The recommendation of an Employment Maintenance Programme (EMP) follows a Work Place Assessment where no alternative duties are available.
EMP is an Early Intervention Programme that is geared towards assisting a client to maintain their pre-injury employment in a sustainable, timely and safe manner, ensuring effective management of their injury in their work and non work settings. Consideration is given to preventing and/or overcoming barriers to returning to pre injury duties.
This may include rehabilitation and /or vocational aspects and a possible injury prevention component where relevant. It is evident from experience, research and training that if a client has a job to return to and if that client is encouraged to maintain a work/activity routine, then this will facilitate a timely, and effective return to work.
Service objectives may be individualised according to the clients needs.
Weekly timetable may include:
Physical conditioning program
These are designed to restore the client’s physical capacity and maximise function, both for work and for general well being. They consist of exercises that improve strength, endurance, mobility, flexibility, motor control and cardio-pulmonary fitness.
These activities are performed in environments and structured so the individual will be able to maintain the regime once the AIM intervention has ceased. – this may include (but not limited to) – solitary walking, group walking, swimming, aquarobics, cycling, stretches…
Rehabilitation modules
- Activity planning /Pacing
- Relaxation and stress management
- Pain management
- Office Safety
- Manual handling
- Injury education and management
- Exercise/fitness programme/stretches and strengthening
- Fatigue management related to stress or pain, shift work or driving
- Sleep education
Vocational Modules
- Occupational Health and Safety- employer/employee responsibilities under the Act
- Communication
- Other employment related activities as identified
- Motivational issues
- Time management and goal setting
- Overcoming obstacles to change
- Job ready checklist-addressing individual barriers to RTW
Other Vocational modules such as
- Computer training
- Literacy skills
- Customer Service eg Kiwi Host
- Licenses and Tickets
- Training and Induction updates
(NB: This last group of modules is contracted out to appropriate agencies)
