Return to work coordinators perform complex roles, balancing the needs of individuals with the needs of the workplace.
They must be able to deal with people in distress, as well as with busy supervisors who are juggling production matters. They also need to be able to influence senior staff and external stakeholders, and oversee program and policy development.
Identifying the skills and competencies required of a RTW coordinator helps with:
| • | HRs’ selection of appropriate RTW coordinators; |
| • | Identification of training needs, including initial and ongoing training; and |
| • | RTW coordinators’ understanding of the important aspects of their role. |
The competencies required of a RTW coordinator will vary depending on the size of the organisation and the number of cases or claims.
On average, small organisations have one claim every seven years. Medium-sized organisations with a greater number of claims need a competent coordinator who can deal with both strategic and day-to-day operational matters. Large organisations deserve a coordinator who is particularly capable of work in the strategic area.
Much of this section is about competencies for RTW coordinators working within medium to large organisations.
Strategic and operational competencies
Training RTW Coordinators
The section on RTW Management may be of assistance when thinking about the competencies of RTW Coordinators in small organisations.
