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Background

Research has consistently shown that psychosocial barriers are the primary drivers of persisting disability for common health conditions.[1-6] While return to work (RTW) is straightforward for many people, a significant proportion face challenges that require additional help . The good news is that we now have the tools to identify those who are at increased risk of work disability due to psychosocial barriers and a growing capacity to  address these factors resulting in reduced work absence in these high risk cases.

In recent years, large workplaces and some private insurers have successfully implemented the approach of identifying those at greater risk of prolonged work disability and then following that up with matched support to overcome identified psychosocial barriers.[7, 8] This system of work or framework is called early psychosocial triage, assessment and matched care — or psychosocial matched care for short. When done well, this system has led to high levels of claimant satisfaction and significant reductions in days lost from work, claims costs and long-term disability.

Successful implementation of this system relies on several key elements. However, the model can be adapted to suit an organisation's unique situation and local needs. This guide explores various options for initial screening, assessment processes and delivering care that matches a person’s specific requirements. Key to successful implementation is the organisation’s development of their own protocol for the operation, including procedures and step-by-step instructions for all of those involved in the process, from initial screening to intervention and follow-up.

This approach has been implemented successfully in a range of settings and there have been some attempts to implement it in different pockets of workers’ compensation or CTP insurance systems, which has identified several implementation issues.

What is psychosocial matched care?
 

Psychosocial matched care is an evidence-based system designed to improve recovery outcomes by addressing the psychological and social barriers that impact a worker’s RTW.

Unlike traditional injury management approaches that focus only on the physical injury, matched care takes a holistic approach, ensuring that support services are tailored to the worker’s individual needs, challenges, and workplace conditions.

This system follows a structured 3-step process:

1.Screening (triage) – Identifies workers at elevated risk of delayed recovery using validated screening tools (e.g., ÖMPSQ-SF).

2.Psychosocial assessment – Determines the specific barriers affecting the worker’s function, recovery expectations, coping strategies, and workplace perceptions.

3.Matched care interventions – Delivers customised support, including counselling, workplace adjustments, and medical coordination to promote recovery and work reintegration.

This guide provides a detailed breakdown of each step in Section II (p. 28), where the screening process, assessment tools, and intervention strategies are explained in depth.