Vocational Rehabilitation Toolkit

The Stroke Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programme helps health and care staff understand how to support people after a stroke to get back into work. It is designed to make VR a core part of stroke rehabilitation across the NHS. The programme includes one animation and a multi-part eLearning resource that contains the Vocational Rehabilitation Toolkit. Together, these resources give a simple, step-by-step guide to providing good VR support.

Intended audience

This programme is for anyone involved in stroke care or planning stroke services, including:

• NHS clinicians working in stroke rehabilitation (e.g., AHPs, nurses, psychologists, doctors)
• NHS commissioners and senior leaders
• Wider stroke partners such as:
  • Stroke Association
  • Different Strokes
  • Professional bodies including RCOT, CSP, RCSLT, BPS, RCP, BIASP, AHP Federation
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Association (VRA)
  • Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM)

Key Areas Covered

• Why returning to work is important after a stroke
• The role of VR in stroke recovery
• How to identify people who need VR support
• Steps involved in good VR practice
• Working with employers and other partners
• Using the VR toolkit to support consistent, high-quality care

Learning Objectives

By the end of the programme, learners will:

• Understand what vocational rehabilitation is and why it matters
• Know how to make VR a routine part of stroke rehabilitation
• Recognise when a stroke survivor may need return-to-work support
• Gain confidence using the national VR toolkit
• Understand how different professionals and organisations can work together
• Feel equipped to inspire and lead improvements in VR in their own services