Centre for Mental Health

‘Regional trainer’ for IPS services more than doubles rates of employment for people with mental illness, Sussex pilot study finds

02 February 2012

Mental health services can offer more people the best quality help to find paid work more quickly if they have the support of a ‘trainer’ to boost the skills and confidence of both clinical and employment staff, according to a report published today by Centre for Mental Health.

Implementing what works: The impact of the Individual Placement and Support regional trainer found that following the appointment for one year of  a ‘regional trainer’  to ensure fidelity to the IPS model in mental health and employment services in Sussex, the number of people with a mental illness who obtained paid work more than doubled.  

Instead of offering lengthy training or sheltered work, IPS services help people to find employment based on their interests and skills, offering ongoing, and unlimited support when they find a job. The IPS approach can achieve 50 - 60 per cent employment rates for people with serious mental health problems.

Centre for Mental Health worked alongside Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Southdown Supported Employment, a not-for-profit sector provider of employment services that works in partnership with the mental health trust, to find out if a 'regional trainer' could speed up the development and efficacy of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) within their services. Over the 12 months of the pilot the number of people using the trust's mental health services who obtained paid work through the IPS service more than doubled the target of 125. Overall 286 people found paid employment using the IPS service.

Centre for Mental Health chief executive Sean Duggan said: “Quite simply, what this pilot project has shown is that if similar schemes were developed across the UK, mental health employment services would be able to help more people into paid work, more quickly. The results of this study confirm that having an external person ‘on hand’ to stress the importance of fidelity to the IPS model will bring about greatly improved employment outcomes for people who are suffering from mental illness.  

“Individual Placement and Support offers people with mental health problems the very best chance of making a recovery and building the lives they want to lead. Too many people in Britain are still denied the chance to get an IPS service despite the clear evidence of its benefits. By helping frontline professionals align their own practice to international evidence standards for IPS we can make a real impact on the number of people with mental illness we support into employment.”   

Lisa Rodrigues, chief executive of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Having a meaningful job is vital. This applies to everyone, including those who have experienced major mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or serious depression. Over 75% of our patients of working age who are on benefits tell us that getting a job is their single greatest ambition.  

"I want employers to know that people who have experience of dealing with mental illness make great employees. This is because, in tackling the greatest challenge anyone can face, they develop resilience, learn how to manage negative thoughts, and make excellent members of any team.  

"In less than a year, and despite the downturn, we and our partners at Southdowns Housing Association have helped over 300 people back into work. That is 300 fewer people on benefits, and 300 more people paying taxes and making a real contribution to the economy.  

"The findings from our pilot will help employers to improve the success of their businesses by employing great people."