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Supported Employment

Supported employment, and its more recent refinement, individual placement and support (IPS), have been proven effective, in a large number of studies conducted in North America and several other countries, in placing and maintaining people with mental illness in competitive work (see the table below). The core principles of the model include a focus on competitive, rather than sheltered, employment; rapid job search, instead of extended pre-employment assessment and training; integration of the vocational and treatment services; paying attention to clients’ job preferences; and providing time-unlimited, individual job support. Inherent in this approach are some important principles of social intervention – involving the community (in this case, employers) in assisting the social integration of people with mental illness; using a non-institutional approach (no sheltered workshops); and showing respect for the person’s preferences and strengths.

Table: Randomized Controlled Trials of Individual Placement and Support

(Bond et al, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 31: 280-90, 2008)

Competitive employment (%)