Individual Placement and Support is the keyhole : Employer experiences of supporting persons with mental illness

Summary, in English

BACKGROUND: Rehabilitation professionals are increasingly interested in the vocational rehabilitation approach called Individual Placement and Support (IPS) for persons with serious mental illness. OBJECTIVE: Since employers play a crucial supporting role for the IPS service user in the workplace, the aim of this study was to explore the experiences and views of employers in Sweden who have participated in the IPS network and taken IPS service users into their workforce. METHODS: Grounded theory with situational analysis was used to analyze data from nine employers. RESULTS: The core category being socially committedwas identified. Six stages/categories illustrated the employer process, from taking on IPS service users to supporting them at work: 1) IPS is the keyhole, 2) being ready to open the door, 3) making a job offer, 4) removing barriers, 5) achieving the goal, and 6) pride mixed with negative feelings. CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that collaborative relationships with employers must be based on trust and professionalism, and that employers must be provided with adequate support.

• Author: Annika Lexén; Maria Emmelin; Ulrika Bejerholm
• Department/s: Mental Health Services Research; Social Medicine and Global Health; Mental Health, Activity and Participation
• Publishing year: 2016-03-17
• Language: English
• Pages: 135-147
• Publication/Series: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
• Volume: 44
• Issue: 2
• Full text: - 260 kB; Download statistics
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/JVR-150786
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: IOS Press
• Topic: Occupational Therapy
• Keywords: occupational therapy; severe mental illness; Supported employment; vocational rehabilitation
• Status: Published
• Research group: Mental Health Services Research; Social Medicine and Global Health; Mental Health, Activity and Participation
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1052-2263