let’s build the solution that’s right for you

maximising people potential in the workplacewww.ipar.com.au

Let’s build the solution that’s right for youThis booklet provides an overview of the many programs available under the IPAR Healthy Mind suite of services.

Importantly, every program can be tailored to your needs – customising the content and delivery to suit your organisation, work environment, role types and people.

All programs have been developed by IPAR Healthy Mind experts – Psychologists and Rehabilitation Counsellors – with experience in psychological workplace rehabilitation and return to work cases.

Through our parent company MedHealth, we also have access to Psychiatrists to provide best practice assistance with complex mental health strategies and treater support.

No matter the make up of your Healthy Mind solution, the aim remains the same: a strong organisational culture with healthy, resilient and productive people and teams.

Your Healthy Mind Subject Matter ExpertsNew South Wales

Victoria

Queensland

Western Australia, Northern Territory

South Australia, Tasmania

0448 219 467 [email protected]

0412 151 778 [email protected]

Sarah NesbittPsychologist

Aleena JambazianPsychologist

0432 006 [email protected]


Belinda SerenoMental Health Specialist

Josephine PiccoloPsychologist



Drew SchultzPsychologist

Andrea WindebankPsychologist


Georgia MillerMental Health Specialist

Introduction and contents

Want a quick comparison of Healthy Mind services?

Please ask your local expert for a copy of the IPAR Healthy Mind menu and comparison chart, or download it at ipar.com.au/services/healthymind

Mental health review 4

Mental health check 4

Employee Assistance Program 5

Early Intervention & Injury Management Services 6

Workplace group education sessions 7

Positivum™ biopsychosocial program 8

Psychological Functional Capacity Evaluation 9

Workplace mediation 10

Career transition services 11

FAST AND TAILORED SUPPORT

• A short, targeted and cost effective process completed within five business days

• Utilising a validated online biopsychosocial assessment completed in under 15 minutes

• An interview is conducted over the phone or via secure video conferencing

• An easy to interpret report summarises the assessment and the way forward

Mental health review

Mental health check

This early intervention model is a cost effective one session appointment addressing a range of wellbeing issues such as stress, sleep, anxiety, mood, concentration and workplace change.

What does the mental health check provide?

• Male or Female Psychologist or Rehabilitation Counsellor

• A one page summary of the appointment and recommendations to the client and employer

• Tailored recommendations for ongoing support that can be managed individually or in house between the employer and the client

Free take home content

All clients are provided with easy to use, open source apps and other resources that can be used straight after their appointment.

Availability

Face to face, Skype and Zoom. All face to face appointments are reviewed in line with government guidelines.

An early intervention model of psychological triaging. A mental health review assesses a person’s psychological wellbeing support needs and appropriate intervention.

The review incorporates IPAR’s biopsychosocial online assessment, Positivum™, which identifies the level of impact a person may experience from a mental wellbeing difficulty.

Following the assessment, a one-on-one interview is conducted by an IPAR Psychologist, Provisional Psychologist or Rehabilitation Counsellor. The interview seeks to identify what assistance and support may be beneficial to the individual, to reduce the effect of wellbeing difficulties on both day-to-day and occupational functioning.

A detailed report summarises the assessment results and any recommendations for further intervention.

This service is available to employees across Australia, whether working within the workplace or from home. From referral, the assessment is completed within three business days, while the report is submitted on day five.

Employee Assistance Program

EAP is a short-term, solution focused service, designed to offer counselling for employees experiencing problems of any kind.

It is informal, friendly and focused on the individual needs. EAP counselling can be provided either face to face at the IPAR offices or over the phone, whichever option is more convenient. Access to the service, in addition to the information provided during the counselling sessions, is treated with confidence.

In some cases, the speciality or the duration of counselling that is required may be out of the scope that the EAP service is able to offer. In this case, the IPAR EAP Specialist may facilitate a referral with the treating doctor for counselling under Medicare through the Better Access to Mental Health Care program.

IPAR recognises every workplace is different and we can tailor the EAP package to your organisation. In addition to the EAP service, IPAR offer a suite of corporate health packages designed to improve employee’s health and well-being while reducing absenteeism and the risk of illness.

What issues can an EAP Specialist address?EAP Services can be utilised for problems of any kind – whether they are personal or work related.

Issues can include:

Work-related issues:

• Work/life balance

• Performance issues

• Work pressure/problems

• Bullying and harassment

• Managing conflict in the workplace

• Career management

• Adjusting to change

• Workplace trauma and stress

• Communication

Personal issues:

• Stress

• Substance abuse

• Relationship problems

• Personal Trauma

• Grief and bereavement

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Sleeping difficulties

• Financial worries

• Managing life stages

With the incidence of mental illness continuing to rise, the need for workplace based Psychological Return to Work Services has never been more important. IPAR offers a range of services to manage both work and non-work related psychological conditions.

