Guide: Nationally consistent approval framework for ...

1 Guide: Nationally consistent approval framework for workplace rehabilitation providers August 2015 Contents1. INTRODUCTION HEADS OF WORKERS COMPENSATION AUTHORITIES 22. Nationally consistent approval framework FOR workplace REHABILITATION PROVIDERS CONDITIONS OF approval AND PRINCIPLES OF workplace REHABILITATION workplace REHABILITATION PROVIDER approval 33. workplace REHABILITATION workplace REHABILITATION PROVIDERS RECOVER AT WORK workplace REHABILITATION MODEL workplace REHABILITATION SERVICE DELIVERY CONTINUUM 64. PRINCIPLES OF workplace REHABILITATION SERVICE PROVISION PRINCIPLES ORGANISATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PRINCIPLES QUALITY ASSURANCE AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PRINCIPLES STAFF MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES 105.

2 approval PROCESS APPLICATION FOR approval CROSS JURISDICTIONAL APPLICATION FOR approval MONITORING OF PROVIDER PERFORMANCE APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL OF approval CROSS JURISDICTIONAL RENEWAL OF approval CANCELLING AN INSTRUMENT OF approval PROVIDER CEASING OR WITHDRAWING FROM SERVICE DELIVERY CROSS JURISDICTIONAL INFORMATION SHARING FALSE DECLARATIONS 156. CONDITIONS OF approval 16 APPENDIX 1 FEES 18 APPENDIX 2 EVALUATION METHODOLOGY 18 APPENDIX 3 CUSTOMER FEEDBACK AND COMPLAINTS MANAGEMENT 21 APPENDIX 4 CODE OF CONDUCT FOR workplace REHABILITATION PROVIDERS 22 APPENDIX 5 PRACTICE STANDARDS 29a.

3 workplace ASSESSMENT 29b. FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT 31c. VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENT AND COUNSELLING 33 APPENDIX 6 GLOSSARY OF TERMS 362 HEADS OF WORKERS COMPENSATION AUTHORITIES1. HEADS OF WORKERS COMPENSATION AUTHORITIESThe Heads of Workers Compensation Authorities (HWCA) is a group comprising the chief executives (or their representatives) of the peak bodies responsible for the regulation of workers compensation in Australia and New Zealand. This includes Australia s 10 workers compensation authorities (six states, two territories and two commonwealth) and the New Zealand Accident Compensation purpose of the HWCA is to promote and implement best practice in workers compensation arrangements in Australia and New Zealand in the areas of policy and legislative matters, regulation and scheme the HWCA workshop meeting on return to work in September 2005, a reference group was assigned the task of outlining a Nationally consistent approval system for workplace rehabilitation providers (providers).

4 During 2006 and 2007, the reference group agreed to a Nationally consistent framework whereby approval to operate as a provider is required by workers compensation authorities. The group recommended to the HWCA that providers would apply to a workers compensation authority for initial approval and demonstrate their ability to meet organisational capability standards, return to work service model principles and mandatory qualifications. If approved in one workers compensation authority, other workers compensation authorities would recognise this status and ensure additional approval requirements were purpose of a Nationally consistent approval framework for providers is intended to.

5 Provide a robust approval system across the participating workers compensation authorities enable the objective measurement of provider performance against the Conditions of approval establish standards designed to deliver high quality workplace rehabilitation services to workers, employers and benefits of a Nationally consistent approval framework for providers include: an agreed and understood model of workplace rehabilitation increased uniformity of workplace rehabilitation service definitions and expectations of providers a more robust exiting system that assures credibility of the approval framework increased understanding of the expected standards of workplace rehabilitation provider performance for employers.

6 Workers and insurers reduced administrative costs and complexity for providers who are approved to deliver workplace rehabilitation services for more than one workers compensation authority for employers and insurers reduced costs and complexity for those who operate in more than one workers compensation Nationally consistent approval framework for providers is a national system but does not reduce the responsibility of the insurer, provider and employer to observe the purchasing and workplace rehabilitation service delivery requirements appropriate to the individual workers compensation Heads of Workers Compensation Authorities home page : Nationally consistent approval framework FOR workplace REHABILITATION PROVIDERS 32.

7 Nationally consistent approval framework FOR workplace REHABILITATION PROVIDERSThis guide outlines the Nationally consistent approval framework for providers and fulfils the needs of the participating role of the authority as the approval body for providers is to ensure minimum standards are consistently met in the delivery of services to workers and employers. The authority is responsible for maintaining an approval framework that: seeks to ensure provider conformance with the Conditions of approval creates an efficient and effective system for providers to operate within promotes collaboration and delivers return to work outcomes to all stakeholders promotes innovation and continuous improvement in recovery and return to work.

8 1 CONDITIONS OF approval AND PRINCIPLES OF workplace REHABILITATIONThe Conditions of approval (see section 6) are the overarching requirements to operate as a provider. The Principles of workplace Rehabilitation (see section 4) are the foundation elements of the organisation s service delivery model and define service provision, organisational and administrative infrastructure, staffing and quality workplace REHABILITATION PROVIDER APPROVALThe following outlines a Nationally consistent approval process for providers. approval by an authority does not imply automatic approval to provide services in another authority (see section Cross jurisdictional application for approval ).

9 The application and evaluation processes outline how an organisation may apply to become a provider and, once they are approved, how to maintain that approval through conformance with the Conditions of approval . In summary an organisation wishing to be approved as a provider: applies to the desired workers compensation authority. The application outlines how the organisation will meet the Conditions of approval . If the application is approved, the provider is granted a three year Instrument of approval . after the first 12 months of approval the provider may be required to undergo an independent evaluation at the discretion of the workers compensation authority.

10 During the three years of approval , the provider must complete annual self-evaluations and may be required to undergo a periodic evaluation and/or exception evaluation by an independent evaluator, initiated at the discretion of the authority. if the provider seeks to renew their Instrument of approval , they are required to submit a renewal application to the workers compensation authorities from whom the renewal is sought prior to the expiration of the three year approval period. an application must include a signed Statement of Commitment to the Conditions of approval and a Statement of Commitment to the Code of Conduct for workplace Rehabilitation HEADS OF WORKERS COMPENSATION AUTHORITIES3.