Talent Pool - Return to Work Specialist

About the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)

We're here to help. When an injury or illness happens on the job, we move quickly to provide wage-loss benefits, medical coverage and support to help people get back to work. Funded by businesses, we also provide no-fault collective liability insurance and access to industry-specific health and safety information. We are one of the largest insurance organizations in North America covering over five million people in more than 300,000 workplaces across Ontario. For more information, visit wsib.ca.

At the WSIB, you'll have the opportunity to:
• explore many career paths and follow your passion
• continuously learn and grow professionally
• be recognized for the great work you do
• participate in programs that support your health and wellbeing

You'll also receive a competitive salary, along with a comprehensive benefit package and defined benefit pension plan.
Bilingual designated roles- You may be eligible to receive a language bonus payment.

Our priority is the health and wellness of employees and the people of Ontario. As such, this position may involve working from home for all or part of the duration of this position. The WSIB model mixes working from home, office and field.

Recruiting for current and future Unilingual & Bilingual vacancies in the following locations:
Toronto, Hamilton, Guelph, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Ottawa, St. Catharines, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, North Bay Thunder Bay, Timmins, Windsor

Salary From: $94,583.02

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?About the role:

Lead return-to- work (RTW) activities for cases at risk in order to drive RTW outcomes. Ensure suitable and sustainable RTW outcomes are achieved through customized coordination of the right services at the right time, and by applying a customer-centric approach. Achieve optimal outcomes and promote leading RTW practices through the delivery of innovative and specialized services.
On a practical level, you would:
1. Provide information to the injured/ill person and their employer on the return-to-work process as well as educate both of the workplace parties on their rights and obligations.
2. Identify issues that present obstacles to the return-to-work and the intervention(s) required to overcome them and achieve positive return-to-work outcomes.
3. Help the injured/ill person and their employer to develop a plan for their return to their pre-injury job - with or without accommodations.
4. Provide expert advice, vocational rehabilitation planning, and support for the injured/ill person and their employer in coordinating their return-to-work, which may include further accommodations and/or transition to a different job with their employer or with a new employer if necessary.

How do I qualify?Major Responsibilities:1. Represent, Promote and Cultivate WSIB's leading Return-to-Work Brand through:
• Representing WSIB and acting as Brand Ambassadors, promoting WSIB's leading Return-to-Work Program and as aligned with the leading professional guidelines of organizations such as the International Social Security Association (ISSA).
• Professionally recommending, educating and applying evidence-based, internal and industry-supported leading practices that lead to optimal RTW outcomes and promote the prevention of injury/illness and disease.
• Maintaining collective and individual professionalization requirements pertaining to accepted WSIB credentials; this includes obtaining the CDMP certification within the first two years of WSIB employment.

2. Apply a customer-centric approach, educate workplace parties and customers on:
• Disability management, return-to-work principles and leading practices, the benefits of early and safe RTW, the RTW process, the employer's and worker's rights and obligations under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Act and under relevant policies.
• WSIB's comprehensive suite of innovative RTW services and products, in addition to research-supported and industry-recognized resources.

3. Evaluate, assess and interpret case needs by:
• Gathering information through a disability management lens, using a holistic approach and working in collaboration with internal and external customers, determine the most appropriate customer-centric approach to RTW.
• Considering and arranging appropriate assessments to develop a RTW plan based on the right services at the right time.
• Applying early and safe RTW principles to determine an optimal approach for specialized cases (e.g. Mental Health, English as a Second Language) including: conducting research; identifying risk factors which would signal barriers to return-to-work, formulating innovative RTW options and leading practice approaches.

4. Planning, making and communicating decisions by:
• Collaborating with internal and external customers, representatives, health care community partners and related providers/resources; assess RTW Plan and goal dates in collaboration with all involved WSIB staff, providing guidance, advice and direction to support return-to-work.
• Driving for successful RTW outcomes by coordinating and facilitating worksite meetings to lead RTW discussions; identifying, clarifying and assisting in the resolution of any and all issues/barriers relevant to the RTW process.
• Determining and assigning accountability for implementation of all resolutions; reviewing, assessing potential RTW opportunities to determine: job suitability; recommend and approve appropriate accommodations and/or assistive devices.
• Making and communicating RTW decisions that enable a return-to-work; communicating decisions verbally and in writing; providing education on rights and obligations under the Act. Responding to worker and employer's requests for clarification and/or reconsideration specific to RTW services; monitoring employer and worker compliance in RTW Plans; communicating RTW Plan details to all parties.

5. Manage, Monitor and Secure ongoing sustainability of RTW planning through:
• Establishing a customer-centric follow up system to oversee goal-oriented plans; develop post RTW meeting interventions to ensure Plan remains focused on identified outcome.
• Initiating and leading case conferences with internal and external customers to review RTW options; where barriers exist, continue to work towards optimal solution; liaising with internal and external providers to gather information towards resolving barriers (i.e. health care community).
• Coordinating additional interventions as appropriate to drive the case forward and ensure continued communication with all customers for the successful implementation and sustainment of the RTW Plan

6. Perform required functions for caseload and RTW Plan management including:
• Implementing an effective documentation and follow up system to ensure optimal caseload management
• Documenting all related RTW activities using WSIB systems
• Responding to inquiries in a timely fashion within expectations;
• Maintaining an effective proven case management system to handle competing and changing case priorities.

