Finding alternative employment after an injury

How we can support you

This starts with getting an understanding of the right employment options for you, and the kind of support you might need. We refer to this support as vocational rehabilitation. 

To help us understand your individual needs, we will arrange two assessments for you. You’re welcome to bring your family/whānau or other support people to the assessments. 

If there is a possibility that you may not be able to return to the job you had before your injury, we will discuss how we can support you. This will include taking you through what to expect from start to finish and what assessments we will arrange. 
 
Following this conversation, we will work with you to update your recovery plan to reflect the next steps we have agreed on. 

The occupational and medical assessments

We will arrange for you to meet with an occupational assessor and a doctor who understands the impact of an injury on the ability to work, who will help identify your rehabilitation needs.

First, the occupational assessor will talk with you about suitable work options for you, taking into account your earnings before the injury, education, experience and skills that you can use in different workplaces. 

They will identify different work types that suit your skills and set out any needs or support that we should arrange. They will then provide a report about this assessment to us which we will share with you.

After you have completed the occupational assessment we will arrange for you to meet with a doctor to discuss the work options that suit your abilities, and that you could work 30 hours or more per week in.

They will also discuss your relevant medical history and depending on your ACC covered injury, may complete a physical assessment. They will then provide this in a report to us which we will share with you. This report may also provide advice on treatment options that can help with your recovery.

Your recovery plan

After we’ve received the reports from these assessments, we will go through them with you, and put together an updated recovery plan.

This plan sets out the work options that will be suitable for you, the services that we will help with or arrange for you, and the overall goal that we will be working towards together. You may have a support person involved in the preparation of plan if you want it.

We will then ask you to consider the updated plan and agree to it. After you agree, we will send you a copy of the updated plan for your records.

When you’re recommended vocational rehabilitation and it has been included in your plan, we will arrange for you to meet with a rehabilitation provider with expertise in helping people prepare for new employment. They will help prepare you for the suitable work options outlined in your recovery plan by providing services that are tailored to you.

It’s really important that you talk to your recovery team member about these services and know what’s expected of you.

If you’re unable to take part in your agreed rehabilitation programme without a good reason it may affect the support we can provide.

When your rehabilitation is complete

If you’re still receiving weekly compensation when your rehabilitation is complete, you may need an assessment by an occupational assessor and occupational physician to confirm if you’re able to return to work.

If these assessments recommend that you’re ready to return to work, for 30 hours a week or more, and we agree, it’ll be time to stop your weekly compensation. We’ll talk to you about this and send you a letter letting you know that your weekly compensation will stop in three months' time. This means you will continue to receive weekly compensation while you look for work.

It is important to let us know if you start any paid work during this time as we may be able to top up your earnings until your weekly compensation ends, for example if the job pays less than your weekly compensation amount.

We can arrange a job search programme for you to help you find work, if you would like to use this service.

We can also help you find:

• budgeting and counselling assistance
• ongoing case management support
• help with enrolling with Work and Income, if needed. 

If you’re worried that you may not be able to find work after the three months, talk to your recovery team member about what support might be available.

If you’re still unable to work because of your injury

If the assessments show that you’re unable to work for 30 hours or more a week, you’ll continue to receive weekly compensation. We’ll use the reports to help us determine what further rehabilitation or treatment you need and work with you on a new rehabilitation plan and outcomes.

If you have returned to work but feel your injury-related condition has changed and you are unable to work, speak with your doctor who may advise us that you need another vocational independence assessment.

We’re here to help

If you’re unhappy with a decision, you have the right to apply for a review within three months of the decision being made.

If you want to know more about how we can help, talk to your recovery team.

Phone 0800 101 996 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm)