Some learning from the Mental Health Sector Marcus Roberts Director of Policy and Membership, DrugScope

A bit of background 22% of people using specialist mental health services in paid work or full-time education (2008 Health Care Commission) 70% to 90% say they want to work Employment key to ‘recovery vision’ in mental health (from April 2010 PCT guidance on mental health contracts encourages ‘employment’ as an indicator to be routinely supplied by providers of MH services)

A bit more background ESA reform – plus IAPT etc Healthy Workplace (DWP £4 million Challenge Fund, Mind campaign) Disability Discrimination Act/EHRC Access to work – ‘reasonable adjustment’ Stigma and discrimination – ‘Time to Change’ Specialist employment services – Remploy and Radar (mainstream employment)

Kensington and Chelsea Mind Horticultural and Wildlife Gardening Vocational Accreditation (NVQ) Therapy and breaking down barriers Meanwhile wildlife garden Many Hands Garden and Landscape Service Meanwhile Garden Plants Stall WEBSITE:

Individual placement and support (IPS) Place and train, not train and place (getting a job is start of the process) No ‘eligibility criteria’ – wanting a job is the critical factor ‘If they are subject to lengthy assessments to determine their “job readiness” and endless preparations of CVs and interview practice, then they will soon lose heart. People are “job ready” when they say they are and that is the time to start” SCMH ‘Doing what works nt/ips.aspx nt/ips.aspx

IPS - Principles It aims to get people into competitive employment Open to all those who want a job Tries to find jobs consistent with people’s preferences Job search is rapid Employment specialists in clinical teams Time-unlimited individualised support for both employer and employee Welfare benefits counselling is included

IPS – Centres of Excellence SCMH Local employment partnerships – specialist clinical and employment service providers, service users and carers, service commissioners SCMH individually tailored ‘technical assistance’ Modelled on work of South West London and St George’s MH Trust in past 10 years C of E sites are also in Central and North West London

IPS – Evidence (EQUOLISE) IPS participants twice as likely to gain employment (55% to 28%) compared with traditional vocational rehabilitation alternatives IPS participants sustained jobs longer and earned more than those who were supported by the best local vocational rehabilitation alternatives Burns et al 2007

Social Firms Social enterprises. Profit reinvested. At least 25% staff facing severe disadvantage in labour market Commercial markets/pay market rate 5 in 1997 to 170 plus – employees, 50% could find it ‘extremely’ difficult to get employment in open market Lack of supportive legal framework or wage subsidies in UK Social Firms UK Manifesto ‘Business Changing Lives’

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