THURSDAY, 16 FEBRUARY, 2023

Photograph attached: IPS service user Michelle Fenton in her workplace

Community Mental Health Service supports people into work

NHS Tayside’s Community Mental Health Service is providing support to service users in Dundee to help them overcome barriers and gain paid employment.

Working in partnership with ENABLE Scotland, an Individual Placement Support (IPS) service has been introduced by Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) Dundee, the first of its kind in NHS Tayside.

IPS is designed to support individuals with severe and enduring mental health conditions to prepare for, secure and keep employment. It has a holistic and flexible approach to providing personalised support which may include help creating CVs and preparing for interviews, personal development and employability workshops, support to gain qualifications or work experience, and financial support and advice.

The IPS specialist works alongside potential employers to try to place people into jobs suited to their skills, interests and abilities which may involve support with applications, work placements, job clubs, or interviews tailored to individuals’ needs.

They will continue to offer support for a year after people find employment by working with employers to ensure a suitable work environment, as well as professional development and training opportunities.

Over the last three years, the IPS service has been developed and integrated into the CMHS with support provided by occupational therapy teams. It currently supports 24 people, with 12 having already gained employment and three gone onto further education and training.

The service has been funded by the Discover Work partnership, and due to the success and increasing demand of the service, further funding has been secured for a second IPS employment co-ordinator.

Highly specialist occupational therapist Gillian Funai said, “Being able to offer IPS has made such a difference to the people we work with. It has improved health outcomes on all levels with people moving out of our service with better self esteem and self worth. Many have progressed off benefits and becoming financially independent has enabled some to secure their own housing.”

Service user Michelle Fenton, who has found employment through the service said, “I was referred to the IPS Service in September 2021by my Occupational Therapist. Robyn, my IPS Employment Coordinator listened to exactly the kind of work I was looking for and supported me with my goals.

“Robyn set up a joint meeting with a local community café and I started to volunteer there twice a week. I was then offered a paid position to work in their new café and started in March 2022. My job is all about teamwork and it has allowed me to meet new friends and I enjoy seeing all the regular customers.

“I do the cooking in the cafe as I had completed my Elementary Food Hygiene certificate, and the IPS Service supported me to complete further training including allergen training and securing funding to complete my first aid qualification. 

“I have now been in paid employment for almost one year. It is a job that I wanted and I have had good support from my manager and Robyn during this and we meet up once a week for in-work support.”

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718