Work Cover Claims: The Psychologist

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Work Cover Claims The Psychologists role in
assisting deaf employees through the work cover
process. Ryan Teuma MAPS Psychologist
Vitalogy Consulting

• Lets Talk About Mental health and deaf people
  conference.
• 16-17 November 2015

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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Once you complete the claim form

• Give the completed WorkCover claim form with your
  Certificate of Capacity to your employer as
  soon as you can
• Find 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

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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
• Dont expect a reply for several days or weeks as
  they are very slow in responding

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Barriers for deaf WorkCover clients

• Several appointments will be booked for various
  doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, pain
  specialists, independent medical expertskeep a
  diary so you dont 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

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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,
  dont take no for an answer!
• Work with your GP and Psychologist to ensure you
  are getting what you need
• Dont give up keep fighting for your needs

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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?

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• THANK YOU AND LOOK AFTER YOURSELF AT WORK
• ryan.teuma_at_vitalogyconsulting.com

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Developing a Range of Responses