“We owe it to members to provide the service that they need, especially if they’re injured or become ill due to the job, or even outside of the job.”
Eleanor and Alice
Disability Management Advisors
On the job:
9 years, 3 years
Eleanor and Alice help lead the Disability Management and Accommodation program focused on supporting RCMP officers through recovery and return-to-work. They bring both expertise and compassion to the role of guiding members back to full health and duty. They value being able to make a difference and to help members regain their strength, confidence and place within the organization.
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Disability Management Advisors work directly with members to develop any temporary or permanent accommodations needed for a safe return-to-work.
The Disability Management and Accommodation program launched in April 2017.
Occupational Health Services provides recommendations to Disability Management Advisors on any limitations or restrictions for return-to-work planning.
What was it like to launch a brand-new program?
Eleanor: It was a bit challenging at the time. We did some training nationally, which was great; we got a good flavour for the RCMP. There were some growing pains for sure while getting the program started, but we had a lot of support along the way, and I think we’ve been very successful.
What do you like about your job?
Eleanor: The ability to assist uniformed members and civilian members with their return to work and to help them get to their optimal point of health and optimal functional abilities.
Alice: I had prior work experience managing people who were ill and injured. This is different at the RCMP however, because the members are not released–they’re all still working. It was interesting to see what the process is like at the RCMP and how the organization can work with the member to successfully return to work instead of being released.
What do you like about working for the RCMP?
Alice: As someone who is fairly new to the organization, I find it has a lot of support for the program that we do, which is always good because we believe the work we do is important. I also feel that they do value and respect the need for a work-life balance.
Eleanor: It’s an honor to assist members back into the careers they’ve chosen. Nobody enters the Force thinking they want to do a desk job. The majority of members want to participate in frontline operational policing, so there’s satisfaction in getting members back to an operational type of a role.
I think as employees of the RCMP, we’ve got a very good understanding and knowledge of the internal workings, which is extremely important in this position. We know all the policies and procedures, we know how things work from all levels of management, and all the challenges members encounter in their position. It puts us in a unique situation where we’re able to optimally assist the members as a result.
We came here to help the people who are protecting us. We owe it to them to provide the service that they need, especially if they’re injured or become ill due to the job, or even outside of the job.
“The majority of members want to participate in frontline operational policing, so there’s satisfaction in getting members back to an operational type of a role.”
Eleanor and Alice
Disability Management Advisors
