Community Mental Health Program overview

This program is designed to give people access to psychological services after they have experienced a workplace injury or illness, including traumatic mental stress, psychological response secondary to physical injury, first responder post-traumatic stress disorder, and chronic mental stress.

Intake

Psychologist intake:

  • Brief intake for review of basic information and confirm need for assessment and treatment
  • Psychologist confirms appropriate psychological expertise to provide assessment/treatment
  • Psychologist determines if the Community Mental Health Program is appropriate for the injured or ill person

WSIB intake mandatory requirements:

  • Registered WSIB claim
  • Psychologist calls the WSIB to inform and obtain pre-authorization (memo number) or an approval letter for assessment only or assessment and treatment
  • WSIB Case Manager reviews the claim to determine if the injured or ill person is eligible for the Community Mental Health Program

Initial assessment

Conducted by psychologist: History, testing, functional status, diagnosis, treatment planning, return-to-work planning-formulation, documentation, patient feedback, informed consent.

Submit assessment form within five days of assessment.

Exclusion criteria: Program suitability issues or risk factors present

  • If exclusion criteria is present, the psychologist should call the WSIB
  • If the exclusion criteria is not present, proceed with authorization

Treatment blocks

A treatment block is six sessions or eight weeks, whichever comes first, of psychological treatment. During treatment, you will monitor and evaluate the progress of the injured or ill person. At the end of each treatment block, reassess the injured or ill person. If barriers to recovery are identified, contact the WSIB to discuss case/barriers/risks, and possible referral to Mental Health Specialty Program or alternate care.

If further treatment is beneficial, proceed to the next treatment block. If further treatment is not beneficial, discharge the patient from care.

If occupational functional recovery supports return to work, complete the Return-to-Work Recommendation form (PDF).

Treatment block one (6 sessions in up to 8 weeks)

Confirmation and documentation of treatment blocks pre-approval (memo number or approval letter)

  • Evidence-informed, goal oriented (SMART goals within Goal Attainment Scaling approach)
  • Duration/frequency as per clinical judgement
  • Integration of return to work and recovery
  • Ongoing evaluation; treatment modification

Submit progress form within five days at the end of sixth session or eighth week, whichever comes first.

Complete Return-to-Work Recommendation form (PDF) where appropriate and submit.

Treatment block two (6 sessions in up to 8 weeks)

  • Evidence-informed, goal oriented (SMART goals within Goal Attainment Scaling approach)
  • Duration/frequency as per clinical judgement
  • Integration of return to work and recovery
  • Ongoing evaluation; treatment modification

Following each treatment block, submit progress form within five days at the end of sixth session or eighth week, whichever comes first.

Complete Return-to-Work Recommendation form (PDF) where appropriate.

Treatment block three (6 sessions in up to 8 weeks)

  • Evidence-informed, goal oriented (SMART goals within Goal Attainment Scaling approach)
  • Duration/frequency as per clinical judgement
  • Integration of return to work and recovery
  • Ongoing evaluation; treatment modification

 
Following each treatment block, submit progress form within five days at the end of sixth session or eighth week, whichever comes first.

Complete Return-to-Work Recommendation form (PDF) where appropriate.

If recovery is not achieved, contact WSIB to discuss case/barriers/risks, and possible referral to Mental Health Specialty Program, alternate care, or additional treatment. If recovery is achieved, discharge patient from care.

Continuously assess the injured or ill person’s recovery from an occupational functional perspective. If their psychological functional abilities support safe return to work, document this in the assessment or progress form (Occupational Functional Information section). Also, complete a Return-to-Work Recommendation form (PDF), to share the recommendations with the employer.

The psychologist initiates and completes the Return-to-Work Recommendation form (PDF) when the injured or ill person is able to engage in return-to-work planning and discussions with the employer.

  • The Return-to-Work Recommendation form (PDF) provides information about your patient’s functional abilities. Do not include any diagnostic or confidential information.
  • Outline return-to-work recommendations and functional abilities, identifying limitations, restrictions and/or accommodations (Note: this is a reflection of the information in the return- to-work section of your progress form).
  • Specify expected duration of recommendations
  • Provide a copy of the Return-to-Work Recommendation form (PDF) to the injured or ill person. The injured or ill person will share the information with their employer, who will use this information as a tool for discussing and planning a return to safe and suitable work.
  • You can complete the form at end of treatment block or when the person’s condition changes. For example, return-to-work planning can begin at week two of a block of treatment. It is not necessary to wait six sessions or eight weeks to submit a progress report.

When completed, submit copy of Return-to-Work Recommendation form (PDF) to the WSIB for payment.