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Open Door: an employer's guide
What is open door?
Open Door Vocational Assessment & Guidance Centres are Unum’s assessment service centres that provide a comprehensive programme of evaluation for individuals who have been unable to work due to injury or illness. In order to keep all of the assessments that are carried out at the centres independent, we utilise the expertise of external Consultants to assess your employee’s ability to work and to assist in identifying reasonable adjustments and safe working tolerances.
Why has my employee been asked to attend?
Your employee has been asked to attend Open Door to help us gain a better understanding of their functioning and ability in relation to their occupation. The Open Door service is accessed by Unum’s own Vocational Rehabilitation Consultants (VRCs) and Claims Management Specialists (CMSs). The results of the Open Door assessments will help us with:
- the decision making process on a claim
- providing recommendations that can help facilitate and guide the Graduated Return to Work plan.
Depending on the reason for the referral to Open Door, you will be informed either by the CMS or the VRC that we would like your employee to attend an assessment.
Where are the Open Door Centres located?
Open Door has sites across the country. However, a local venue can also be used if your employee is unable to travel to an Open Door site.
Who conducts the assessments?
The assessments are conducted by experienced independent Consultants with backgrounds in Occupational Therapy, Occupational Psychology, Physiotherapy and Osteopathy and expertise in the fields of physical and cognitive functioning.
How long do the assessments last?
The assessments are in-depth, lasting from 2 hours up to 4 hours depending on the type of assessment and the employee’s activities on the day. Your employee will usually be invited to arrive between 10am and 11am and will be informed that the assessments can last until around 3pm, sometimes later. Before attending Open Door your employee will be notified of the type of assessment to be carried out and where and when it will take place. If overnight accommodation is needed due to travel arrangements, this is arranged and paid for through Open Door.
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What assessments are carried out?
In order to produce a comprehensive and integrated picture of your employee’s physical and psychological capabilities as well as vocational interests, a combination of the following assessments may be conducted:
• Functional Capacity Assessment (4 hours)
This assessment uses a standardised measurement of an individual’s physical abilities and endurance for work-related tasks. The assessment helps to clarify the functional implications of an individual’s injury or illness and safely and objectively identifies their tolerance and endurance of a range of work postures, such as: walking, climbing stairs, standing, sitting, lifting, carrying, pushing, squatting, kneeling, repetitive hand and foot movements, fine hand movements and balance.
• Ergonomic Assessment (2 - 3 hours)
This involves reviewing the workstation equipment set-up and environment that the individual is working in. This can help identify working practices or postures that may lead to discomfort or that might be exacerbating a current existing condition.
• Job Analysis Assessment (2 - 3 hours)
This assessment looks at the physical demands and the essential functions of an occupation. It gives a very clear summary of the essential tasks and duties of the job, identifies parts of the job role that could be adapted, and looks at potential risk factors.
• Psychological Assessment
Psychometric tests are used to assess an individual’s cognitive capacity to function in the workplace. The sorts of factors that are explored through the tests include: memory, concentration, how easily information is understood and how well the individual is able to conduct his/her specified work tasks.
• Vocational Exploration Assessment (1 day)
Whilst we will work with you and your employee as much as possible to facilitate a return to work, it is sometimes the case that an individual can no longer return to their pre-injury or illness employment due to physical or psychological barriers. If this is the case, an Occupational Psychologist can provide an assessment of an individual’s interests, abilities, skills, work values, and personality to determine a range of suitable occupational options based on their functional capacities. Recommendations regarding immediate re-entry into the labour market or short or long-term retraining can also be provided.
If you have any further queries, please call the Open Door Administrator on 01306 873 205.
About Unum
Unum is one of the UK’s leading providers of financial protection, with almost 40 years’ experience.
Unum helps employers protect their workers by providing access to financial protection, safeguarding employees from the consequences of serious illness, injury or death.
At the end of 2009, Unum protected more than 1.6 million lives in the UK and paid claims of £268 million, providing security and peace of mind to employees and their families.
In the UK, Unum has a financial strength rating of A- (Strong) from Standard and Poor’s and A- (Excellent) by AM Best.
Its US parent company, Unum Group, traces its history back to 1848 and is one of the leading providers of employee benefits products and services, and the largest provider of group and individual disability insurance in the United States. Premium income for Unum Group and its subsidiaries totalled $7.5 billion in the year ended 31 December 2009, with reported revenues for the group totalling $10.1 billion. Total assets were $54.5 billion at 31 December 2009.
For more information please visit
www.unum.co.uk
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For more information, call our Open Door Administrator on 01306 873 205
Unum Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
Registered in England 983768.
Registered office:
Milton Court, Dorking, Surrey RH4 3LZ.
Tel: 01306 887766
Fax: 01306 881394
Textphone: 01306 887784
www.unum.co.uk
We monitor telephone conversations and e-mail communications from time to time for purposes of training and in the interest of continually improving the quality of service we provide.
UP1394 05/2010
Copyright © Unum Limited 2010
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