An enquiry into vocational rehabilitation services provided by WorkSafe BC: Perspective of the injured worker.

This study involved the use of descriptive phenomenological methodology in order to explore the lived experience of 26 injured workers who had participated in WorkSafeBC's Vocational Rehabilitation services. The aim of this research was to explore, from the perspective of the worker, vocational rehabilitation programs provided by WorkSafeBC. There is a gap in the vocational rehabilitation literature where evidence has yet to be provided from the perspective of the worker rather than the service provider. This study seeks to contribute understanding of this experience by providing evidence from this unique perspective. Analysis of the interview data revealed the central theme of interpersonal communication in addition to six major themes, each comprised of multiple factors. Interpersonal communication between the injured worker and WorkSafeBC staff was found to be the central factor affecting the worker's perspective of their overall experience. The remaining identified themes were: the human factor, expectations, re-employment considerations, psychological factors, injured workers identification of strengths of vocational rehabilitation services, and injured workers proposed improvements to vocational rehabilitation services. The findings of this study provide insight and useful recommendations not only for WorkSafeBC, but also other service providers of vocational rehabilitation. --P. ii.