“Nothing that I have studied has the same kind of impact on people that employment does. Medication, case management and psychotherapies tend to produce a small impact on people’s overall adjustment. But the differences are often striking and dramatic with employment."

Robert Drake, M.D

Work is an important part of people’s lives, and it often means much more than just getting paid.

For people with mental ill-health, employment is an essential part of their recovery.

According to the World Health Organisation, employment has a powerful effect on health equity, and the workplace is the arena where many of the key influences on someone's health are played out.

Competitive employment has been found to improve:

• Income and financial standing
• Health and wellbeing
• Social networks 
• Access to housing
• Community participation
• Self-esteem
• Independence
• Reduced hospitalisation and use of support services
• Better management of mental health symptoms
• Ongoing skill acquisition

In practice, the support offered through an IPS program is embedded in an indvidual's mental health recovery plan and delivered in conjunction with other mental health support services.

But IPS isn't just effective for individuals with mental health challenges.

Evidence now suggests that many other co-horts could benefit from this model, including youth, veterans, people experiencing homelessness or substance use, and even people returning to work after a physical injury.

IPS is different to other supported employment programs, in that it is backed by eight core practice principles and a scientifically validated fidelity scale, which is assessed through regular reviews.

The eight practice principles behind IPS are: 

1. Integrated services: IPS programs are embedded within an individual's existing support for their mental health condition. Being fully integrated enables the IPS Employment Specialist and mental health team to work together seamlessly, for the benefit of the individual.
   
2. Competitive employment: IPS employment specialists help clients find jobs on the open labour market which pay at least minimum wage, or the same rate as other employees for performing the same duties.
   
3. Zero exclusion: All individuals with mental ill-health who are motivated to find competitive employment are eligible to access the IPS program. Eligibility is not based on diagnosis, symptoms, work history or cognitive impairment. 
   
4. Attention to individual preferences: Supports and job searches are based on client preferences. An IPS Employment Specialist will support a client to explore their interests, leading to more positive job matches and better job satisfaction and retention.
   
5. Work incentives planning: Work incentives planning (or benefits counselling) refers to clients being offered comprehensive, accurate, timely and individualised financial information, to help them understand how potential future earnings could impact their entitlements. The IPS model recognises that a return to work can be daunting if income support is at risk, and fear of losing an allowance can be a factor in individuals choosing not to seek employment.
   
6. Rapid job search: There is an immediate focus on identifying a client's employment goals and beginning the process of a job search, within 30 days of a client starting the program. There are no pre-employment assessments, training or work experience that must be completed. Rapid job search capitalises on a person’s motivation to find competitive employment.
   
7. Systematic job development: IPS employment specialists visit potential employers on a regular, ongoing basis, to build relationships based on job seeker preferences. By meeting employers face-to-face over multiple visits, IPS employment specialists learn about the work environment as well as the employers’ work needs and hiring preferences. They also find out about vacancies that may not be advertised. They gather information about the nature of job opportunities and assess whether it could be a good job fit for clients. 
   
8. Time-unlimited supports: Tailored follow-up supports are offered to clients after they commence employment, for as long as they require them. IPS employment specialists work alongside the client and their wider network of support, (where permission is given) to ensure that a plan is in place for wrap-around supports. This ensures job placements are successful longer-term.

Since 2005, access to IPS has been steadily increasing across Australia. Currently, there are two ways that sites can deliver the IPS program in Australia.

• A fully integrated IPS program
  An organisation creates a dedicated role for an IPS Employment Specialist, who is paid as an internal staff member.  This staff member will be part of the organisation's mental health or community support team, and their focus is on exploring the employment aspirations of clients, connecting with local employers, conducting rapid job searches, and providing support to clients after they gain employment. 
  
• An IPS partnership 
  This option requires a local mental health provider to become IPS site ready, after which they can conduct an Expression of Interest to find a preferred Disability Employment Service – Employment Support Service (DES-ESS) provider. A partnership is then negotiated, decision-making is shared and the IPS program is used to deliver an integrated service to jobseekers. A DES employee is appointed as an IPS Employment Specialist and they are co-located within the mental health service providing assistance.

Earlier this year, in an exciting development, Australia was officially invited to join an esteemed international group of IPS providers, researchers and leaders - the IPS International Learning Community.

Thanks to more than a decade of hard work and advocacy from our IPS Works team, Australia's acceptance into the international community means the nation's collective delivery of IPS has met international criteria and is now recognised globally. 

Read more about what this means for IPS providers right across Australia.