INNOVATION IN EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

Employment rates for people with severe and enduring mental illnesses are unacceptably low. For many with a mental illness, gaining employment is still a desirable step in their recovery journey, yet only 8% of those who are interested in returning to work are in paid employment.

That’s why Individual Placement Support (IPS), an employment service within The Life Rooms, take an innovative approach to supporting clients affected by mental illness to find meaningful paid employment and get back into the workplace.

IPS Employment Specialists spend time getting to know their clients through vocational profiling, finding out what their skills and job interests are, building trust, and coaching them with confidence and interview techniques. The team then identify potential or existing employer partners who could offer the right job match for their clients, and they build a relationship that supports the employer through the process, as well as the employee.

Ongoing support for both the client and the employer is provided by IPS, with regular check-ins to see how things are progressing, and what additional support if any is needed.

Working in partnership with local employers not only benefits business, but the local community as well, by identifying opportunities for people to return to work, supporting unemployment rates, and providing a service to the rest of the community.

Clients who are under the care of a Community Mental Health Team or an Early Intervention Team are eligible for the IPS employment service. Employment Specialists work closely with these clinical teams to identify people who are interested in finding or returning to work, offering hope and optimism to clients about their next steps. IPS Service work across Liverpool, Warrington, Halton, and Wirral. They have job seekers who are ready to take the next step, and that could be with your business. The team have already had successful job starts for their clients with Liverpool Passport Office, Royal Liverpool Hospital, and

Many partner employers have returned to IPS to recruit to additional roles.

If you’re interested in working in partnership with IPS for your business, and supporting local people and communities, visit liferooms.org/ support/IPS