New Vocational Rehabilitation Service Launched by Shaw Trust

• New service builds on Shaw Trust’s 27 years’ experience getting people back to work
• Unique ‘payment by results’ Job Search package
• Log onto www.VRservices.org.uk for more information

With health issues becoming increasingly important on the employment agenda, Shaw Trust, the UK’s largest third sector provider of specialist skills and employment services, is launching a new, unique specialist vocational rehabilitation assessment and support service for claimants going through personal injury or life, health & protection claims.

Shaw Trust will leverage its 27 years’ experience of helping more than 16,000 people back into the workplace each year to provide the local employment market knowledge, extensive experience and resources to reduce the negative financial and social impact for insurers and claimants.

Insurers will also benefit from access to Shaw Trust’s unique network of 45 employment offices, more than 180 employment advisers, consultants, and job match advisers working across the whole of the UK, as well as its existing relationships with 6,500 employers nationwide, such as Tesco, Barclays, O2 and high street recruitment agencies such as Reed and Adecco.

Shaw Trust’s competitive difference lies in its expert local employment market knowledge, extensive experience and resources to enable claimants to return to work following accident or ill health, through comprehensive assessment, job search support and retraining. Shaw Trust delivers services specifically designed for those claimants who are unable to return to their pre-injury occupation due to injury, ill health or disability and require a total career redirection.

Shaw Trust brings all the advantages of ready-made national network, coupled with access to the latest evidence-based approaches to vocational rehabilitation. Many of these have been imported from overseas and successfully adapted to the UK. By combining its already established resources with a highly experienced vocational rehabilitation team specifically recruited for their training and expertise in vocational rehabilitation work with insurers, solicitors and claimants, it has developed a highly effective business model.

Tony Urwin, vocational director at Shaw Trust says: “Workplace absence costs everyone, most notably the insurance industry which currently pays out more than £6.2bn in liability claims each year.** In a market already challenged by recession it’s important our new offering reduces costs, reduces claim timescales and improves the lives of claimants

“Both government and industry accept that vocational rehabilitation can work if delivered properly. However, the UK’s vocational rehabilitation offering is still in its relative infancy and, as a result, many providers are unable to offer the whole gamut of interventions, from clinical case management to vocational implementation. By working in partnership we can offer the full range of rehabilitation and ‘return to work’ services.

“What’s needed is a new, simple and transparent approach, driven by outcomes, not profit, and Shaw Trust is ideally placed to deliver this. Indeed, Shaw Trust operates a culture whereby outcomes and sustainable ‘return to work’ goals have been the focus of our performance and reward system. Contrary to many existing providers Shaw Trust does not charge by the hour - insurers will know exactly what they are agreeing to in terms of cost.

The proposition includes the full range of vocational services including comprehensive vocational assessment, employment market research, sourcing training and providing expert localised job-seeking support. The transparent, fixed fee structure will allow insurers to plan ahead and make provision for services when managing files.

On the Job Search element specifically, Shaw Trust is launching with a unique outcome-based offer charging £650 for four to six week localised Job Search programme on a one-to-one basis with the claimant, with the additional £400 payable only once the claimant has secured an appropriate job, in line with their medical restrictions and transferable skills.

All revenue from this new commercial service will be reinvested into its charitable work of helping people find work and achieve independence.

For more information about the new Shaw Trust vocational rehabilitation service, please call 0300 30 33 120, email vrservices@shaw-trust.org.uk or visit www.vrservices.org.uk

Notes for Editors

1. For further details, please contact Lisa Stanley, Bray Leino Public Relations, on 0117 906 4561

OR Shaw Trust Press Manager on 01225 716 300, or 0754 055 8258, or email angelo.sommariva@shaw-trust.org.uk .

2. Shaw Trust is a national charity, formed in 1982, which helps people with disability or disadvantage to find work and achieve independence. We do this not only by delivering government programmes, but also through our own self-funded initiatives, and by campaigning to change attitudes at all levels. Across the UK around 1,400 staff now oversee a diverse range of more than 200 projects.


*Job Search and Placement

• Output 4-6 weeks of practical evidence based support to improve chances of a successful return to work. Regular reporting and feedback provided to all parties.
• Who is this service for? For claimants with clearly defined, realistic vocational rehabilitation goals, who are ready to engage in job searching activities.
• How is this service offered? Face to face meeting to agree a job searching action plan and support requirements, followed by email and telephone support as appropriate.
• Outline Individualised assistance with job search techniques, CV and application writing skills, disclosure of disability and interview techniques.
• Fee £1050** 4-6 week programme

** Shaw Trust offers a £650 initial payment followed by a £400 payment upon achieving a medically and vocationally suitable return to work for companies willing to work with Shaw Trust on a contractual and volume basis.

**Research by ABI, September 2008

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