Individual Placement and Support service
Work can be beneficial to your health and recovery
Pentreath in conjunction with Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust offers an Individual Placement and Support service. The service supports individuals who are unemployed; on the caseload of the community mental health teams and who want to find and maintain employment of their choosing.
Being in employment can greatly improve peoples wellbeing by:
- offering structure, a sense of purpose and meaning to life
- building up confidence and skills
- increasing social contacts
- improving financial situations
What is the Individual Placement and Support service?
The service provides rapid, intensive and personalised support to individuals who would like to find paid employment.
It is based on 8 key principles:
- Competitive employment is the main goal.
- Job searches are based around client preferences.
- Anybody with a mental illness is eligible for the Individual Placement and Support service, regardless of diagnosis.
- Individual Placement and Support service specialists work collaboratively with community mental health services.
- There is a rapid job search, starting within 4 weeks.
- Individual Placement and Support service specialists engage with potential employers based upon client preferences.
- Benefits support is provided.
- Support is continuous (support continues once in employment).
Who can use the Individual Placement and Support service?
The Individual Placement and Support service believes that with the right support, everyone has the potential to gain paid employment. Mental health diagnosis does not predict capacity to work, the most important factor is willingness to work. Pentreath have employment specialists embedded within our mental health teams. Anyone who is a service user of these, who is unemployed and keen to work can access this support.
How is support provided?
Employment specialists have regular meetings with individuals on their caseload to identify and remove barriers to work and support individuals through all stages of their employment journey.
This includes:
- identifying employment preferences
- looking for job opportunities that align with job preferences
- engaging with potential employers
- confidence building
- help with CV writing, job applications and interview preparation
- seeking advice on welfare benefits
- in-work support, including working with the employer to create a supportive environment
Employment specialists work in partnership with clinicians within the mental health teams to ensure that individuals can be supported in all areas of life. Collaborative working helps to reduce barriers whilst encouraging independence and positive wellbeing.
Success of the Individual Placement and Support service
The service is an evidence based approach and has consistently shown to be the most effective method of supporting individuals with mental health difficulties find employment.
Studies comparing the service with more traditional models of employment have found that clients were twice as likely to gain paid work and sustain employment. Clients also showed significant improvements in overall wellbeing, with improved confidence and reduced rates of relapse.
This is what some of our clients have said about their experience:
“Since finding secure employment, I feel like a new person.”
“It’s great to earn my own money and I am now pursuing a career.”
“I feel that I am on the road back to life again.”
“Giving me more confidence and self-belief to help me keep my job.”
If you would like support from the service, ask your mental health worker to refer you to the Individual Placement and Support service employment specialist in the team.