Delivered by IPAR’s highly qualified Psychologists and Rehabilitation Counsellors, our Healthy Mind team can assist your organisation to effectively manage workplace stress and psychological illness through early intervention, facilitated discussions and tailored return to work programs.

IPAR’s Healthy Mind early intervention and injury management services focus on the early assessment and identification of factors that are contributing to an employee’s productivity, change of behaviour within the workplace or attendance at work. The goal is to implement appropriate strategies to address the identified barriers whilst taking into account the myriad of possible psychosocial factors.

Through the collaborative engagement of all key stakeholders, IPAR ensures that all parties actively contribute to return to work planning discussions so that the ultimate goal is achieved – either assisting an individual to remain at work, or to return to work with appropriate implementations.

At each stage, and for every case, our Psychologists engage in timely, effective and purposeful communication with all stakeholders, to ensure appropriate graduations in duties and hours of work along with useful strategies are implemented.

We believe that regular reviews of progress made against the initial goals and objectives of a return to work plan, and communicating the outcomes of this clearly to all parties, is essential to a successful return to work outcome.

Early intervention and injury management services

OUR PROVEN APPROACH

• A focus on early intervention

• Identification of barriers to return to work and stressors in the workplace

• Facilitating positive collaboration with all key stakeholders

• Timely, reliable and purposeful communication

• Clear, progressive return to work planning

Workplace group education sessions

Strong4Life™Healthy Mind is a bespoke workplace training offering, designed to increase your employee’s knowledge of wellbeing and resilience behaviours and strengthen them in all aspects of life.

Cognitive behavioural principles and concepts from psychological and resilience research assist participants to better understand the link between behaviours, thoughts, feelings and reactions.

The program can be fully customised, mixing the content outlined below for a unique program. Interactive and engaging, the sessions are available face-to-face, via webinar, or available as a video series. IPAR can also develop and deliver podcasts designed specifically for your audience.

Understanding mental health

This module aims to improve overall understanding of all things mental health and wellbeing. Based on your business needs, topics can include:

• Identifying ill health and increasing awareness

• Wellbeing theory

• Depression and anxiety

• Signs and symptoms

• Guidance on when to get help

Change, Communication, Cohesion

This module is tailored for workplaces with specific challenges such as long hours, shift work, heavy workload and focuses on:

• Understanding human behaviour

• Managing conflict

• Starting conversations and effective communication

• Change management

• Team cohesion and organisational culture

Healthy Mind during COVID-19

Bespoke COVID-19 webinars on resilience and the prevention of mental stress during times of increased isolation and anxiety due to COVID-19.

Resilient MindThis module focuses on the importance of self-care and resilience and can be customised to the specific needs of the audience to explore:

• Work-life balance

• Stress management

• Positive psychology

• Building resilience

• Acceptance and commitment therapy

• Practical tips to improve wellbeing

Leading in Health and Wellness

This module is aimed at emerging leaders or managers facing leadership challenges and discusses:

• Understanding mental health

• Managing psychological injuries

• Risk factors and warning signs

• Understanding human interaction

• Emotional intelligence

• Organisational climate and culture

• Components of communication

Excellent workshop with easy to follow steps, walking us through some important topics.”

“Very knowledgeable and prepared presenter, excellent videos, informative session with practical solutions to improve mental health in the workplace.

WHAT PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS SAY

Positivum™ biopsychosocial program

Positivum™ is an online validated biopsychosocial assessment and health coaching program. Developed by IPAR in conjunction with Monash University, it aims to challenge an individual’s mindset in relation to their injury, health condition, wellbeing and work.

The online assessment

The Positivum™ assessment contains 12 questions that explore beliefs and perceptions about health and working. It also contains validated, standardised assessments such as Waddell’s Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale.

The results of the assessment informs the areas of support an individual may need and what modules of the health coaching program will be ideally suited to their journey.

Health coaching and capacity building

Positivum™ health coaching utilises principles of adult learning and behavioural change for an engaging program which individuals can tap into at their own pace.

The content is engaging and varied, ranging from thought-provoking education, step-by-step animations, activities and quizzes to check understanding and progress. It includes:

I have found the content and advice in the course to be very helpful, and I will make sure that I will incorporate the concepts into my lifestyle and make it part of my way of life

• Understanding beliefs and perceptions

• Values and goal setting

• The health benefits of working

• Living with a physical or mental health condition

• Self-management skills including pacing techniques, improving sleep, building resilience, managing stress, diet and exercise

Positivum™ – a guide forward after trauma

IPAR engaged the input of Phoenix Australia – Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Dr Peter Cotton and Monash University to adapt the Positivum™ assessment and health coaching program to support people exposed to trauma.

Across their lifetime, approximately 60% of Australians will be exposed to a potentially traumatic event, and of this group, around 20% will develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Symptoms may include disturbing thoughts, mental or physical distress in response to trauma-related triggers, alterations in how a person thinks and feels, and an increase in the fight-or-flight response. People who have been exposed to trauma and are experiencing post-trauma reactions or PTSD often find remaining at or returning to work difficult.

