RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS
Paul’s journey into paid employment
Liverpool IPS Service
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Liverpool Individual Placement Support employment service (IPS) has been working with people with mental health difficulties for over twenty five years. The service has recently been through a fidelity review whereby all aspects of our service delivery, quality and standards have been addressed by the national governing body. We were delighted that our service has retained its ‘Centre of Excellence’ standard with an ‘Exemplary’ rating, the highest award achievable! Our IPS Employment Advisors are embedded in our community Mental Health and Early Intervention Teams providing a service to anyone registered with a Liverpool GP and under the care of secondary mental health services. We also manage IPS services in Warrington, Halton and our new service in the Wirral will be operational a little later in the year. This is Paul’s inspiring story At 48 and a former drug addict, Paul faced a choice of watching his new born son go into care – or fight for sole custody. He’d met Jack’s mum at an addiction recovery group, but they parted ways when the baby was born. With social services considering taking Jack into care Paul, by then drug free, made his decision.
Liverpool Chamber
“He was four weeks old when I took him home. I’d never even held a baby. But I couldn’t risk losing him. I was terrified, but I knew I had to take responsibility for my actions. I’d never done that before, but it wasn’t about me now.” He’s made a home and a life for him and Jack. His long term ambitions were always to help people to avoid the lifestyle that so nearly killed him – and to get a job so he could be a good role model for his son. On the school run one morning he passed Life Rooms at the former Walton Library. “I was feeling lost at home without Jack. I’d heard about it and thought I’d give it a go.” Paul was empowered by sharing his story. His own childhood was that of a loner who moved around leaving him with no roots and few friends. Gang culture was rife. Paul was ‘befriended’ by older boys and drawn into petty crime and drugs. “I WAS JUST WAITING TO DIE” “I didn’t like it but I wanted to please people - and I knew I’d be ridiculed if I refused. None of them were bad kids, we just craved excitement.” As time went on I wasn’t living, I was just waiting to die. The recovery group helped me
get clean. But when you stop using drugs you have to look at defects in your character, see who you really are. Walton Life Rooms gave Paul new direction. After taking part in recovery courses he became a volunteer, leading an addictions support group at Walton Life Rooms and volunteering with Mersey Care’s Criminal Justice Liaison Team, helping people going through courts, probation or prison. With the support of the Liverpool IPS service he’s fulfilled his biggest ambition – he’s started work. He is now a Support Worker for the Criminal Justice Liaison Team where he started as a volunteer. “It’s what I’ve always wanted. My own dad looked after me. My mum died two days before Jack was born but I feel she’s looking over me. Now my son will have his own role model.” Our IPS service also works with employers of all sizes supporting people with mental health back in to competitive paid employment. If you are an employer and would like to work with our team please contact Neil Tunstall, Operations Manager, email: neil.tunstall@merseycare.nhs.uk or mobile: 07972101853
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