Certificate of capacity

How a certificate of capacity helps

The certificate of capacity is a communication tool for the medical practitioner, the employee and their employer and can encourage a positive focus on what the employee can do.

There are benefits to a fully completed certificate of capacity with clear information for everyone involved.

Employees

The certificate of capacity helps the employee:

• understand the nature of their injury or illness
• realise their capacity to work and any limitations to perform regular work tasks
• have a conversation with their medical practitioner about their injury or illness and returning to, or staying at, work.

Employers

The certificate of capacity provides the employer with clear guidance on what the employee can do. It provides a plan for treatment and expected recovery by identifying:

• a timeline for recovery and return to work
• the employee’s capacity for work
• adjustments required to keep the employee at work or support a safe return to work.

Medical practitioners

The certificate of capacity supports the medical practitioner to consider work as part of the employee’s recovery and rehabilitation.

Comcare

The certificate of capacity helps Comcare make better decisions about:

• accepting the employee’s workers’ compensation claim
• incapacity entitlements available to the employee
• approving medical treatment which is reasonably necessary.

Information required on the certificate

The certificate is a form of medical evidence. It is used to understand an employee’s capacity for work and the nature of their injury or illness to help recovery and a safe stay at, or return to, work.

To ensure an employee can effectively be returned to health and work and that any claim can be assessed in a timely way, the certificate of capacity should include:

• employee’s details
• a precise diagnosis or description of their condition and symptoms
• cause of the condition and symptoms
• the date of actual examination
• capacity for work and any impact on their function
• the date(s) when the patient is (or was) unfit for work
• recommended treatment
• a review date
• the contact details of the legally qualified medical practitioner and their provider number
• the legally qualified medical practitioner’s signature and date.

Modified and suitable duties

If an employee is unable to return to their pre-injury duties but can perform some work tasks, the certificate of capacity specifies an employee’s functional ability.

Modified duties refers to changes or restrictions made to an employee’s pre-injury work activities that allow the employee to return to work.

Suitable duties refers to work that meets an employee's capacities, skills and experience and considers medical limitations. An employee’s capabilities determine suitable duties and are incorporated into a return to work plan. This plan supports the employee to stay at or return to work safely.

To discuss the employee’s work and suitable employment options that may be available, medical practitioners can:

• call the employee's rehabilitation case manager or employer
• tick the box on the certificate of capacity to indicate they need a return to work case conference.

Watch a video

Watch a video on how to assess capacity for patients with a psychological condition.

Assessing capacity for patients with a psychological condition is a video featuring Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Dielle Felman which provides information and recommendations for assessing work capacity for patients with a psychological condition. Adapted for national use with the support of WorkSafe Victoria.

Transcript of Assessing Capacity for Patients with a Psychological Condition video

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