Return-to-work programmes
and vocational rehabilitation

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Return to work after injury, discomfort or illness with expert vocational rehabilitation services and programmes

Return to work after injury, discomfort or illness with expert vocational rehabilitation services and programmes 

Our expert health professional team provides a comprehensive range of vocational rehabilitation services (VRS), designed to prevent workplace injuries or help individuals recover from injury, illness or discomfort and return to work safely and successfully. We also help individuals to remain at work following injury (Stay at Work), find suitable alternative work (Back to Work) and assess your training and experience to become work-ready (initial occupational assessments).

Our onsite physiotherapy team can provide an early intervention programme, based either at your worksite or nearby clinics. The aim of this service is to act quickly with the onset of discomfort in your team, to prevent the team member needing time off work, and to support the individual and your organisation to limit the impact of injuries, including reducing ACC levies. This includes return-to-work programmes, back-to-work training support, and expert RTW guidance tailored to your industry and team.

Geneva Wellbeing’s range of services can be tailored toward all types of workplaces (e.g. industrial, office, agricultural) throughout NZ. We offer a prompt, mobile consultancy service at your workplace or home. More information follows on our extensive range of return-to-work and vocational rehabilitation services.

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Testimonials

“I think my therapist was amazing and the support she gave me was fabulous. I really looked forward to seeing her each time.” 

“My OT was amazing and was able to advocate for me with my employer who were being quite difficult. I truly appreciate her role and how she aided my rehabilitation.”

Work Well assessments 

A good workstation set-up will result in improved comfort and productivity at work.

We can help prevent discomfort by providing Work Well assessments, depending on the needs of your organisation and individuals. These assessments play a key role in early intervention and support a smoother return to work after discomfort or repetitive strain. 

Standard Work Well assessments

These are general assessments of the work area with ergonomics specific to the staff member and their unique needs.

The staff member is provided with education about the recommended ergonomic adjustments they need, to ensure they can maintain the right set-up independently.

These take about 1 hour per staff member. This includes the individual assessment and a report, with recommendations, for each person.

Comprehensive Work Well assessments

For staff who are experiencing pain or discomfort, or who have had an injury or medical condition affecting their work ability, this in-depth assessment includes gaining medical and pertinent background information together with information about their physical presentation. We analyse the person’s work methods and ergonomic needs, specifically in relation to their functional presentation. We make recommendations on how to optimise their ability to manage their presentation and engage in work. These take about 1.5-2 hours per staff member.

Group Work Well assessments

For group assessments (10 or more staff), we cover basic ergonomic assessments of a workstation set-up.  We allow approximately 30 min per staff member (20 min assessment plus reporting). A summary report is provided covering all staff members assessed, including any recommendations.

Please call us to discuss, or to arrange a quote.

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Workplace assessment and graduated return-to-work programme (Stay at Work) 

With the person and their employer, we provide a workplace assessment of the relevant job tasks and functional demands.

We work closely with each person, employer, health professionals and other stakeholders to make a plan for a safe and successful return to work, following injury or illness. We provide self-management principles to ensure that the individual can aim to return to their pre-injury job demands, as well as linking them with the support that they need.

For those team members who are currently on ACC, with an active medical certificate, this can be a fully-funded service, at no cost to the person or their employer.

Please click here to refer.

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Onsite physiotherapy services

Early intervention, pain and discomfort programmes

Onsite physiotherapists can assess and manage an individual’s injury or discomfort, promptly and effectively. This service has been associated with an 86% reduction in the need to progress to ACC claims, having a significant impact on levies. Early assessment and engaging required health supports are prioritised.

Functional capacity evaluations and musculoskeletal pre-employment checks

Comprehensive assessments are designed to check an individual’s strength, function, aerobic and lifting capacity, and other relevant domains. This helps both the employer and the candidate to understand if they are physically suitable for a specific role, and significantly reduces the risk of injury.

Warm-up and train the trainer programmes

Individualised stretching or warm-up programmes are designed to prepare team members for required work tasks. They can be presented to the team in person or in a poster, and/or to supervisors to teach the team.

This service is particularly helpful where you have noticed a trend of similar injuries or reports of discomfort across team members.

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Functional job descriptions

A functional job description provides a detailed breakdown of the physical, cognitive and environmental demands of a specific role.

Our team conducts a comprehensive task analysis to identify and document the specific movements, postures, mental focus and environmental conditions involved in each task. This includes factors such as lifting requirements, repetitive movements, prolonged sitting or standing, decision-making, attention to detail and stress tolerance.

These descriptions serve as a foundation for creating safe and supportive return-to-work pathways while reducing the risk of re-injury or workplace harm.

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Activity restoration programmes

This is a clinically led rehabilitation programme, tailored to an individual’s unique needs.

We assess the current levels of activity engagement versus inactivity, within daily and weekly routines, and provide weekly supervision to set goals and increase activity levels, in preparation for a return to work. This programme can also involve our wider rehabilitation team, which includes occupational therapists, physiotherapists, clinical psychologists, clinical exercise physiologists and speech language therapists. This back to work training programme helps build daily structure and functional capacity, preparing individuals for a confident and sustainable return to work. 

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Gradual process injury assessments

We provide an assessment of the tasks that an individual is required to complete at work. This can include a detailed assessment of load, repetitiveness, postural demands, sequencing of sub-tasks and more.

Recommendations are given on how to minimise potential risks and manage discomfort, and can help determine injury causes.

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Work Wellness training 

We provide staff with training and proactive self-management tools to prevent and/or manage pain and discomfort in the workplace.

Our manual handling workshops provide specific workplace rehabilitation training, including manual handling techniques, focusing on preventing back and upper limb injuries.

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Vehicle seating assessments

We provide an analysis of an individual’s seated posture in a vehicle and recommend how to maximise driver comfort.

This assessment is focused on improving position and ergonomics while driving, which is especially helpful for team members who drive a lot. Please note, this is not a driving competency test but focuses on the individual’s positioning in their vehicle.

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Vocational consultants and career support

We provide an assessment of transferable knowledge and skills to identify alternative work type options that may be suitable for an individual after illness, injury or a change of circumstances. As part of our RTW programme, we offer tailored career guidance and job-seeking strategies to help people re-enter meaningful employment. A plan can be developed including features like interview skills, CV writing skills or supports to help you find meaningful work.  

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Vocational rehabilitation FAQ 

Vocational rehabilitation services help eligible individuals to facilitate recovery and return to work following an injury or illness. Services also extend to helping eligible individuals to remain at work, prevent the development of discomfort, find new work or become work-ready.

A vocational rehabilitation assessment looks at what happens when employment is compromised due to discomfort, illness or injury.  Assessments can range from finding ways to improve comfort and productivity within the workplace, identifying alternative work type options, activity restoration programmes, injury prevention services and more.

Get a referral to vocational rehabilitation services through the business or organisation that employs you, or through a case manager (ACC, private insurance, or third party administrators). Some services are partially or fully funded. Please get in touch to discuss further.

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