5.7.2 Allied health practitioner RTW case conference

Policy

See: Policy for Physiotherapists, Psychologists, Chiropractors, Osteopaths, Exercise physiologists, Occupational therapists, Social workers, Mental health nurses and Podiatrists

Fee schedule

WorkSafe item codes for allied health practitioner RTW Return to Work case conferences (based on a 30 minute meeting) are:

• Physiotherapist Registered physiotherapist means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the physiotherapy profession (other than as a student). RTW case conference PY600
• Psychologist Registered psychologist means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the psychology profession (other than as a student). RTW case conference PS600
• Chiropractor RTW case conference CR600
• Osteopath Registered osteopath means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the osteopathy. profession (other than as a student) RTW case conference OS200
• Exercise Physiologist RTW case conference EX040
• Occupational Therapist RTW case conference OT700
• Occupational Therapist Hand Therapy RTW case conference OT701
• Occupational Therapist Mental Health RTW case conference OT702
• Counsellor RTW case conference CSL700
• Social Worker social worker means a person accredited with the Australian Association of Social Work and registered with WorkSafe to provide social work services (other than as a student) RTW case conference SW700R
• Mental Health Social Work RTW case conference MHSW700R
• Mental Health Nurse Nurse means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the nursing and midwifery profession as a nurse (other than as a midwife or as a student) RTW case conference NS360
• Podiatrist Registered podiatrist means a person who is registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the podiatry profession (other than as a student). RTW case conference CH630

Treating health practitioner RTW case conference

A treating health practitioner (THP Treating Health Practitioner) RTW case conference is a face to face meeting between the:

• THP/s
• Agent and/or ORP
• worker and their representative (if involved) - worker must be present
• the employer (where appropriate).

Psychologist case conference

It may be appropriate for a Psychologist RTW case conference to be conducted with only the psychologist if the worker is not deemed well enough. In these circumstances, the RTW case conference should only be conducted by experienced Agent staff such as Agent mental injury specialists or psychologists or by ORs. Where the RTW case conference with psychologist is to be conducted without worker participation, it may be conducted by phone.

Arranging a RTW case conference

Below is the process for arranging a RTW case conference with a THP.

Step	Agent action
Decide if a RTW case conference with THP/s is required	Determine whether a RTW case conference with THP/s is likely to progress a worker’s return to work. Factors to consider include: the employer has suitable duties available but there is no confirmed RTW date the worker is certified as fully unfit a partial return to work is not progressing or is not sustainable RTW barriers/psychosocial factors are present which might be addressed with a meeting with the worker and their THP.
Arrange THP/s RTW case conference	The Agent arranges an appointment for the RTW case conference with the THP/s and the worker (and the worker’s representative, if involved). The employer and other stakeholders may also be invited as appropriate. The worker and THP/s must agree to participate in the RTW case conference. If the THP/s or worker declines to participate, the Agent should consider other strategies to meet the RTW goal. The Agent facilitating the THP/s case conference is responsible for sending the RTW case conference standard conference topics letter to the worker and THP before the RTW case conference. This letter confirms the conference time, date and location, the purpose of the case conference and the topics for discussion. It also provides information to the THP/s on the payment code and amount to be invoiced and what WorkSafe will pay for the RTW case conference.
Conduct THP/s RTW conference	An agreed action plan should be verbally confirmed by conference participants before concluding the RTW case conference. The Agent facilitating the RTW case conference documents the agreed action plan using the RTW Case Conference Action Plan standard letter. This letter is distributed to participants within five working days of the conference. The Agent is still required to document and distribute the action plan regardless of who organises and coordinates the RTW case conference.
Post THP/s RTW case conference	Record the RTW case conference outcome on Novus as a case note or contact. A copy of the completed RTW Case Conference Action Plan document can be saved on Novus.

RTW case conferences by Occupational Rehabilitation providers

Occupational Rehabilitation Providers (OR Occupational Rehabilitation providers) may also conduct and arrange RTW case conferences with treating practitioners to help facilitate RTW.

OR providers should not conduct RTW case conferences with treating practitioners where no other OR service has been delivered or it has been more than 3 months since the last OR service concluded.

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