Community Social Services Early Intervention Program
This information summarizes how CSSEIP supports employees with an illness or injury, and helps them return to work.
WHAT IS CSSEIP? ↓
IS PARTICIPATION REQUIRED? ↓
HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK? ↓
WHO IS THE LEAD OF YOUR EARLY INTERVENTION TEAM? ↓
WHAT IS A SELF-REFERRAL? ↓
WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES? ↓
WHO RECEIVES UPDATES? ↓
HOW IS MY CONFIDENTIAL MEDICAL INFORMATION PROTECTED? ↓
WHO DO I CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT CSSEIP? ↓
LIST OF CONTACTS ↓
For more information, please see the following brochures:
Acclaim EIP Brochure (PDF)
Disability Management Institute Brochure (PDF)
CSSEIP Brochure (PDF)
WHAT IS CSSEIP?
The Community Social Services Early Intervention Program (CSSEIP) is a collaborative program that assists workers who are ill or injured return to work.
The members of the CSSEIP team include:
- You (the employee)
- Your physician and/or health care team
- The Early Intervention Program (EIP) Team at the CSSEIP Service Provider
- Your employer
- Your union
The CSSEIP team works together to design a customized return-to-work plan for you based on your medical condition, your requirements for returning to work, your skills and your employer’s ability to accommodate your requirements. The program is supported by your union & employer and facilitated by the EIP Team at the CSSEIP Service Provider.
IS PARTICIPATION REQUIRED?
Participation in the Early Intervention Program is part of your collective agreement and is mandatory. You are encouraged to work with the EIP Team at the CSSEIP Service Provider during your absence and throughout the return to work process.
HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK?
Getting Started
If you are a regular full-time employee and have been ill or injured for 5 consecutive scheduled working days, or a regular part-time employee who has been ill or injured for 8 calendar days, your employer will refer your name to the Early Intervention Program. A lead member of the EIP Team at the CSSEIP Service Provider, such a case manager or coordinator, will contact you to discuss the CSSEIP process and send you a package. You are responsible for returning the consent and medical assessment forms immediately to the CSSEIP services provider but no later than 7 days from the date the package was sent.
You may also refer yourself to the program to ensure access to services immediately. Please contact your CSSEIP Service Provider directly.
Data Collection
Once you are in the program, you and your doctor will be required to complete a confidential Occupational Fitness Assessment (OFA) form that provides information relating to your illness or injury, and an assessment of your anticipated return to work.
Plan Development
The lead member of your EIP Team at the CSSEIP Service Provider will assess your situation and recommend a plan tailored to your individual circumstances in consultation with you. The EIP Team at the CSSEIP Service Provider will advocate for and provide coordination of your health care and the cost is covered through the program.
Your plan may include:
- Ensuring that you receive prompt medical care, which may involve a referral to a specialist where necessary; and/or
- Integration in a graduated or modified return to work plan; and/or
- The provision of job accommodation at your workplace.
When your medical provider approves your return to work, the lead will work with your union and employer representative to develop an appropriate return to work plan based on your medical recommendations.
Implementation & Follow Up
The lead member of your EIP Team at the CSSEIP Service Provider will monitor your individual plan to ensure a safe and timely return to work.
WHO IS THE LEAD OF YOUR EARLY INTERVENTION TEAM?
The Lead is a member of the EIP Team at the CSSEIP Service Provider, and is a health professional who is responsible for coordinating your return to work plan.
Coordination of your return to work plan involves:
- Contacting you to explain the program, what is required from you, and assessing your need for the CSSEIP;
- Developing a customized plan that will accommodate your capabilities and limitations;
- Referring you to rehabilitation service providers for treatment as required;
- Working with your employer to accommodate your return to work; and
- Following up with you to ensure your return to work is successful.
WHAT IS A SELF-REFERRAL?
If you are unsure whether your employer has referred you to the Early Intervention Program, or if you know that you are going to be off work for medical reasons but haven't yet missed the required amount of days, you can refer yourself for EIP by contacting your benefit service provider listed under Contacts below.
WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES?
You are required to work with the CSSEIP team, including the lead member of your EIP Team at the CSSEIP Benefit Service Provider, your employer, your union and your health care providers to facilitate your return to work.
You are also responsible for following the recommendations of your family doctor and treatment team; and staying in touch with the lead member of our EIP Team and the employer during your leave and for ensuring your personal contact information is up-to-date.
WHO RECEIVES UPDATES?
Updates will be provided to your employer and union representative throughout your absence. In certain circumstances the CSSEIP Benefit Service Providers may also provide information to CSSBA and/or CSSEA representatives.
HOW IS MY CONFIDENTIAL MEDICAL INFORMATION PROTECTED?
The CSSEIP Service Providers maintain files in strict confidence and in accordance to the requirements of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the BC Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). As such the information provided to the lead of your EIP Team is considered strictly confidential.
Your CSSEIP Service Provider contact will only release information to the parties who are covered under the signed authorization form. The information shared with your employer is limited to what is required for them to plan for your absence and return to work. This includes your overall prognosis, anticipated timeline for recovery and return to work, and any functional limitations and restrictions.
Please note that under PIPA, your employer is required to advise you that your basic personal information (home address, telephone number, etc.) will be shared with the lead of your EIP Team for the purposes of implementing the EIP.
WHO DO I CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT CSSEIP?
You can contact your CSSEIP Benefit Service provider, your employer, or union representative to discuss the Early Intervention Program. Full contact details are provided below.
CONTACTS
Great-West Life Assurance (provides services on behalf of HBT)
Phone: 604.646.1200 or 1.888.292.4111
Email: [email protected]
Acclaim Ability Management Inc. (provides services on behalf of the Federation Benefit Plan (Acclaim))
Phone: 604.304.1858 or 1.866.677.6055
Fax: 604.304.1865 or 1.866.486.8663
Email: [email protected]
www.acclaimability.com
Disability Management Institute (DMI) (provides services on behalf of CSBT)
Phone: 604.542.3649 or 1.866.963.9995
Fax: 604.542.3850 or 1.866.963.9994
www.disabilityinstitute.com
Fenchurch General Insurance Company (provides services on behalf of Focused Benefit Solutions)
Phone: 905.822.2282
Fax: 905.822.1282
www.fenchurchgeneral.com
CSSEA Representatives
Margery Pazdor, Advocate
Community Social Services Employers’ Association
800 - 555 Burrard Street – Box 232
Vancouver, BC V7X 1M8
Email: [email protected]
P 604.601.3106 or 1.800.377.3340 ext. 106
Mark Slobin, Director, HRLR Services
Community Social Services Employers’ Association
800 - 555 Burrard Street – Box 232
Vancouver, BC V7X 1M8
Email: [email protected]
P 604.601.3122 or 1.800.377.3340 ext. 122
CSSEIP – UNION CONTACT LIST
BCGEU - Member Disability Benefits
BCNU - Bella Brown
CLAC - Stefanie Young
CUPE - Carmen Sullivan
HEU - Christina Lloyd-Jones
HSA - Kim Brown
LiUNA - Shelley Moore
UFCW - Monica Staff
USW - Marty Gibbons