Monitoring injured workers in host employment

Best practice

Actively check-in and monitor the progress of injured workers who are in host employment at another workplace.

Why this is important

The best outcome after a work-related injury is when the worker can return to the same role with the same employer.

Host employment can assist a worker to regain capacity after an injury, but it’s a temporary solution. The long-term goal is to return the worker to the same role with the same employer when and if they are physically and psychologically able.

It's important for workers in host employment to feel supported and have an ongoing connection with their usual workplace.

Your toolkit

The following tips and resources may help you achieve best practice: Find out more about host employment and other recovery options offered by WorkCover Queensland’s Recover at Work program.  

• Explain the purpose of host employment to your injured worker and that the aim is to return them to their usual workplace and job as soon as it’s practical and safe to.
• Check your worker’s communication preferences. They may prefer to be only contacted by email or only when they return to their workplace.

Remember to keep case notes. Rehabilitation and return to work coordinators must maintain up-to-date and accurate case notes of all interactions with an injured worker.