Shirley Bannister

Return to Work Specialist

WSIB

02.2011 - Current

Supporting Injured or Ill Persons (IIP) with complex injuries in their recovery and return to work through collaborative case management, plan development, support coordination, return to work assessment and plan implementation
Integrated into the Mental Stress Injury Program for the last 3 years to assist First Responder's diagnosed with PTSD to return to work or plan alternate pathway to return to work. This work requires skills in a trauma informed approach
Prior to this, the focus of my work for 7 years was to support return to work for persons who sustained work-related mild traumatic brain injuries and were experiencing persistent symptoms (physical, psychological, cognitive)
This role requires facilitation of in-person meetings at the workplace with the person with an injury or illness and the employer to develop a plan for returning to safe work. These discussions can include work modifications or accommodations, as needed
Providing education on the rights and obligations of both the employer and person with an injury or illness.
Following up with the workplace parties once a return-to-work plan is in place, to address any issues that may arise
Providing job coaching to help with the transition back to work
Assessing the person’s skills and abilities to help identify other return-to-work opportunities
Arranging external vocational testing to identify the person’s skills, abilities, aptitudes and interests to help identify alternate job opportunities with the employer
Arrange short-term skills training or training on the job so that the person can return to alternate work with the employer
Facilitate in-person meetings at the workplace with the IIP and the employer to develop a plan for returning to safe work. These discussions can include work modifications or accommodations
Provide education on the rights and obligations of both the employer and IIP
Following up with the workplace parties once a return-to-work plan is in place, to address any issues that may arise
Arrange on-site assessments (functional and/or cognitive work capacity assessments) to confirm is available job is suitable
Providing job coaching to help with the transition back to work
Completing intakes and transferable skills analysis to assess the person’s skills and abilities to help identify other return-to-work opportunities
Arranging external vocational testing (e.g. vocational evaluations, psycho-vocational assessments, psycho-educational assessments) to identify the person’s skills, abilities, aptitudes and interests to help identify alternate job opportunities with the employer or in the general labour market
Arranging skills training or training on the job so that the person can return to alternate work with the employer
Following up with the workplace parties once a return-to-work plan is in place, to address any issues that may arise
If IIP is unable to return to employer, develop and monitor progression of Return to Work Training program for the general labour market. Training plans criteria include: functional abilities, aptitudes/abilities, wage restoration and labour market conditions