Problem
Isabel, 50, is a secretary in the office of a large high school. She has worked for the school board for thirty years. In fact, apart from, summer jobs and an initial two year position after she completed high school, she has never worked anywhere else.
Isabel, who was the youngest child in her family, is not married and has always lived with her family a few blocks away from the school. Her father died twelve years ago. The past ten years have been difficult for Isabel because her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Isabel was constantly struggling to juggle paid caregivers from the neighborhood. Although two older siblings have moved to cities, which are respectively a three and four hour drive away, Isabel has one brother who is located in the same city on the other side of town.
However, he is busy with his own family and appears to have been helpful mainly with managing his mother's income, bills and taxes. Recently Isabel's mother died and left her major asset, the house, to Isabel, which has created a rift within the family.
During the ten years that her mother was ill, Isabel became quieter and somewhat withdrawn but she continued to do her job efficiently and her familiarity with the community was often helpful. After Isabel's mother died, school staff expected her life to be much easier. Instead, she became more withdrawn and seemed unable to deal with the students who came to the counter. A month after she returned from a short bereavement leave she began to take a day or two of sick leave every other week and missed ten days over the next two months. At that point her doctor faxed in a message indicating that she was dealing with stress as a result of her mother's death and needed time off. She has been away from her job for a month.
You are responsible for return to work coordination and planning for the school district. The school principal has referred Isabel's file to you. When you spoke with him on the phone, in addition to providing you with the above information, he indicated that he had mentioned the EFAP program to Isabel at the time of her mother's death and that she had indicated that she was not interested in drawing upon this service. The principal is 42 and has been head if this school for seven years. However, much of his information about Isabel came from a teacher who grew up in the area herself and who has been with the school 22 years. Isabel and this teacher are not particularly close. They have little in common except having grown up in the neighborhood.
Indicate how you would approach the situation as a DM Practitioner responsible for return to work coordination including:
a) What factors or issues need to be addressed and how would you address them?
b) How would you work with service providers?
c) What components might you include in a return to work plan and why-both service coordination and accommodation should be considered?