If you are unable to offer suitable duties as part of a return to work program for an injured employee, a KINNECT host employment program places them with a pre-qualified host so they can keep working safely while they recover.
Host employment is a short-term, graduated return-to-work program where an injured worker performs suitable duties at an alternate place of employment when their own workplace can’t accommodate them. KINNECT’s Workplace Rehabilitation Consultants match the worker to a pre-qualified host employer, complete a worksite assessment, and monitor a suitable-duties plan agreed by the worker, the host and the treating doctor. Programs typically run for 4–6 weeks and are funded by the insurer.
When returning an injured worker to their pre-injury role isn’t possible, sometimes the employer simply doesn’t have enough suitable or lighter duties available while the worker recovers. Host employment fills that gap.
The worker attends and performs meaningful duties at a host workplace so they can safely improve their functional capacity, keep the routine of work, and expedite their return to sustainable employment.
Host employment is most useful when there’s a clear need for productive duties but the pre-injury workplace can’t provide them.
Your workplace has limited alternative or lighter duties, or the role simply can’t be adjusted to match the worker’s current restrictions.
The worker is medically cleared for some activity but is at risk of deconditioning, social isolation, or losing the routine and structure of work.
Ideal for workers unable to return to their previous place of employment due to a physical and/or psychological injury, where a change of environment supports recovery.
Host placements can also surface transferable skills and lead to vocational pathways when a return to the pre-injury role isn’t viable.
Every host placement follows the same five-step process so the worker, host and treating team always know what’s happening next.
Your KINNECT workplace rehabilitation consultant meets the worker to understand the injury, current restrictions, treatment goals, interests, skill sets and qualifications.
We search our register of pre-qualified host employers to find one who can offer suitable duties and/or hours that fit the worker’s physical restrictions and rehabilitative requirements.
A KINNECT allied health professional visits the proposed host workplace, assesses the environment and identifies the specific duties and hours to be included.
The clinician drafts a suitable duties plan and shares it with the worker, the host employer and the treating doctor for review and approval.
We stay in regular contact with the worker and host, modifying the plan as needed so safety and appropriate functional progression are maintained throughout the program.
Host employment is designed so the injured worker and the host employer both come out ahead.
Host employment programs are funded by the relevant insurer. This includes the injured worker’s wages, travel and the relevant insurances while they’re on placement.
Most programs run for 4 to 6 weeks and involve a gradual increase in the hours and duties the worker performs. Each placement is reviewed and adjusted with the worker, the host employer and the treating doctor as functional capacity improves.
A KINNECT Workplace Rehabilitation Consultant stays in regular contact with both the worker and the host employer throughout the program, monitoring progress, adjusting the suitable duties plan when needed and coordinating with the treating doctor.
It can. While host employment is a rehabilitation program first, hosts often use it as an obligation-free way to trial a potential new team member, and workers regularly identify new vocational pathways through the placement.
Host employment is one piece of our Workplace Rehabilitation suite. Here are the services injured-worker programs most often pair with.
Graduated, evidence-based return-to-work plans agreed between worker, employer and treating team.
Learn moreStandardised FCEs to determine an injured worker’s safe, sustainable work capacity.
Learn moreIdentify suitable, realistic vocational options when a return to the pre-injury role isn’t viable.
Learn moreOnsite assessment of the role, environment and modifications needed for a safe return to work.
Learn moreThe first-step assessment that scopes the rehabilitation plan and barriers to return to work.
Learn moreTell us about the worker and their restrictions and we’ll match them with a pre-qualified host employer, complete the worksite assessment and manage the placement end to end.
Workplace Rehabilitation