Work Cover Claims: The Psychologist’s role in assisting deaf employee’s

through the work cover process.

Ryan Teuma MAPS Psychologist

Vitalogy Consulting

Lets Talk About …Mental health and deaf Lets Talk About …Mental health and deaf people conference.people conference.

16-17 November 201516-17 November 2015

What I want to give you today?

A clear explanation of the work cover process

The best supports required for a deaf employee

The disadvantages and barriers presented to deaf employees

How to overcome those barriers using your professional supports

What is work cover? If you have a work related injury or illness,

you may be entitled to receive compensation from WorkCover

The injury can be a new injury or an aggravation of a pre-existing injury

You can be a permanent, full time or part time employee.

What types of injuries or illnesses? Any type of injury or illness Back, shoulder, hand, leg or hip injury Broken bones, cuts or a head concussion Physical and Sexual assault Bullying, harassment or discrimination Anxiety, Depression, Psychological Trauma Infections, respiratory problems, various

viruses and cancers

What do you need to do? Tell your employer within 30 days of

becoming aware of your injury (put it in writing)

Register the injury at work in the “Register of injuries” which must be kept at every work place

Your employer must let you know in writing they have been notified of your injury.

Fill in the claim form? You must complete the WorkCover claim

form if you require time off work or medical treatment

Tell your Doctor and other Health Care Professionals (Psychologist, Physiotherapist, Osteopath or Chiropractor) of all of your symptoms

The claim form is available at Post Offices, WorkSafe Victoria branches, your union or your employer

Claiming weekly payments If you loose income because of the injury

you are able to claim weekly payments based on your pre-injury weekly earnings

Provide your employer with a “Certificate of Capacity” – from your Doctor to cover the first 14 days

If after the 14 days you can not work you need further “Certificates of capacity” that cover 28 days at a time.

Once you complete the claim form

Give the completed WorkCover claim form with your “Certificate of Capacity” to your employer as soon as you canFind out who is your WorkCover agent such as Allianz, QBE, Gallagher Bassett, Xchanging and CGU. Your WorkCover agent must assess your claim within 28 days

While your claim is being assessed Discuss access to sick and annual leave

with your employer Seek ongoing medical and psychological

support, keep a log of all your treatments and your receipts

Speak to your family and friends who will form part of your support group, do not do this on your own

You may be required to attend an Independent Medical Examination (IME)..psychiatrist, specialist doctor etc

If your claim is accepted You will be paid for your medical and

psychological services You will be paid a weekly pay based on a

percentage. This percentage of your preinjury pay will be determined by your WorkCover agent.

Focus on stabilising your injury, build good connections with your treating team (GP, Psychologist, Physio, Chiro etc)

What your employer should be doing Acknowledge they have received your

claim Complete an Employer Injury Claim form Lodge the claim with WorkSafe in 10 days Appoint a return to work coordinator Plan your return to work with you and your

treating health practitioners (GP, Psychologist and Psychiatrist)

Stay in regular contact with you

What your WorkCover agent should be doing Review your requests for treatment Manage your treatment program with you Assist you with a return to work plan Review suitable offers of employment

offered to you Arrange an occupational rehabilitation

provider Reimburse you for your costs of treatment

The best supports required for a deaf employee on a WorkCover claim Interpreters will be paid for under

WorkCover, however this needs to be arranged through your work cover agent.

Ensure you have a good relationship with your GP as they will be providing you with the important “Certificates of Capacity”

Ensure you have all the medical and psychological supports in place for your recovery

Talk to your close family and friends and get support

Barriers for deaf WorkCover clients Complicated written information is not

visual or deaf friendly. You may need to access interpreters for

sight translation for the documentation You must write or type all forms Interpreters- paid for by WorkCover

however, you can not choose a preferred interpreter

Reliability of booking the interpreter is an issue

Barriers for deaf WorkCover clients Case managers working for the insurance

companies have no experience with deaf clients

Most contact will be through posted snail mail

Get the case managers email address and set up all correspondence electronically

Scan and send in all receipts, keep a log Don’t expect a reply for several days or

weeks as they are very slow in responding

Barriers for deaf WorkCover clients Several appointments will be booked for

various doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, pain specialists, independent medical experts…keep a diary so you don’t miss the appointment

Case managers change every 3 to 6 months, so then you have to start again building the relationship with them

You will have to explain you communication needs over and over

How to overcome the barriers Keep a diary of your contact Keep a log of all of the receipts Put all your requests in writing and send

follow-up emails every few days Fight for what you need to help your

recovery, don’t take no for an answer! Work with your GP and Psychologist to

ensure you are getting what you need Don’t give up keep fighting for your needs

How to overcome the barriers Attend all appointments as requested If you fail to attend appointments, your

weekly payments may be cut off Talk to your close friends and family and

share your experiences with them for support

Seek psychological support to deal with grief, loss of identity, anger, pain management, depression and anxiety.

Psychological support of your wellbeing in practice requires Healthy self esteem. Do you like yourself?

Positive self image. Do you like what you present to others?

Self belief. Do you believe you can live an enjoyable life?

Confidence in yourself. Do you trust yourself to make good decisions for you?

Practical lifestyle changes to promote psychological wellbeing Avoid isolating yourself and hiding from

others Avoid thinking you are the only one who

feels the way you do...you are not alone. Seek different perspectives from people

you respect Develop healthy lifestyle goals that

promote good health, diet, sleep, social inclusion, rest, relaxation and emotional security in your life.

5 Questions for the audience What is your lived experience of a work cover

claim? What culturally appropriate resources are

available to help deaf people on WorkCover? Are there best practice procedural documents

available that WorkCover and the Insurance Agents need to be held accountable to?

What are the numbers of deaf people on work cover in Australia and do they return to work?

What are the expected mental health experiences of deaf people on work cover?

THANK YOU AND LOOK AFTER YOURSELF AT WORK

ryan.teuma@vitalogyconsulting.com

Developing a Range of Responses

RE-BUILDING

RELATIONSHIPS

REPAIRING RELATIONSHIPS

UNIVERSALe.g. Social & Emotional Skills Programs

INTENSIVEe.g. Conferencing, Mediation

TARGETEDe.g. Classroom, Sm.Grp. & Indiv. Conferences

1-5% of population

Whole School

RE-AFFIRMINGRELATIONSHIPS

THROUGH DEVELOPING SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS