[Job retention and health issues: an example of personalized assistance in northern France]

"Santé Emploi Info Service" (Health and Employment Information Service) is a regional information service aimed at providing support and assistance to people who are struggling to perform their job effectively or to return to work as a result of a health problem. Through personalized assistance and follow-up, the service aims to help individuals to avoid professional exclusion, to provide accessible information, and to encourage networking between healthcare professionals and services specializing in job retention and vocational rehabilitation. In total, 1,392 calls have been received since the service opened in 2006, with most calls dealing with employment, income and legal matters and a range of psychological counseling issues. More than half of the proposed solutions have proved successful. The regional service (a unique initiative in France) is supported by Lille Regional Hospital and helps individuals suffering from health problems to overcome obstacles to job retention and vocational rehabilitation. The service also provides specifically-tailored information about legal procedures relating to professional integration and vocational rehabilitation.