The OPAL programme allows patients to plan their return to work in 8 easy steps. They can use the forms on the website or in their printed patient workbooks to write down their plans for their return to work. They may want to share these plans with you so that you can see what challenges they face and understand how you are able to support them back to work after surgery.
In addition to the workbooks and website the patients also have access to a trained return to work co-ordinator. The return to work co-ordinator is an extra layer of support. They contact all patients before their operation to check how they are progressing with the OPAL programme, provide advice and support and answer any questions they may have. Patients can also contact the return to work co-ordinator at any time until they eventually return to work after surgery.
The OPAL 8 step programme:
The 8 steps of the OPAL programme are:
Step 1: Assessing how their hip or knee affects their ability to work.
Step 2: Setting an approximate date for their return to work.
Step 3: Developing a return to work plan.
Step 4: Discussing their return to work plan with their return to work co-ordinator.
Step 5: Discussing and reviewing their return to work plan with their ‘employer’ and / or your occupational health team.
Step 6: Contacting their ‘employer’ and / or occupational health team after surgery and updating them on their progress.
Step 7: Updating their return to work plan based on their recovery after surgery and discussions with their ‘employer’ and hospital staff.
Step 8: Seeking help after surgery.
Aims of the OPAL programme:
By following the OPAL programme we hope that patients will:
- Be able to think about the difficulties they are currently having at work and the specific demands of the type of work they do
- Feel confident to make a plan for their recovery after surgery and their eventual return to work. They can then share this plan with their employer, work colleagues and healthcare team
- Have the advice and information they need and know how to ask for help if they need it
- Recognise that they need to take an active part in their care and make decisions about their own return to work
- Understand that returning to work after surgery is important and it needs to be planned
- Realise that involving employers at an early stage can help them understand the problems they are facing. It can allow them to make changes to the place or pattern of work that could help them to return to work
- Appreciate that returning to work needs planning between themselves, their employer and their health care team