Thinking about work

When an individual experiences a brain injury or another health condition, they encounter numerous challenges, such as:

Prioritising survival and rehabilitation.
Processing the situation with the support of loved ones.
Not currently considering a return to work or having numerous work-related inquiries.

The following questions and answers offer practical tools for you as a job mediator or career counselor to assist the individual.

👉 Click on a question for further information and guidance.

You can provide detailed information to the individual regarding:

The implications of the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) on the individual at work:
How the brain injury and its consequences can impact or disrupt work reintegration.
The effects of visible consequences like motor impairment.
The effects of invisible consequences such as cognitive, mood, or behavioral disorders.
The potential possibilities and challenges for the individual with ABI in the medium to long term.

Work (re)integration possibilities:

Emphasize that returning to work after ABI often involves a gradual buildup of workload and collaborative exploration for feasible task completion.
Key stakeholders in work (re)integration: the return-to-work coordinator, the advisory doctor of the health insurance fund, and/or the occupational physician in the process.
- Increasing the individual's understanding of these stakeholders and their functions can alleviate uncertainty and stress for the individual and their support network.

💡Tip: Direct the individual to the 'person with ABI' section on this website for tailored answers to common questions.

Participation is a key aspect of the rehabilitation process, where work can play a significant role.

Work encompasses a spectrum of engagement, ranging from a few hours of unpaid work to full-time paid employment.

The goal of rehabilitation is to enhance an individual's self-sufficiency, ultimately aiming for maximal participation in society.

The interpretation of work is subjective and personal.

For some, work serves as a means to regain a sense of control or to integrate ABI into their lives more effectively.
Engaging in work can also positively impact one's overall well-being.
Rather than viewing health in binary terms, we adopt Huber's (2011) definition: health is described as "the capacity to adapt and manage physical, emotional, and social challenges in life."

It is crucial to ensure that the individual is adequately informed about:

The spectrum of severity in ABI ranging from mild to severe.
- A moderate to severe brain injury may necessitate an extended period of disability and rehabilitation in a hospital or specialized facility.
- A mild brain injury typically involves a brief hospitalization, yet individuals with mild brain injuries often require support for their return to work.
The nature of the individual's pre-ABI employment and the associated expectations and requirements.
The impact of the brain injury on personal aspects such as personality, family dynamics, and work-life balance.

Commitment and confidence

To assess the individual's readiness to return to work, you can ask them to rate on a scale from 0 to 10:

Their level of commitment to work.
Their confidence in their ability to work (again).

This approach aids you, as a job mediator or career counselor, in understanding the individual's perspective on work and their ability to accurately evaluate their capabilities and challenges.

Collaboration creates informed stakeholders

Collaborating with relevant stakeholders can provide comprehensive support to the individual:

The occupational physician is informed about the health condition, its implications, and the work-focused treatment objectives. Through the updated reintegration program (Reintegration Program 2.0), the occupational physician can schedule a meeting with the individual four weeks post-acquired brain injury (ABI) as part of their information obligation.
The work environment is briefed on the individual's work performance, facilitating discussions on potential return-to-work strategies.
Family members are briefed on the individual's functioning in their personal life, enabling an assessment of work-life balance.
Experienced experts:
- These individuals have firsthand experience with brain injuries and may have successfully reintegrated into society post-recovery. They can offer valuable insights and support in decision-making regarding work.
- Sharing requests for assistance with experienced experts can aid individuals with ABI in making informed choices about their employment prospects.
- Personalized interactions with experienced experts are adaptable, relatable, and beneficial.
- The ability of the individual to relate to the expert's experiences is crucial. Conversations with experienced experts allow individuals to draw inspiration from others' achievements.

💡Tip: Conduct consultations with these individuals with the individual's consent.

These discussions can provide valuable insights into job requirements, task specifics, responsibilities, work environment dynamics, and cognitive, physical, and emotional expectations. This information can then be utilized in your guidance and support efforts.

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