Communication, letters & Reports

Each member of the support team (worker, employer, health providers / doctors, insurer and vocational rehabilitation providers) has an important role to play in the worker’s recovery.

Clear communication and collaboration with others in the support team is essential to:

• understand the worker’s capacity, needs and strengths
• identify any barriers or risks to recovery and effective strategies to address these issues
• develop shared goals and recovery expectations
• ensure the worker receives consistent messages from team members
• ensure the right services are provided at the right time.

Regular communication also enables issues to be addressed. These may include:

• if the worker is repeatedly late or does not attend their appointment(s)
• if you are considering a referral to a specialist, workplace rehabilitation provider or independent consultant
• if the doctor wants you to continue treatment and you don’t consider further treatment appropriate
• if the doctor is a barrier to upgrading the worker or is delaying the process
• if your assessment of work capacity differs from what the doctor has certified
• if the worker needs to be directed to an alternate allied health practitioner
• if the worker has been certified for pre-injury duties but you believe they will require ongoing treatment for a brief period to remain at work.

In the sections which follow some of the common forms of communication are outlined.