Occupational Skills & Support Services

When people have a work-related injury or illness, we help them access the health care and rehabilitation services they need. This may include Occupational Skills and Support Services to build coping skills and support a safe return to work.

Overview of services
Becoming a provider
Getting started

Submitting reports and invoices
Need more information?
Resources

Overview of services

Occupational Skills and Support Services (OSS) are structured, evidence-based interventions focused on supporting injured workers to develop psychological resilience, functional capacity, and readiness to remain at or return to work.

OSS is a time-limited, skills-based program that emphasizes:

Developing active coping and self-management strategies
Re-engaging in meaningful daily and work-related activities
Improving functional abilities related to work participation
Support for a safe, durable, and timely return to work

Services are focused on psychoeducation, skill development, and functional application rather than individualized psychotherapy.

Services are provided by our network of contracted professionals and programs across B.C., which includes registered clinical counsellors, registered clinical social workers, and occupational therapists.

Becoming a provider

Experience in occupational rehabilitation and an understanding of return-to-work principles are important for providers delivering OSS.

Providers must meet performance standards and service delivery requirements to participate in OSS. Contracts are typically established through a competitive bidding process and are awarded to qualified providers across B.C. Ongoing applications may be considered for underserved areas of B.C.

Our OSS contracts come up for bidding every few years. To become a provider, you need to apply when the bidding process begins.

You can sign up to be notified by email when we post new bid opportunities by registering with BC Bid. All the information you need, including how to submit your bid, will be available in the posted documents.

More information about how to use BC Bid can be found on Doing business with WorkSafeBC.

Getting started

Once you have a contract, Procurement Services will assign you a unique payee number. You must include this number in all communications and invoicing.

OSS are only payable when authorized under a claim. Authorization is provided through a referral, which you will receive in the Provider Portal.

The referral outlines the services approved for the injured worker.

Submitting reports and invoices

All the information you need to complete our required paperwork is available in the contract documents you sign with us.

OSS providers can access our Provider Portal, where you can efficiently submit reports and invoices, check the payment status of your invoice, and receive referrals.

Need more information?

We want to make sure you have all the information you need to work with us as a health care provider. If you have questions, please contact us for help. You can also download a copy of our contact information.

Question about:	Please contact:
Your existing contract and payee information	Procurement Services
Invoicing or billing	Payment Services
Information about a claim	Claims Call Centre
Understanding the terms of your contract and contracted clinical services	Health Care Programs

Resources