NSW state-owned insurer icare is completing consultations over a reduction in headcount and is refining workplace roles as it seeks to streamline the organisation and improve efficiency and performance.

The insurer says 98 employees will be impacted by a potential role redundancy, with 61 of those currently in a management position. A further 438 people are being “repointed or experiencing a minor role change” as employee positions are better aligned across the organisation.

Consultations will continue until June 16, but after people apply to new positions, it’s expected that 53 roles will be potentially removed.

icare, which currently has about 1250 full-time equivalent employees, expects annual savings from the changes of about $6-7 million.

CEO Richard Harding, who has already shaken up the group executive since taking over the top role in January, says the latest action represents the next step.

“No customer facing roles will be made redundant. The front line at icare is a fantastic NSW public asset that I will continue to leverage and build upon, ensuring the organisation is focused on what it was set up to do,” he said.

“These changes mean icare will be structured with clear accountability and with reduced layers of management, bringing the leadership closer to the front line.”

icare also said recently that it was working to identify and address issues that may have led to underpayments and overpayments for some participants in the dust diseases program.

The issues pre-date icare and reflect decades-old legal interpretations of the 1942 and 1987 NSW Workers Compensation Acts, it says.

PwC was engaged in January to provide advice on any potential remediation options and further review work is being undertaken by experts.

“As soon as that advice is finalised remediation will immediately commence,” icare says.

The insurer notes that a new chairman and CEO are undertaking reform required to support better outcomes for injured workers and employers in the state.

“As this work continues across icare, it is likely other matters will be identified which require remediation, and they too, will be expeditiously actioned,” it says.