Even the smallest health condition, whether physical or mental, can have a significant impact on an individual’s career. Being in work isn’t just about financial security; it’s also closely linked to overall wellbeing and quality of life.
In the UK, vocational rehabilitation is often confused with occupational health. While they can work alongside one another, they are not the same. Occupational health typically focuses on preventing and managing work-related health issues, usually delivered from within, or in partnership with, the employer. Vocational rehabilitation, on the other hand, is a broader process that supports individuals with health conditions to maintain, return to, or move into work.
People who engage with vocational rehabilitation specialists have usually experienced long-term health conditions, injuries, disabilities, or a loss of confidence. However, there is no set criteria. Everyone’s circumstances are different, and the support provided should reflect that.
What does vocational rehabilitation support include?
Most vocational rehabilitation interventions or support services are delivered on a one-to-one basis, although some group-focused sessions and programmes are also available. There is a vast range of specific areas covered, and it’s vital that the support must be tailored to each person’s unique situation. Some key areas of consideration include:
- Coaching: The use of a skilled coach; someone who brings patience, empathy, and effective communication can reassure the individual that their rehabilitation matters and isn’t just a tick-box exercise.
- Confidence building: Physical or mental health issues, or even everyday life events, can have a significant impact on a person’s confidence. This is often heightened after a prolonged absence from work, affecting areas such as self-worth, social interaction, and vocational skills.
- Work readiness skills: Returning to work after any period of absence can be challenging, even under the best of circumstances. A health condition can further affect confidence as well as physical, functional, and psychological capacity. Structured rehabilitation, such as a work hardening programme, can help bridge the gap between initial recovery and a sustainable return to work.
- Tailored employability support: This is where SDM Training Services fits into the vocational rehabilitation space. While there are core employability skills that apply broadly, the processes, resources, and job market are constantly evolving. It’s vital that employment-related support is not only tailored to the individual but also based on up-to-date knowledge of the recruitment landscape, retraining options, and local labour market trends.
- Employer engagement: In some cases, a short, supportive conversation with the employer may be all that’s needed to help them understand the individual’s situation. In others, more structured intervention may be required, including tailored guidance or access to additional resources.
How it helps people return to work
Support that is tailored, structured, paced, and focused on sustainable outcomes can give individuals the confidence that returning to work is not only possible, but achievable. It should reflect their needs, goals, and aspirations. However, there’s also a responsibility for those delivering the support to offer open and honest feedback. Unhelpful thinking patterns and self-limiting beliefs should be acknowledged and, where possible, challenged through confidence-building exercises, evidence-based strategies, and real-life examples.
Case Study: Overcoming Eye Injury Assumptions: One woman we supported had been advised by various professionals that, due to a life-changing eye injury, she would only be suited to office-based work in future. This advice completely contradicted her personality, practical strengths, and career aspirations. By taking time to understand her barriers, fears, and ambitions, she was able to explore a variety of more suitable local options. Although she could only drive short distances, she successfully secured a practical, hands-on role that got her back to work quickly and helped protect her work-related confidence. She now also has a far better understanding of the vocational options open to her going forward.
Outcome: Returned to meaningful, hands-on work close to home within weeks.
Case Study: Career Change After Farming: Another gentleman, with a background in the very physical world of farming, understood that his health condition meant a full career redirection to something more sustainable long-term was necessary. Having never applied or interviewed for a job in his life, he needed support identifying his transferable skills and suitable roles. Through this, he was able to create his first CV, apply for vocational training, and attend an informal interview with confidence.
Outcome: He transitioned into a part-time role that made the most of his existing skills, complemented by new qualifications.
In both cases, and many others, the risk without tailored vocational rehabilitation would have been the same: either ending up in roles that were unsuitable, unfulfilling, or unsustainable, or becoming long-term unemployed. The latter can make a return to work even more difficult, often creating a wider gap from the labour market and further impacting wellbeing.
Common Barriers People Face
We’ve already highlighted how a lack of confidence can be a significant barrier to returning to work, and the importance of ensuring that support directly addresses this. However, there are several other common barriers, including:
- Physical limitations: In some cases, a previous role may no longer be suitable, but many people are unaware that simple adaptations or support resources can help overcome these limitations. Even where a full career redirection is required, the right adjustments may ease the transition. Access to Work is a government-funded programme that can help, although it’s worth noting that there are currently delays with new applications.
- Lack of awareness of existing skills: When asked about the skills they’ve used across various roles, as well as in areas such as volunteering, education, hobbies or family life, many people are unsure of just how much they’ve developed. Simple exploration exercises can help individuals identify these skills, followed by further activities to explore the context and level at which those skills have been used.
- Gaps in a CV: An unexplained gap on a CV is a common source of anxiety. It’s important to help individuals recognise that they’ve often been active and gaining valuable experience, even if not in paid work. This might include volunteering, caring responsibilities, study, hobbies, or other life experiences, all of which can be framed positively.
- Self-limiting beliefs: “I’m too old to retrain” and “Companies don’t employ people with disabilities” are just two of the many phrases we frequently hear. These beliefs should be acknowledged and challenged sensitively, using evidence and real examples, such as the work being done by Disability Confident employers.
Of course, there are many other barriers, such as travel limitations, pay expectations, or a lack of funding for retraining. All of these should be acknowledged respectfully, with tailored strategies and practical guidance to help individuals move forward.
What to Expect from a Programme Like Bee Work Ready
Whatever the support or intervention, working closely with other rehabilitation providers involved in the individual’s case is vital. This helps to build a full understanding of their background, health, current situation, and any barriers to moving forward. By collaborating with case managers, reviewing relevant reports, attending MDT (Multi-Disciplinary Team) meetings, and providing in-depth, goal-focused summaries, the Bee Work Ready programme can enhance the care and support already in place for that individual.
We take an individualised, tailored approach to supporting each client, beginning with an initial session that acts as an assessment to identify and prioritise key focus areas for the rest of the support package.
We make every effort to stay up to date with current employment processes and trends. This includes keeping on top of employability-related developments, as well as wider topics such as AI in recruitment and government-funded retraining opportunities. This is supported by a growing library of written and video-based resources, covering not only common employability topics but also those that are less frequently addressed.
All clients and referrers receive clear, informative written summaries. We also provide video recaps and task-setting, which can be especially helpful for individuals with brain injuries, but also benefit anyone who finds a more “real-life” reminder useful after each session.
How to Access Help
We have a quick and easy Bee Work Ready online referral process, which can be accessed via the following links:
However, we understand that some clients or referrers may prefer to email directly with secure attachments or speak by phone to discuss the details. This can be done via our Contact Us page.
We also offer a range of free downloadable resources, available to everyone through our Employability Toolbox. This is a popular and growing library covering a variety of topics, presented through handouts, guides, and checklists.
Further resources
- Vocational Rehabilitation: What works, for whom, and when
- Vocational Rehabilitation Association
- Access to Work
- National Careers Service
Download our Impact Report to learn more.
About the Author
This article was written by Stuart Miller of SDM Training Services, who brings over 10 years of experience supporting individuals with health-related barriers back into work through tailored employability and vocational rehabilitation support. Stuart also has more than 20 years of experience working with people navigating life-changing circumstances, providing compassionate and practical guidance.
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