Report of graduate internship and evaluation of psychology services at the work skills evaluation program

Abstract

This is a report of an eight-week graduate internship with the psychological services group of the Work Skills Evaluation Program (WSEP) at the General Hospital. WSEP provides vocational assessment services primarily for injured workers referred by the Worker's Compensation Commission (WCC). Part One describes the internship setting, outlines assessment activities, discusses observations and impressions, and suggests improvements to assessment policy and practice. Part Two presents an evaluation of the psychology services at WSEP, conducted to find out whether clients felt the services helped them achieve vocational rehabilitation. Interview data from a random sample of clients referred to WSEP in 1993 were analysed using a qualitative research approach. While the majority of clients abandoned rehabilitation, most felt the assessments performed by psychologists at WSEP accurately predicted their academic abilities and career interests. Decisions to quit rehabilitation or to pursue it at a slower pace were closely associated with other factors such as pain management, age, and psychological distress. The findings suggest that success in rehabilitation can be enhanced by changes in the individual through skills training, assertiveness training, and through environmental adjustments that may eliminate or reduce barriers to specific training and employment. Recommendations are made for ongoing assessments and interventions to better support injured workers in training and employment, and for research aimed at improving assessment instruments and policies.