Early Intervention FAQs

What does the HCB Group model of Early Intervention look like?

Early Intervention is at the heart of what HCB Group does. This is HCB’s core proposition and where we challenge the traditional Occupational Health approach by proactively engaging with the employee pre absence.  The traditional Occupational Health approach to Early Intervention is reactive and post “injury” (physical and psychological).  Where an absence has occurred, HCB Group will look to engage within four weeks of the initial absence.  The industry norm for Insurer’s is around 12 weeks and this invariably proves to be too late because the issue has already been medicalised; the implications for which can include longer term absence, a Work Cover, and Income Protection claim.  An HCB Group Clinical Case Manager will only deploy the medical model when it is necessary to do so.

HCB Group’s aggregated data shows that where an employee is engaged with an HCB Clinical Case Manager within 4 weeks of the initial absence, there is a favourable outcome in more than 90% of cases.

HCB Group fulfils this function for Employers, and for Insurance carriers.  The process is nuanced to suit the arrangement, but the aim, remains the same – understanding the “real reason” for a potential unplanned absence and facilitating a Stay At Work plan or in the case of an absence,  enabling sustainable return to work in optimum time.

What are our aims, and how well do we do?

Our fundamental objective is to restore functionality and work capacity.  Statistically, aggregated across the HCB Group portfolio, we achieve positive outcomes (return to work or other relevant outcome) in more than 90% of cases, where a referral is received within 4 weeks of date first absent.

How is HCB Group’s model different to, for example, traditional Occupational Health?

HCB Group have spent 25 years honing component parts of our service, blending compassion and common sense and adding scientific research, which is continually being refined. HCB Group chooses to draw absence management, case management and rehabilitation together into a single service. The golden key is the absentee – our clinical care coordinators engage positively with them and successfully work with them to agree a Return to Work plan.

How does it Work?

HCB Group can help clients identify a rationale for referral. Cases are referred according to relationship, and either by encrypted email or for larger clients, a bespoke portal within an HCB Case Management Database. A Clinical Case Manager is appointed, who works with all stakeholders, focussing on achieving a sustainable outcome.

[Positive Outcomes are defined as:- (1) Return to Work Full Time; (2) Return to Work Part Time; (3) Fit to return to work, but other outcome achieved, eg; exit from business negotiated etc].

How does HCB Group Support employee health for a small business?

Unplanned workplace absence happens and is a confronting and costly problem for all businesses, exacerbated for a small business, because of resource and scale limitations.

The small business is vulnerable and acting earlier to understand the “real” reason for absence, measurably improves the associated costs and outcomes.

Some small businesses partner with an EAP, however, the challenge is offering employees of a small business, holistic Occupational Health, which collaborates with services like EAP and Rehabilitation and offers total peace of mind for both employers and employees.

An umbrella structure allows multiple unrelated small business employers to leverage of the benefits of a holistic and proactive Occupational Health service to support employee wellness and keep people at work, often averting absence altogether. At the same time, demonstrating compliance with legislative requirements.

The umbrella solution is generally hosted by larger business, such as a large Life and Income Protection Insurer, Wellness service provider, Franchisor or HR Consultancy business.

Talk to HCB Australia about the opportunity to host an Umbrella solution for the small businesses you currently support.