Vocational rehabilitation

Work is a fundamental human right and a key element in quality of life, yet only a minority of people with a neurological condition return to, remain in, or attain work. A range of factors are associated with work for people with specific neurological conditions. Vocational rehabilitation (VR) to address key vocational needs are outlined (i.e. vocational assessment, return to work, preparation for alternative work, transition from education to employment, and long-term job retention), illustrated by examples. Specialist VR programmes typically report positive outcomes. However, there is a need for more controlled studies to evaluate the effectiveness of VR in addition to core neurorehabilitation and the added value of specialist as opposed to generic VR provision. There is also a pressing need for neurorehabilitation and VR services to prioritize unmet vocational needs, generate practice-based evidence, and provide evidence of cost-effectiveness.