19 APRIL
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
893

meet being expressly set out in this Framework and the Accreditation Agreement) (see paragraph 13). In return the Accredited Employer will be entitled to reduced premiums (see paragraphs 6 and 9). The underlying philosophy is that this will provide incentives to Accredited Employers to provide injury prevention and rehabilitation thereby reducing work-related injury costs and premiums. It should also encourage Accredited Employers to assist employees to return to work so reducing their dependence on accident compensation. This provides benefits for both employer and employee.

(c) There will be two categories of plans under the Accredited Employers Programme:

• The Partnership Discount Plan under which the Accredited Employer assumes responsibility for managing and meeting work-related personal injury claims for a period of up to 2 years after each Cover Period but with no liability at the end of the Claim Management Period (other than for accrued obligations) (see Part 1);
• The Full Self Cover Plan under which the Accredited Employer assumes responsibility for managing and meeting work-related personal injury claims for a period of up to 4 years after each Cover Period and is required to pay to the Manager an amount equivalent to the assessed ongoing liability in respect of claims handed back to the Manager at the end of the Claim Management Period. In return the Accredited Employer receives a significantly higher discount on the premium otherwise payable (see Part 2).

(d) The Accredited Employers Programme is not to be an opportunity for Accredited Employers to withdraw from their responsibilities and obligations to employees. On the contrary it is intended to highlight those responsibilities and obligations. Accordingly:

• The offsetting of the risk to the Accredited Employer by way of anything in the nature of an insurance contract with a private insurer is incompatible with the requirement that the Accredited Employer should have a commitment to playing an active role in injury prevention and in management of its injured employees. Such insurance is, therefore, prohibited (see paragraph 17);
• Although Accredited Employers may, with the consent of the Manager, retain third party providers to assist in the management of workplace injuries this is subject to them maintaining direct personal involvement with the claimant (see paragraph 18).

(e) After the signing of the Accreditation Agreement the Accredited Employer will be subject to various reporting obligations and to ongoing monitoring and audit by the Manager, with relevant input from employees and their representatives, to ensure continuing compliance with the criteria and commitment to the objectives of the Accredited Employers Programme (see paragraphs 19 and 20). The Accredited Employer will also have some opportunity for input into the premium setting (see paragraph 21).

(f) The Accredited Employer under the Full Self Cover Plan must, and an Accredited Employer under the Partnership Discount Plan may, have a cap on employer liability (see paragraph 16).

3. Definitions
   3.1 In this Framework, unless the context otherwise requires:
   “Accreditation Agreement” means a contract between the Manager and an Accredited Employer under the Accredited Employers Programme (being either a Contract for Partnership Discount or a Contract for Full Self Cover);
   “Accredited Employer” means an employer as defined by the Act who has signed a contract with the Manager under either the Partnership Discount Plan or Full Self Cover Plan;
   “Accredited Employers Programme” means the programme consisting of the Partnership Discount Plan and the Full Self Cover Plan;
   “Act” means the Accident Insurance Act 1998;
   “Claim Management Period”, in respect of each work-related personal injury, commences on the date of such injury and expires, in the case of the Partnership Discount Plan, on the date specified under paragraph 4.2 and, in the case of the Full Self Cover Plan, on the date specified under paragraph 7.2;
   “Cover Period” means each period of one year (or, where appropriate, part of a year) during which, if an employee of an Accredited Employer suffers a work-related personal injury, the Accredited Employer has the responsibility for meeting that employee’s statutory entitlements to the extent contained in the Accreditation Agreement with the Accredited Employer;
   “Framework” means this document;
   “Full Self Cover Plan” means the plan described in Part 2 and “Contract for Full Self Cover” means the Accreditation Agreement between the Manager and an Accredited Employer under that plan;
   “Limit” has the meaning given to it in paragraph 16.1;
   “Manager” means the Accident Compensation Corporation established under the Act;
   “Partnership Discount Plan” means the plan described in Part 1 and “Contract for Partnership Discount” means the Accreditation Agreement between the Manager and an Accredited Employer under that plan;
   “Risk” has the meaning given to it in paragraph 16.4;
   “Year” means, in relation to Cover Periods, a year ending 31 March and (where appropriate) includes part of that year and in relation to the Manager, a year ending 30 June.