Vocational rehabilitation (VR) is a structured process designed to help people with health conditions, disabilities, or injuries return to work, retain their job, or find suitable new employment. For cardiac arrest survivors, who often face a combination of physical, cognitive, and psychological challenges, vocational rehabilitation can be an essential part of the recovery journey.
What vocational rehabilitation involves
VR is not a single intervention but a coordinated set of supports tailored to the individual. It may include:
- Work capability assessment: evaluating what the person can do, and what barriers exist to returning to work
- Graduated return to work: a phased plan to return to work part-time or on reduced duties, gradually increasing hours and responsibilities
- Workplace adjustments: identifying and implementing reasonable adjustments (for example, flexible hours, reduced screen time, quiet working space, additional breaks) in line with the employer’s legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010
- Job coaching: support from a specialist who may attend the workplace to help the person manage tasks and navigate difficulties
- Retraining: where a person is unable to return to their previous role, support with exploring and training for new types of work
Who provides VR
Vocational rehabilitation may be provided by occupational therapists, occupational health services, Access to Work, NHS employment advisors embedded in community mental health or primary care teams, or independent VR specialists.
Why it matters
Return to work is an important goal for many survivors and is associated with improved wellbeing, financial stability, and sense of identity. However, cognitive difficulties, fatigue, and anxiety can make this challenging without structured support. Early engagement with vocational rehabilitation, before a return to work is attempted, improves outcomes.
« Back to Glossary Index