Return to Work Assistance

Whilst return to work assistance is often thought of as support for individuals who have had to take time off because of a distressing event or injury, this support is also often needed by individuals who have chosen to take a break from work. Despite the circumstances that led to taking time off work, returning to work is often overwhelming and can conjure up a variety of emotions.

Some of the reasons that are commonly the cause of people having to take a break from work include:

• Receiving an injury
• Experiencing issues with mental health
• Receiving a diagnosis or experiencing issues with your physical health
• Going through grief after losing someone
• Helping a close family member or friend as they experience one of these issues

After going through a tough time, or even after taking a long period of time away from work for your own pleasure, it can be difficult to return. You may be feeling anxious about your return to work, or still be experiencing the emotions associated with the event that caused you to take time off. You may not know how to explain your absence to your colleagues, or how to talk about any difficulties that you now have with your boss.

There could be certain things that you can no longer do, or you may not know what you’ll be able to do at your current job. You may also not be able to work in your role any longer, and are unsure about what you can do now to earn a living. You may have also taken the break due to feeling unhappy with your current job and are wanting to change careers, but are not sure where to start.

Although the return to work is almost always difficult, it can be made easier with the support and assistance of a professional. There are a number of VCPS practitioners who are specialised in providing return to work assistance, and some of the ways that they can help include:

• Ensuring that you feel emotionally equipped to return to work, and helping you to deal with any emotions that you are having difficulties with
• Helping you talk to your employer about your difficulties, and working out an agreement with them on what you will be able to do from this point forward
• Helping you to be able to discuss the issue with your colleagues if it is a sensitive topic for you
• Discovering what you are able to do, assisting you with your recovery and helping you to ease your way back into work
• Helping you to find a work/life balance for any new responsibilities that you may now have
• Finding new options or roles that are available to you if you can no longer work in your current job