Employees are the most important resource within an organisation. For a business to succeed it is crucial that you create and maintain a psychologically healthy working environment where employees feel supported and safe. To ensure this, it is important you conduct the right psychological assessments within your workplace.
Here are three essential psychological assessments your workplace should incorporate to foster a psychologically safe and healthy culture.
Psychological Pre-Employment Assessments Â
When the hiring manager is holding interviews for a certain position within their business, psychometric pre-employment assessments can be conducted to assess how a person will function within the role and in the organisation. By conducting these assessments, it allows both the candidate and the business to understand if they are the right fit for the advertised position. Psychometric pre-employment health checks are some of the most important but overlooked parts of the hiring process.
Benefits of a Pre-Employment AssessmentÂ
The benefits of a pre-employment assessment are:Â
- To identify if an applicant can meet with the inherent requirements of the job
- Reduction in psychosocial injuries
- Reduction in claims and insurance costs
- Match the capacity of the employee with the role
- Candidates may be made aware of previously unknown medical conditions
To identify conditions at risk of being aggravated by performing the job particularly if the role require exposure to vicarious trauma or occupational violence
Types of Psychometric Assessments
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Types of Psychometric assessments include:Â
- Coping Strategies (CSA)
- Multidimensional Emotional Intelligence (EI) Assessment (MEIA-R)
- Executive Functioning (BRIEF-A)
- Personality Profile (NEO FFI-3)
- Test of Abstract Reasoning (TAR)
- PTSD Trauma Screening (PCL-5)
Psychological Functional Capacity Evaluation
A psychological functional capacity assessment evaluates an individual’s capacity to perform various psychological or cognitive tasks and offers a baseline measurement of that person’s current symptoms and fitness for work. Â
Furthermore, psychological capacity assessments utilise evidence-based psychometric tests that have been determined to be highly valid and reliable, this allows for an objective and standardised understanding of an individual’s current function including:
- Symptom severity
- Ability to think clearly, concentrate and plan tasks
- Ability to interact with colleagues effectively
What is involved in a Psychological Functional Capacity Evaluation?Â
The assessment is performed by a qualified consultant and can be completed either via telehealth or in a controlled environment (i.e. Recovery Partners office location). This procedure involves:
- Referral actioned / appointment availability confirmed (typically within 24 hours)
- Assessment scheduled (typically within 2 weeks from date of referral)
- Psychometric testing (1.5 hours)
– Assessment of disorder and nature of psychological symptomsÂ
– Assessment of abstract reasoning ability
– Assessment of executive functioning - Clinical interview with a registered psychologist (1 hour)
– Semi-structured interviewÂ
– Mental status examination  - Report with capacity opinion provided (typically within 1-2 weeks post date of assessment) Â
Psychosocial Safety Assessment
Did you know that maintaining psychosocial safety in the workplace is the law? Psychosocial safety in the workplace means employers are required to proactively identify psychological hazards within their workplaces and implement practical changes to eliminate or minimise the risk of psychological harm to workers.
Specifically, psychosocial hazards in the workplace are factors that increase the risk of work-related stress. They relate to demands within the workplace that can be detrimental to an employee’s wellbeing if not appropriately addressed or if adequate resources are not available to support the worker.
Benefits of Psychosocial Safety ServicesÂ
The benefits of psychosocial safety are:
- Early intervention and control of Psychosocial Hazards
- Identification of gaps within systems and process to address and reduce risk of incidents.
- Reduce absenteeism and increase presenteeism statistics
- Aligning of WHS and Human Resources to address psychosocial gaps and implement controls.
Types of Psychosocial Safety ServicesÂ
- ISO 45003 Psychosocial system gap analysis/ audit
- Psychosocial/ culture surveys
- Psychosocial risk assessments and profiling
- Psychosocial training
- Policy and procedure development
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Disclaimer – these articles are provided to supply general safety information to people responsible for OHS in their organisation. They are general in nature and do not substitute for legal and/or professional advice. We always suggest that organisations obtain information specific to their needs. Additional information can be found at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/Â