EU funding for vocational and occupational rehabilitation in the process of returning to work

SLOVENIA, March 4 - As part of the EU co-funded project, the University Rehabilitation Institute of the Republic of Slovenia -URI Soča will set up a model of integrated early vocational and occupational rehabilitation for people with mental health problems. The model will enable a faster and more successful return to work, which will thus reduce the duration of sick leave and disability retirement. The project will improve access to the information needed for successful re-employment and employment retention and create and maintain a positive and accepting organisational climate and destigmatisation of mental health problems. The project will also help establish cooperation between various institutions that are key to the return-to-work process. Some aspects of the project will also be used more broadly, i.e. for the unemployed people with mental health problems and ultimately, with the necessary modifications, for other vulnerable groups who have difficulty entering or re-entering the labour market.   

The project Model of early vocational and occupational rehabilitation on the process of returning to work in terms of health is implemented under Slovenia’s EU Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027, priority Long-term care and health, and social inclusion, and pursues the specific objective Enhancing the equal and timely access to quality, sustainable and affordable services, including services that promote the access to housing and person-centred care including healthcare; modernising social protection systems, including promoting access to social protection, with a particular focus on children and disadvantaged groups; improving accessibility including for persons with disabilities, effectiveness and resilience of healthcare systems and long-term care services.

The European Social Fund Plus will contribute a good 1.1 million euros for the project worth 1.8 million euros, namely 1,114,627.20 euros.