Affiliations: Section for Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of
Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden | Centre for Studies on Rehabilitation, Department of
Health Science, Mid-Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden | Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society,
Division of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden | Clinical Department of Rehabilitation Medicine,
Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden | Nord Trondelag University College, Faculty of Health
Science, Norway
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Jenny Kärrholm, Clinical
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Danderyd Hospital, Building 39 3rd
floor, SE 182 88 Stockholm, Sweden. Tel.: +4686555773; Fax: +4686557754;
E-mail: Jenny.Karrholm@ki.se
Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this research was to investigate the views
of sick-listed employees' immediate superiors on co-operation in vocational
rehabilitation before and during a systematic, multi-professional,
client-centred, solution-oriented co-operation project in vocational
rehabilitation (SMVR intervention). Method: A same-subject study with a
questionnaire was used, with 95 immediate superiors giving their views on
co-operation both before and during the SMVR intervention. Results and conclusions: The immediate superiors felt that the SMVR intervention was
successful in promoting co-operation, and reported a significant decrease in
referrals of employees from one organisation to another without the problem
being resolved. Hence SMVR co-operation was experienced positively by the
immediate superiors and in fact led to a joint responsibility in finding
solutions. The immediate superiors saw greater possibilities than before for
employees to resume regular or other jobs during the SMVR intervention. A more
elaborate co-operation model such as the SMVR intervention increased the
immediate superiors' experience of successful vocational rehabilitation.
Organizations seeking to increase efficiency in vocational rehabilitation might
well analyse their work methods and improve their forms of co-operation.
Keywords: Multi-professional, client-centred, solution-oriented, employers' perspective, return to work
