Work is good for you – there is strong evidence linking work to positive mental health.

Salus has launched a new integrated service for staff which aims to support a return to work for colleagues who are off with a mental health related absence.

Staff will still receive a call from the EASY service on day one of absence but will also be asked if they would like to be referred for case management assessment and tailored support. This additional service builds on existing absence management support such as occupational health, human resources, line managers and staff side representatives. Staff will still have the opportunity to engage in all of these services at any time.

Case management assesses all of your current circumstances, your health and well-being and your mental and emotional state, to determine what approaches will work best for you and to ensure you get the support you need.

You will get an individual progress plan that will detail the actions you agree with your case manager to address the non-medical difficulties identified and you will be provided with techniques, resources and interventions to support you in reaching your goals.

On-going support is available with up to four review calls from your case manager to encourage progress and manage changing needs.

The current challenging financial environment places additional stressors across all wards and departments within NHS Lanarkshire and together with HR and organisational polices, this case management service will ensure our staff have access to all the services they need in order to support a return to work if they are off sick with a mental health related absence.

There is more information on case management on FirstPort.