Individual Placement & Support (IPS) within Primary Care

IPS is an evidence-based model of supported employment which helps people with mental health conditions into work and provides continued in-work support. It has been found to be more successful than other forms of support for people with severe and enduring mental health conditions. The IPS Employment Specialist will work with people on an individual basis following the 8 principles of the IPS model, to help them gain and sustain competitive, paid employment.

To be referred to the IPS service, patients must:

o   Have severe, complex or enduring mental health conditions. This may include psychosis, bipolar disorder, personality disorder diagnosis, eating disorders, severe depression and severe anxiety.

o   Want to gain, re-enter or retain paid employment

The IPS service cannot work with patients who:

o   Have mild to moderate mental health conditions

o   Only have physical health conditions

o   Only want to look at voluntary work or education

The Employment Specialist:

o   Will focus on the patient’s preferences and strengths, to identify a preferred role

o   Will focus on competitive job search

o   Can offer personalised benefits advice to help consider the impact of earnings on a patient’s financial situation

o   Engage with employers, with the patient’s agreement, to facilitate opportunities and/ or suggest reasonable adjustments

o   Will support the patient to maintain their job and manage their mental health whilst in work and continue to do so for as long as it is agreed to be necessary