conclude once we have provided you with advice following our initial assessment. If you prefer, we can continue to manage the case where the return to work dates are uncertain or the employee is likely to be off sick for a protracted period. This will involve follow-up calls with the employee to check on progress of treatment, effectiveness of medication etc and a review of the return to work plan. After each call, we will provide you with an update and advice. It may also involve referral to a Physician for a face to face assessment or gaining further evidence from the employee’s GP or Specialist.
