Work-ability

This multi-phase project was designed to develop a support-focused assessment tool to help practitioners think about work-ability in terms of modification and/or inter-dependence required to enable someone to work in a specific job. It is designed specifically to support vocational rehabilitation planning.

The Work-ability Support Scale (WSS) is a very different approach to most work-ability assessments and thus is recognised by funders, researchers and practitioners as being a significant new development in VR assessment. The tool is being used by some providers of VR and employment support in New Zealand, and is part of routine assessment in the Northwick Park neurological rehabilitation unit in London, UK. It has also been translated into Japanese and Chinese.

We are developing opportunities to study the implementation of the tool in different settings. This may lead to updates in the WSS and/or further information about implementing it in different workplace and rehabilitation contexts.

Further details

Resources

• WSS – Work-ability Support Scale and scoring guide

Publications

• Fadyl, J. K., McPherson, K. M., Schluter, P. J., & Turner-Stokes, L. (2014). Development of a new tool to evaluate work support needs and guide vocational rehabilitation: The Work-ability Support Scale (WSS). Disability and Rehabilitation. doi:10.3109/09638288.2014.914586 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/09638288.2014.914586
• Turner-Stokes, L., Fadyl, J., Rose, H., Williams, H., Schluter, P., & McPherson, K. (2014). The Work-ability Support Scale: Evaluation of scoring accuracy and rater reliability. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 24(3). doi:10.1007/s10926-013-9486-1 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10926-013-9486-1
• Fadyl, J., Mcpherson, K.,  Schüter, P., Turner-Stokes, L. Factors contributing to work-ability for injured workers: literature review and comparison with available measures. Informa Healthcare: 2010, Vol. 32, No. 14 , Pages 1173-1183 (doi:10.3109/09638281003653302)