Returning to work
Occupational therapists work with people who are trying to return to work to identify their work goals and also the social, organisational and personal barriers which might complicate their return to work
Once the goals and barriers have been identified the occupational therapist can make appropriate supportive interventions. Social barriers can include:
- prejudice
- stigma
- expectations of colleagues
- peer pressure or ‘fitting in’
- assumptions
- potential changes to family roles and dynamics if someone returns to work
- loss of existing networks and friends e.g. support groups, health care services.
Organisational barriers can include:
- demands of a job
- financial restrictions, the cost of going to work, jeopardising benefits, childcare costs
- prejudice and discriminatory employment practices
- lack of support and absence of out of hours health support
- inflexible working practices
- orkplace demands, conforming, fitting in, workplace culture
- skills, qualifications and experience required by a post
- lack of awareness of ‘reasonable adjustments’ and the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005
Personal barriers may include:
- lack of skills
- lack of support
- fatigue
- illness and symptoms
- fear of failure, rejection, change
- being ill again
- lack of confidence, self-belief and self-effi cacy
- effects of medication
- high / low expectations
- fluctuating motivation
- beliefs about negative consequences of work