7. Perform other related duties as assigned or required.

Job Requirements:Education
• University degree at the undergraduate level with a specialty focus in one of the following
o Disability Management
o Health Sciences (nursing, physiotherapy, kinesiology, occupational therapy),
o Social Work/Sociology
o Vocational Rehabilitation
o Psychology/Counselling
• Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) or completion of CDMP certification within the first two years of WSIB employment in the Specialist, Return to Work Program position.
• Valid Ontario G class driver's license.

Experience
• One year and six months prior experience in return to work, disability management, vocational rehabilitation or alternate dispute resolution.

This position is currently eligible for an education equivalency. Additional years of experience will be considered in place of levels of education on a 2:1 basis. For every level of education not completed, an additional 2 years of experience will be considered as equivalent, in addition to the minimum prior years of experience as set out in the job requirements. Management has set a minimum threshold for education equivalency at the University level.

Education Levels:
University degree at undergraduate level and 3 years and 6 months experience in return to work, disability management, vocational rehabilitation or alternate dispute resolution

There are no equivalencies for established professional certifications and/or designations.

Additional Information:As a precondition of employment, the WSIB will require a prospective candidate to undergo a criminal records name check prior to or at any time following hire.

Application Instructions:To apply for this position, please submit your application by the closing date through our careers board: https://www.wsib.ca/en/careers.

Privacy InformationPersonal information will be collected from your resume, application, cover letter and references under the authority of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 and will be used by the Talent Acquisition Centre and WSIB hiring parties to assess/validate your qualifications and/or determine if you meet the requirements of vacant positions and/or gather information relevant for recruitment purposes. If you have questions or concerns regarding the collection and use of your personal information, contact the WSIB Privacy Office, 200 Front Street West, Toronto, ON, M5V 3J1 or 416-344-5323 or 1-800-387-0750 extension 5323. Be advised that information related to application status will not be provided.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusionWe respect and value the diversity of our people. We strive to create an environment where employees can be themselves and where our differences are celebrated.
The WSIB is committed to being accessible and inclusive, and following barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know when we contact you and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Disclosing conflicts of interestAs public servants, employees at the WSIB have a responsibility to act in an ethical way at all times to create a respectful workplace and maintain public trust. Job applicants are required to disclose any circumstance that could result in a real, potential or perceived conflict of interest. A conflict of interest is any situation where your private interests may impair or be perceived to impair the decisions you make in your official capacity. This may include: political activity, directorship, other outside employment and certain personal relationships (e.g. with current WSIB employees, customers and/or stakeholders). If you have any questions about conflict of interest obligations and/or how to make a disclosure, please contact the Talent Acquisition Centre at talentacquisitioncentre@wsib.on.ca.

Additional Information:

Note:

• This ad is also available in French.
• This posting is for an organization that is not a part of the Ontario Public Service. The information and tips on the Ontario Public Service Careers website may not apply to this posting. Please use the contact information below to contact the organization directly if you have questions.

Collection of Information

Your personal information is being collected and will be used to determine your qualifications for employment with the Ontario Public Service, and for recruitment modernization initiatives. OPS Careers is an authorized common service in accordance with s. 6 of the Ministry of Government Services Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.25 and this collection of personal information is necessary to the proper administration of OPS Careers.

Please do not provide more personal information than what is asked of you. For example, do not include your social insurance number, photograph, or banking information, etc. with your application. We strongly encourage you not to provide us with information beyond that which is requested in the job posting.

If you have any questions about the collection, use, disclosure, or retention of your personal information, please contact us.

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Remember: The deadline to apply is Tuesday, February 18, 2025 11:59 pm EST. Late applications will not be accepted.

We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.

All Ontario Public Service external job advertisements are posted in English and French. To confirm the language requirements of a job, check the "language of position" information at the top of each job ad. For all positions, candidates will be assessed in English, the business language of the Ontario Public Service. For English/French designated bilingual positions, candidates will also be assessed through French-language proficiency testing.

Toutes les offres d'emploi externes de la fonction publique de l'Ontario sont affichées en anglais et en français. Pour connaître les exigences linguistiques, vérifiez les renseignements sur la « langue du poste » figurant dans le haut de chaque offre d'emploi. Pour tous les postes, l'évaluation des candidates et candidats se fera en anglais, la langue usuelle de la fonction publique de l'Ontario. En ce qui concerne les postes désignés bilingues, la maîtrise du français des candidates et candidats sera également évaluée.

Note: The only website where you can apply on-line for positions with the Ontario Public Service is http://www.gojobs.gov.on.ca