Overview

Reporting to the Manager, Corporate Health & Safety, the Disability and Wellness Specialist is an astute communicator and facilitator who provides proactive and positive leadership to the organization in the areas of disability management processes; evidence-based health and wellness programming, and safe return to work and stay at work processes.

Responsibilities

Provides Strategic Disability Management Advice and Support

• Provides strategic and operational service to stakeholders to effectively manage non-occupational short- and long-term disability claims from the onset of disability, ensuring appropriate supporting documentation is maintained through the full cycle of the claim relating to adjudication decisions, medical information, physical and cognitive abilities, position requirements and early and safe return to work.
• Organize and facilitate multidisciplinary meetings and communications to establish return to work plans, accommodation plans and disability management strategies.
• Provide expert advice to Human Resources staff on health/disability best practices and emerging issues/trends.

Promotes Health and Wellness

• Using your clinical knowledge and relevant analytics to identify key trends and support opportunities to lead the development of a corporate wide employee wellness strategy and mental health strategy.
• Manages and administers the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP); monitors program usage to identify trends, liaises with the service provider to develop solutions to improve overall employee wellness.
• You lead the organization in our psychological safety programs, including learning, supporting and developing the peer support team, creating policies and resources with a focus on continual improvement.
• Develops, plans, implements, promotes and evaluates educational programs and training materials relating to various topics such as attendance, accommodation, return to work, and wellness.

Advises and Collaborates on Attendance Management

• Provides advice and expertise to leaders and HR Associates on Attendance Support Program, ensuring continued/chronic absenteeism is addressed and improvements are noted; identifies opportunities for pro-active interventions related to absences from work.
• Determines relevant and appropriate data collection to monitor, track and evaluate trends in short term and long-term disability, and absenteeism.
• Works with HR teammates to monitor and forecast trends in these areas.

Education

• You have a four-year honors degree and an accompanying professional designation in good standing, such as occupational health nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy or Certified Disability Management (CDMP) certification through the National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR). 

Experience

• You have a minimum of 4-years’ experience in disability case management, accommodation and return-to-work planning, developing programs and strategies for workplace wellness and mental health, attendance management support, and short term and long term sick leave case management. 

Skill Equivalency

• You have a 3-year degree or diploma and an accompanying professional designation in good standing, as well as 7 years of relevant experience OR
• An undergraduate degree with a Master’s degree with a minimum 2-years of relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• You are a strategic and concept-based thinker, with thorough analytical and problem-solving skills.
• You have strong interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to develop relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• You have excellent communication, time management, project management, computer and negotiation skills.
• You have detailed knowledge of relevant legislation, medical terminology, disability management, accommodation, attendance support programs and short/long term disability insurer adjudication processes. 
• Reliable with a good attitude and employment record.
• Must be able to travel to various locations across the City of Kitchener 

Please note that the salary grade for this job is currently under review