Learning & Skills

Schools’ Sickness Insurance Fund

Return to Work Programmes – Guidance for Claims

Background

  1. With effect from 1 April 2009, as an improvement and extension to the Sickness Insurance Fund Scheme, reimbursements will be made for approved Return to Work programmes in schools. The scheme’s Policy Document has been updated accordingly:
  • Return to Work programmes

Where either teaching or non-teaching staff have been on sickness leave covered by the Scheme, and require support through a Return to Work programme on their return, the Scheme will contribute towards the additional costs of that programme, subject to:

  1. The approval of Learning & Skills Human Resources team will be required in all cases. No reimbursement will be given without prior approval.
  2. Reimbursements will be time limited and based upon the conditions of the Learning & Skills Human Resources team’s approval, with a maximum 4 week reimbursement period.
  3. Reimbursements will be based on the standard reimbursement rates for the appropriate staffing category.
  1. To ensure consistency and equity in applying a Return to Work reimbursement scheme, the following application process and guidance will need to be followed to secure reimbursement from the Schools’ Sickness Insurance Fund.

Application and approval for reimbursements

  1. Where schools have an incidence of long term sickness, involving teaching or non-teaching staff, which may require a Return to Work programme, they should in the first instance make contact with their Learning & Skills Human Resources Officer.
  1. From this initial contact discussions will take place with theemployee, prior to their return to work. This meeting should be complemented by an up to date Occupational Health report which may contain advice and recommendations on a suitable rehabilitation programme.
  1. The outcome of this process, where appropriate, would be an approved phased Return to Work Programme, which would be formally agreed between the individual employee, the school, Learning & SkillsHuman Resources and Occupational Health. Where schools liaise directly with their member of staff, any agreement between them would equally require Learning & SkillsHuman Resources Officer approval.
  1. To claim reimbursement from the Schools’ Sickness Insurance Scheme, the school will need to complete an RTW1 or RTW2 form as appropriate (copies of which are attached to this guidance note). This will enable the school to specify the actual number of hours/days covered during the phased Return to Work period.
  1. Forms RTW1 or RTW2 should be signed by the employee and Headteacher and forwarded to your Human Resources Officer, who will confirm that the hours/days claimed for are in accordance with the agreed Return to Work programme. Completed forms should be submitted as soon as possible and no later than 4 weeks following the completion of the Return to Work programme.
  1. The RTW1/RTW2 form will be authorised by HR and forwarded to Schools Finance Team, Guildhall, Shrewsbury(Julie Bradney) where it will need to correspond with an appropriately completed Insurance Claim Form for Refunds (ISS1);only then will financial processing and reimbursement be made.
  1. Any ISS1 form seeking reimbursement for a Return to Work programme which is not supported by an appropriate RTW1/RTW2 formagreed by all as stated above will not be processed.

Officer Contacts

  1. For further advice and guidance on this process please contact:

Human Resources:Lorraine Edwards01743 254412

Paul Jones01743 254410

Louise Smith01743 254204

Tara Lawer01743 254501

Rachel Hudson 01743 254549

Finance:Julie Bradney01743 256233

  1. A copy of this guidance note has been placed on the Council’s website, on the Financial Services pages:

A copy of the RTW1/RTW2 form has been placed on the Learning Gateway on the Human Resources Forms page:

V:\Finance\CYPS_Finance\NON-SCHOOLS FINANCE YEAR 1011\BALANCE SHEET\INSURANCE SCHEMES POLICIES\insrettoworkguide.doc23/10/2018