Register
Menu

Individual Placement and Support

Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is a model of supported employment for people with serious mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia spectrum disorder, bipolar, depression). IPS supported employment helps people living with behavioral health conditions work at regular jobs of their choosing. Although variations of supported employment exist, IPS refers to the evidence-based practice of supported employment. Mainstream education and technical training are included as ways to advance career paths.

IPS is a strengths-based and outcome focused approach to vocational rehabilitation for people with serious mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorders. IPS emphasizes helping people obtain competitive work in the community and providing the supports necessary to ensure success in the workplace. IPS programs help individuals find jobs in integrated settings. These jobs pay at least minimum wage or the customary wage and level of benefits paid by the employer for the same or similar work performed by individuals who are not disabled.

There are eight core principles that make the IPS model different from traditional vocational programs:

  1. Focus on Competitive Employment.

  2. Eligibility Based on Client Choice.

  3. Integration of Rehabilitation and Mental Health Services.

  4. Attention to Client Preferences.

  5. Personalized Benefits Counseling.

  6. Rapid Job Search.

  7. Systematic Job Development.

  8. Time-Unlimited and Individualized Support.

The goal of IPS is to help people with serious mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorders find and keep competitive jobs. IPS facilitates the recovery process by supporting individuals who are interested in working in their efforts to get on with life beyond illness.

The overriding philosophy of IPS is the belief that every person with a serious mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorder is capable of working competitively in the community. Individuals are offered help finding and keeping jobs that capitalize on their personal strengths and motivation. The primary goal of IPS is to find a natural “fit” between individuals’ strengths and experiences with jobs in the community.

As individuals succeed in working in the community, their self-perceptions often change, and they view themselves as workers and contributors to society. Furthermore, as people in the community see individuals working, stigma about mental illness lessens, and social acceptance increases.

Principles of IPS Supported Employment

  • It is an evidence-based practice 

  • IPS supported employment practitioners focus on client strengths 

  • Work can promote recovery and wellness 

  • Practitioners work in collaboration with state vocational rehabilitation 

  • It uses a multidisciplinary team approach 

  • Services are individualized and long-lasting 

  • The IPS approach changes the way mental health services are delivered

Characteristics of IPS Supported Employment

  • Employment specialists have individual employment caseloads. The maximum caseload for any full-time employment specialist is 20 or fewer consumers

  • Employment specialists provide only employment services

  • Each employment specialist carries out all phases of employment service, including intake, engagement, assessment, job placement, job coaching, and follow-along supports before step down to less intensive employment support from another mental health practitioner

  • Integration of Employment Services with mental health treatment thru team assignment

  • Integration of Employment Services with mental health treatment thru frequent team member contact

  • Collaboration between employment specialists and Vocational Rehabilitation counselors

  • Vocational Unit

  • Role of employment supervisor

  • Zero exclusion criteria

  • Agency focuses on competitive employment

  • Executive Team Support for SE "Supported Employment"

  • Work Incentive Planning

  • Disclosure

  • Ongoing, work-based vocational assessment:

  • Rapid job search for competitive job

  • Individualized job search

  • Job development - Frequent employer contact

  • Job development - Quality of employer contact

  • Diversity of job types

  • Diversity of employers

  • Competitive jobs

  • Individualized follow-along supports

  • Time-unlimited follow along supports

  • Community-based services

  • Assertive engagement and outreach by integrated treatment team