Supporting job seekers living with mental health problems

We are delighted to be joining forces with the not-for-profit organisation, Social Finance, to help bring specialist support to job seekers living with mental health problems.

Commissioned by NHS England, we are embarking on a two-year joint project to expand Individual Placement and Support across the country.

What is Individual Placement and Support?

Many people living with mental health problems want to work, but without the right support, can’t.

Individual Placement and Support is an employment service which enables job seekers living with mental health problems find a job that’s right for them.

Open to anyone using mental health services who wants to work, it offers personalised support to find a job with the assistance of an employment specialist.  And, through ongoing in-work support for both the employee and their employer, it also helps foster an accepting, rewarding and healthy working environment.

Why are we doing this?

Think Ahead, recruits, trains, and develops the mental health workforce to provide the most effective support for people with mental health problems.

“It’s no coincidence that only around 7% of people living with a severe mental illness are currently working.  Whilst some people aren’t able or ready to work, many want to and could, but the working world isn’t adapting to include them.

We want to make sure that anyone living with a mental illness who wants to work can.  As Philippa Mariani, Think Ahead CEO explains:

“Work doesn’t only give you an opportunity to make a living; it can bring you purpose, human connection and a real sense of achievement and personal satisfaction.

“It’s no coincidence that only around 7% of people living with a severe mental illness are currently working.  Whilst some people aren’t able or ready to work, many want to and could, but the working world isn’t adapting to include them.

“Connecting with employers as well as job seekers, Individual Placement and Support employment specialists have the potential to turn this around – we just need a lot more of them.

“I’m really excited to bring our recruitment and workforce expertise to help grow this offer, helping to make life better for people and giving everyone who wants it access to Individual Placement and Support.”

Find out more

Individual Placement and Support employment specialists work in local communities through NHS trusts, local councils, and the voluntary sector.

To find out more about this project, or our services, please contact Ivan Wise on i.wise@thinkahead.org

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash.