Download Classification - BC Public Service

JOB PROFILE
TITLE: EARLY INTERVENTION AND RETURN TO WORK SPECIALIST
CLASSIFICATION: APPLIED LEADERSHIP
CONTEXT
The Workplace Health and Safety Branch (WHS) provides province-wide services for Health Planning and Promotion, Occupational
Safety, Occupational Health and Rehabilitation, and Disability Benefits Administration within the BC Public Service, through regional
offices in Vancouver, Victoria, and Kamloops. The mandate of WHS is to build workforce safety and health by delivering services and
information to public service managers and employees supporting them to manage their health and improve workforce productivity.
Within WHS, Occupational Health and Rehabilitation (OHR) delivers specialized services to support a healthy and safe workforce; to
assist ill and injured employees’ return to work in a timely, safe, and sustainable manner; to improve accountability for and
management of health-related absences in the public service; and to manage disability costs and improve case outcomes. OHR
works with all ministries, agencies, and participating outside employers and is staffed with Occupational Health Nurses,
Occupational Health Physicians, Medical Case Analysts and Early-Intervention Return to Work Specialists.
JOB OVERVIEW
Under the direction of the Early Intervention and Return to Work Specialist (EIRTWS) Practice Lead, and as part of an integrated
team of occupational health nurses and administrative professionals, the EIRTWS provides advice, support and coordination of
resources to managers and employees regarding early intervention and return to work for short- and long-term, health related
absences. The aim is to support a healthy and safe workforce, to help ill and injured employees return to sustainable work as quickly
and as safely as possible, to improve accountability for and management of health related absences in the public service, and to
manage disability costs and claims.
ACCOUNTABILITIES

Provides case management services to Ministry supervisors, managers and employees to support safe, timely and
sustainable returns to work, in keeping with WHS standards and practices and OHR program objectives.

Advises and educates Ministry supervisors, managers and employees on OHR program, services, roles and responsibilities as
well as on the short-term illness and Injury plan and long-term disability plan and their roles and responsibilities.

Analyzes case information; identifies workplace opportunities for early intervention; evaluates workplace for potential
return-to-work barriers; provides information and updates on cases; and recommends, implements and monitors various
plans, such as return-to-work, retraining or alternate employment plans.

Collaborates with occupational health nurses to support effective case management processes and customer service
outcomes.

Collaborates with internal stakeholders (such as, Corporate Advisors, Human Resource Advisors, Hiring Centre, Performance
Coaches, and Labour Relations) and external partners (such as Union representatives GreatWest Life and Worksafe BC) to
support effective case management progress and outcomes.

Represents the Employer at Rehabilitation Committee and reports on status of cases. Requests relevant information
required for Rehab Committee. Advises on potential impacts to LTD benefits.

Works with WorkSafe BC on case management activities and advises Corporate Advisor of case status and progress.

Advises managers and employees of successive disability provisions at conclusion of claims.

Acts as a program ambassador and delivers information sessions regarding the Early Intervention and Return to Work
Program.
Career Group:
Job Family:
Administrative Services
Program Admin & Mgt
Job Stream:
Role:
Revised:
Professional
May 2015
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Education/Experience
 Post secondary diploma or certificate in disability management and two years related work experience* in a human
resources environment; OR
 Secondary school graduation plus five years equivalent combination of disability benefits administration, disability case
management and/or human resources training and work experience*
Work Experience*Includes:
 Experience with the application of best practices in return-to-work planning and implementation and the coordination of
other expert resources to support case resolution
 Experience in negotiating solutions to complex problems.
 Experience resolving customer issues.
 Experience working with electronic case management systems.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
 Comprehensive knowledge of disability management principles and best practices, including early intervention, return-towork planning, implementation/follow up, roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders, and value of case management to
the employer and employee.
 Excellent written and oral communications skills.
 Ability to meet performance measures is required.
COMPETENCIES

Analytical Thinking [3] – the ability to comprehend a situation by breaking it down into its components and identifying key
or underlying complex issues. It implies the ability to systematically organize and compare the various aspects of a problem
or situation, and determine cause-and-effect relationships ("if...then…") to resolve problems in a sound, decisive manner.
Checks to ensure the validity or accuracy of all information.

Teamwork and Cooperation [3] – is the ability to work co-operatively within diverse teams, work groups and across the
organization to achieve group and organizational goals. It includes the desire and ability to understand and respond
effectively to other people from diverse backgrounds with diverse views.

Service Orientation [3] – is the ability to understand the service needs of a client/ customer (internal or external) and
actively focusing on anticipating, meeting and exceeding the needs in a timely and appropriate manner.

Organizational Commitment [2] – is the ability and willingness to align one’s own behaviour with the needs, priorities and
goals of the organization, and to promote organizational goals to meet organizational needs. It also includes acting in
accordance with organizational decisions and behaving with integrity.
Supplementary Competencies
o
Listening, Understanding & Responding [3] – is the desire and ability to understand and respond effectively to
other people from diverse backgrounds. It includes the ability to understand accurately and respond effectively to
both spoken and unspoken or partly expressed thoughts, feelings and concerns of others. People who
demonstrate high levels of this competency show a deep and complex understanding of others, including crosscultural sensitivity.
o
Results Orientation [3] – is a concern for surpassing a standard of excellence. The standard may be one’s own past
performance (striving for improvement); an objective measure (achievement orientation); challenging goals that
one has set; or even improving or surpassing what has already been done (continuous improvement).
Career Group:
Job Family:
Administrative Services
Program Admin & Mgt
Job Stream:
Role:
Revised:
Professional
May 2015
o
Concern for Order [2] – reflects an underlying drive to reduce uncertainty in the surrounding environment. It is
expressed as monitoring and checking work or information, insisting on clarity of roles and functions
o Planning, Organizing, Coordinating [1] – involves proactively planning, establishing priorities and allocating
resources. It is expressed by developing and implementing increasingly complex plans. It also involves monitoring
and adjusting work to accomplish goals and deliver to the organization’s mandate.
Career Group:
Job Family:
Administrative Services
Program Admin & Mgt
Job Stream:
Role:
Revised:
Professional
May 2015