The Positivum™ after trauma assessment incorporates PTSD specific questionnaires, while the health coaching program assists individuals to understand trauma reactions, come to terms with the experience and re-set survival systems to return to everyday life.

Psychological Functional Capacity Evaluation

The process of return to work can be extremely challenging, particularly if there is poor understanding of a worker’s psychological functioning. Using a clinical assessment to evaluate a worker’s progress towards functional outcomes can assist.

What is a Psychological Functional Assessment?

A Psychological Functional Assessment consists of clinical interview, review of medical reports, psychometric testing and liaison with treating health practitioners to assist in the case formulation of the workers’ current capacity.

The assessment will focus on:

• The relevant background regarding the nature of the injury and claims history

• Relevant psychosocial history

• Relevant past and current medical and psychiatric treatment

• Review of current functioning, including activities of daily living

• Mental State Examination

• Psychometric testing

• Review of functional work capacity in the following domains:

• Environment

• Task complexity

• Responsibility level

• Cognitive functioning

• Interpersonal functioning

• Prognosis, including evaluation of employment capacity and functioning

The Psychological Functional Assessment can also be conducted as part of an Earning Capacity Assessment for psychological injury.

Who conducts the assessment?

The assessment will be conducted by a registered Psychologist.

What information will the report provide?

A detailed report is provided to the referrer outlining:

• Results of the assessment and clinical observations

• Comment on consistency of diagnosis, including signs and symptoms

• Capacity to perform specified tasks and comments on return to work options

• Treatment recommendations to improve capacity

If the report is part of an Earning Capacity Assessment, an optional section to comment on the identified vocational options will be discussed.

Workplace mediation

Workplace mediation is a form of conflict resolution. It is a confidential process where an independent and impartial mediator facilitates communication between people in a dispute, assisting them in developing mutually acceptable agreements to improve their future working relationship. The process is structured, informal and voluntary, and provides fast, creative and mutually satisfactory resolutions.

When is mediation appropriate?

• When parties to a grievance are willing or prefer for a matter to be dealt with informally through a mediated process

• When the matters do not involve serious misconduct or a serious breach of company policy, but rather are a result of misunderstanding, personality clashes or a difference of opinion

• When there are different working and communication styles

• For the management of grievances or changing work practices

• When matters can realistically be resolved through a mediation process

The benefits of mediation

• The sessions are private and confidential

• Participants control the outcome

• Mediation allows each person to express their opinion on issues, outline their preferred outcomes and listen to other people’s opinions

• Mediation is usually faster and more cost effective than investigation and litigation processes

Key features of mediation

• The session is facilitated by a professional and impartial third person (an IPAR Accredited Mediator)

• Each participant will meet separately with the mediator for a preliminary meeting, to discuss and prepare for the joint mediation meeting

• Meetings can be arranged at an IPAR office most convenient to the participants

• The mediation session is confidential

• Participation is voluntary, with the option to withdraw at any time

• The mediation session is structured to encourage constructive communication and clarification of the main issues and assist participants to generate mutually acceptable agreements as to the way forward

• Documentation of the agreement between the participants

Career transition services

Since 2003, IPAR has supported over 27,000 individuals to improve their job seeking skills, adopt the right mindset for success and confidently plan for and transition into secure, lasting employment that is right for them.

Who do we help?

IPAR’s career transition services assist any individual transition from one employment type to another, whether this is the result of retrenchment, changes within an industry or business, or following physical or psychological injury or illness.

The individual’s we assist may face minor employment or biopsychosocial barriers, or a complex set of many. Some individuals have low self-confidence; they may see their skills and qualifications as outdated, or have little experience of job searching in the present labour market.

We respond with a highly tailored approach. Not only are we focused on identifying, preparing for, sourcing and sustaining a new employment path for each individual. We are also seeking to address any biopsychosocial factors that may impact a successful, long term career transition.

How do we help?

Depending on the requirements of the individual and their employer, our career transition services can be any mix of the following:

• Vocational assessments

• Health coaching and capacity building

• Résumé and cover letter review and development

• Building a personal brand

• Interview skills

• Cold canvassing

• Tapping the hidden job market

• Job seeker meetings and group classes

• Employment brokerage

• Work trials

• Post placement support

Delivered by experts

All career transition services are facilitated by an experienced IPAR vocational consultant.

The result is practical tips to increase an individual’s job search skills, translate their skills and experience to the local job market, boost their motivation and maximise their chances of success in a new employment type.

HOLISTIC AND TARGETED SUPPORT

• Tailored to the needs of each individual and their situation

• A unique blend of supports and services

• Delivered by vocational and health experts

• Available across Australia via IPAR’s network of 55 offices

HOLISTIC SUPPORT TO HELP INDIVIDUALS TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN THEIR CAREER JOURNEY

let’s build the solution that’s right for you

Documents