Hi

My husband had a brain injury at the begining of the year & has been on acc since. He has now been given an appointment next week to have an Occupational assesment done even though we do not feel that he is any where near ready to return to work (mechanic)and has just been reffered to a neuroligist for possible epilepsy.
Readying you site has got me worried about this assessment - does he have the right to tape record this assessment?(eapecialy since his memory is not the best.
Thanks - any advices would be appreciated!

Hi Bikes888

Is your husband's doctor onside re pressure from ACC?

Your gp can stop the occupational assessment by certifiying that your husband is not well enough, and/or that his injury hasn't stabilised.

If your husband has epilepsy he may have to be treated with medication.

Also, an OT is not qualified to make a judgement on whether someone with a serious head injury is able to return to work.

All the very best. Hope all goes well.

It does seem a little strange that your husband is being referred to a neurologist for an investigation into possible epilepsy (a common consequence from a traumatic brain injury) and at the same time ACC are referring him for an Initial Occupational Assessment (IOA).

Has you husband had a comprehensive Social rehabilitation assessment? ACC should have conducted this assessment to determine your husbands rehabilitation needs.

It is common practice for ACC case manglers to short cut the system and go straight to the exit process. ie. IOA & VIOA

You have every right to be worried about this IOA (Initial occupational Assessment) and the following Vocational Medical Assessment especially if your husbands condition has not yet stabilised.

Hopefully as Bluegreen stated you have a supportive GP who will not bow to ACC abuse and is supportive of your husband and his rehabilitation requirements.

It is amazing how quick ACC can organise assessments when they want too. (Unlike Phoenix who started this thread and is still waiting.)

Your husbands Case manager may well just be aiming at improving his KPI's by exiting your husband by March next year so that he/she can get his/her annual bonus.

It is important however that the IOA assessor uses the current Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations when assessing your husband.

The IOA will identify jobs that it is possible for your husband to do. It is important that your husband identifies any jobs that require training etc to the assessor.

It wouldn't hurt for your husband to request a copy of his files either.. It may well be that ACC are assessing another lesser injury.. The head injury may well have been (deliberately/conveniently) ignored.

As well check your husband's IRP and ensure it lists all his injuries!

In the future make sure your husband doesn't sign his IRP (Individual rehabilitation plan) presented to him by ACC at the time. It is a legal contract and he needs to discuss/review it with you and his Dr before agreeing to it.