Disability Care Management Professionals can assist injured worker’s return to work after an injury, when their limitations prevent them from returning to their previous full duty job. A vocational specialist will assess the injured worker’s vocational, physical and cognitive abilities to determine their potential for a new job. This process can include the following evaluations:

VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENT AND TESTING:

Testing provides an objective evaluation of education, vocational aptitude and interests as related to labor and industry.  Determining the appropriateness for placement into a job (with or without training) is the key role of the vocational case manager.

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS ANALYSIS (TSA):

This analysis includes the injured workers background, education and work history and identifies skills which can be used and transferred to another job.

JOB ANALYSIS:

A Job Analysis is completed by the vocational case manager to measure the activities required to perform a specific job.   It measures the physical demands of the job such as lifting, pushing, pulling and reaching and the frequency of all these activities are performed. It also includes equipment used and environmental condition and potential hazards of the job. The Job Analysis is used to determine how much of the essential functions of the job can be reasonably performed by the injured worker with their current limited capabilities.

EARNING POWER EVALUATION:

The Earning Power Evaluation consists of a vocational interview along with transferable skills analysis (TSA) and if needed vocational tested is conducted.  Next, the injured worker’s ability to work and their earning power in the local labor market is completed. Lastly, job openings are located that meet the injured worker capabilities in their geographic area.

LABOR MARKET SURVEY (LMS):

This is an objective evaluation to determine how available jobs will be to the injured worker in a specific geographical area. A labor market survey will provide information that includes the frequency of a certain job, number of people employed, wage information, physical or educational requirements, accommodations or ergonomic issues and earning potential.

PLACEMENT SERVICES:

Placement services involve returning the injured worker to appropriate employment by preparing them for gainful employment. A vocational case manager works in person with the injured worker to develop and provide job leads and placement.

This one-on-one interactive process promotes accountability and responsibility for the injured worker to take part in their own future employment placement success.