Psycho-vocational assessments are conducted for the purpose of providing an opinion concerning a client’s current vocational capacities and future employment options.

Psycho-vocational assessments can serve clients who have suffered physical injuries and/or mental health issues that render them unable to return to their work or sustain their current career.

When an individual presents with complex physical and cognitive difficulties following a personal injury a Psycho-vocational Assessment is recommended because it provides an in depth assessment of both cognitive and psychological compromise. Specific issues addressed may include anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Psycho-vocational Assessment entails:

• An extensive clinical interview centered on current functioning, as well as a review of issues relevant to vocational rehabilitation.
• The administration, scoring, and analysis of psychological test materials that assess: cognitive, academic, and vocational abilities, as well as vocational interests and psychological function.
• The preparation of an extensive psychological report that outlines the interview, testing, and job search findings, as well as any other recommendations for the client’s vocational rehabilitation.
• A matching of the client’s vocational abilities and vocational interests to identify potential work options.
• An online search of job options, to determine which placements are most consistent with client’s academic training, work aptitudes, transferable skills, job interests, and physical requirements.
• Documenting of direct placement positions, as well as job options requiring retraining.

A vocational assessment is the process of identifying and appraising an individual’s vocational capacity and functioning. Vocational assessments are particularly useful in a case where there had been a reduction in the person’s physical, cognitive, or psychological functioning as a result of a motor vehicle accident or other injury. Vocational assessments are also used in matrimonial and testimonial dispute cases to determine vocational and earnings capacity and to impute income.

A vocational assessment is a comprehensive and detailed process that consists of a clinical interview, psychometric testing, and labour market research. It culminates into a vocational report that is used to determine loss of earnings capacity, loss of opportunity, and real time vocational capacity. It is also used as part of vocational rehabilitation planning where appropriate. ​

​In marital separation cases, a vocational assessment can assist in determining potential maximum earning capacity based on an individual’s work history, transferable skills and the current labour market (i.e., occupation availability). This determination takes into consideration any existing physical, psychological and/or cognitive issues or medical conditions that could interfere with employability, family duties (i.e., responsibility for child care or care of an aging parent) and the individual’s capacity for part or full time employment based on these considerations, if applicable. Depending on the complexity of the case, an objective report may be prepared without the individual attending our office for a formal assessment.

Imputing Income: The ending of any relationship is difficult and in instances of marital separation the sorting of financial matters can be additionally challenging. In couples with an imbalance in earnings such as in instances where one individual remained out of the workforce to care for children for an extended period of time, determining vocational potential and earning capacity, and/or imputing of income may be required to assist in determining equitable support payments.

Our vocational evaluators examine all factors when determining earning/vocational capacity and imputing income. This includes but is not limited to an individual’s work history, education level, potential for advancement within his or her area(s) of expertise, self versus employee opportunities, capacity for retraining based on academic aptitude, capacity for full or part time employment, the regional labour market, and health factors that can affect employment including psychological, cognitive and physical issues. This assists your clients in reaching conclusions that are well-researched, realistic and specific to their regional labour market.
Imputing Income: The ending of any relationship is difficult and in instances of marital separation the sorting of financial matters can be additionally challenging.  In couples with an imbalance in earnings such as in instances where one individual remained out of the workforce to care for children for an extended period of time, determining vocational potential and earning capacity, and/or imputing of income may be required to assist in determining equitable support payments.

Our vocational evaluators examine all factors when determining earning/vocational capacity and imputing income. This includes but is not limited to an individual’s work history, education level, potential for advancement within his or her area(s) of expertise, self versus employee opportunities, capacity for retraining based on academic aptitude, capacity for full or part time employment, the regional labour market, and health factors that can affect employment including psychological, cognitive and physical issues. This assists your clients in reaching conclusions that are well-researched, realistic and specific to their regional labour market.

Competitive employability refers to a worker’s ability to find and keep employment on a full-time basis, usually forty hours per week, all of which depends upon the industry and the climate of competition affecting a company within that industry. In addition, whether a person qualifies for a particular job is a function of his/her education, specific skills training including work experience, physical capacity, values and interests, temperament, intellectual skills, perceptual abilities and other generic work skills.

An individual’s ability to be “competitive” within their workplace environment depends upon how their disability impacts his or her performance on the job and whether modifications or accommodations are required in order to maintain their employment position.

Our comprehensive evaluations incorporate all aspects of the client’s case to determine the client’s competitive employability going forward.

Competitive employability refers to a worker’s ability to find and keep employment on a full-time basis, usually forty hours per week, all of which depends upon the industry and the climate of competition affecting a company within that industry. In addition, whether a person qualifies for a particular job is a function of his/her education, specific skills training including work experience, physical capacity, values and interests, temperament, intellectual skills, perceptual abilities and other generic work skills.

An individual’s ability to be “competitive” within their workplace environment depends upon how their disability impacts his or her performance on the job and whether modifications or accommodations are required in order to maintain their employment position.

Our comprehensive evaluations incorporate all aspects of the client’s case to determine the client’s competitive employability going forward.

A transferable skills analysis (TSA) is a helpful tool utilized by vocational professionals to determine a client’s existing skills and aptitudes that could transfer to alternate occupations. A TSA considers not only skills learned through employment but also education/training, hobbies, recreational and volunteer activities. During a TSA assessment, the assessor performs a thorough intake, capturing information on the client’s social, education and employment history, and current medical symptoms and limitations (physical, psychological and/or cognitive) that impact his or her vocational capacities.

A TSA is suitable for individuals unable to resume their pre-injury employment due to limitations and restrictions following accident or injury who are interested in exploring alternate vocational options based on their transferable skills. Through this tool our team of VR professionals assist injured individuals to better understanding their abilities and to help make informed decisions about their vocational future.

Cost of Future Care assessments determine the long-term costs of the care and accommodations
required for an injured person to sustain life within an acceptable comfort level.

The residual employabilty of an individual directly impacts their earning power. Understanding the limitations and abilities of a disabled individual is a primary objective of a vocational assessment.

Employability assessments are important in determining the earning capacity of your injured client. Our expert report incorporates a psychological and functional screen included in the vocational evaluation to assess how post-injury symptoms and restrictions will impact your client’s post injury employability.

As Vocational Experts, we examine functional baselines when reviewing the feasibility of employment sustainability and post-injury occupational options. Our functional baseline screening is conducted by a Matheson-trained therapist and provides a review of the client’s physical capacity in four major areas: strength, mobility, dexterity, and functional movement.