Dean Forster

Having worked my entire career performing health, wellness, and disability management functions, I have provided a wide range of interventions and assessments across a wide variety of working environments and industries, offering extensive experience and leadership within the disability management realm. I have worked extensively with insurers, including WCB, LTD insurers, and Auto insurers and have collaborated with all key stakeholders in the process. Working in a variety of roles from a service provider and consultant to many years as a manager, I have gained a well-rounded perspective of the disability management process.

I have worked in various capacities with collective agreements and legislative guidelines. I possess a meticulous regard for detail and accuracy and can lead teams and make decisions in fast-paced, unpredictable and stressful environments.

Manager, Functional Specialties - Shared Health Manitoba - Winnipeg, MB

(2022-01)

Provincial HR Shared Services

• Manage teams of employees providing Benefits, HR Information Systems, and Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health to health care employees throughout Manitoba
• Implementation and Configuration of HR Systems as per Collective Agreements
• Provision of Injury Near Miss intake services and administration
• Lead transition of Benefits administration

Manager, Occupational Safety & Health - Southern Health-Sante Sud - La Broquerie, MB

(2018-09 - 2022-01)

• Oversight of all aspects of Occupational Safety & Health program including Disability Management, Injury Near Miss intake, WCB reporting and claims management, and Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention program
• Lead and manage ergonomic assessment program
• Liaise with Senior Leadership to develop Occupational Safety and Health programming and report on metrics
• Work within a multi-union environment to meet Collective Agreement provisions

Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention (MSIP) Education Facilitator - Southern Health-Sante Sud - St. Pierre Jolys, MB

(2014-06 - 2018-09)

• Develop injury prevention strategies and training materials
• Delivery of Training seminars and Educational sessions to employees
• Provision of Ergonomic Assessments
• Development of Safe Work Procedures for compliance with Health and Safety legislation
• Liaise with Disability Case Coordinators to ensure employee safety

Occupational Therapist/President - Resolve OT Consultants - Winnipeg, MB

(2002)

• Hired, trained and developed staff consultants
• Responsible for all operations including supervision of staff, marketing, program quality assurance, service delivery, and performance
• Assessment services including Job Hazard Analysis, Post-Offer, Pre-Placement Testing, Ergonomic / Work Site Assessments, and Functional Capacity Evaluation
• Delivery of Health, Wellness, and Injury Prevention Seminars
• Return to Work Assessment, Coordination, and Program Development
• Disability Case Coordination
• Catastrophic Injury Case Management

Regional Manager, British Columbia - Northern Rehabilitation & Consulting Services Inc. - British Columbia

(1999 - 2002-06)

• Assessment services including Functional Capacity Evaluation, Job Demands Analysis, Post-Offer, Pre-Placement Testing, Ergonomic and Work Site Assessments Disability Case Coordination
• Return to Work Assessment, Coordination, and Program Development
• Occupational Therapy Assessments
• Cost of Future Care Assessments
• Developed and established market share for the company in British Columbia
• Hired, trained and developed staff consultants
• Responsible for all regional operations including supervision of staff, marketing, program quality assurance, service delivery, performance

Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation - Occupational Therapy - School of Medical Rehabilitation, University of Manitoba

Certification - Certified Functional Assessment Specialist - Virginia Commonwealth University

Certification - Post-Offer, Pre-Placement Testing - Matheson & Associates

Certificate, With Honours - Health Services Leadership and Management - Red River Polytechnic