2025 marks a decade of the Individual Placement and Support service at Berkshire Healthcare

People with severe mental health challenges face huge barriers when it comes to finding and staying in employment. Whilst many would like to have paid work, only 8% achieve it. The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) service supports people with severe mental health issues to find, sustain and retain paid work. Over the 10 years at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, the service has supported 824 people get into work, with an average of over 80 new service users supported into paid employment each year.

Friday 23 May 2025

For those out of work, IPS provides personalised, one-to-one support to find roles that match their employment goals. From understanding the impact of employment on benefits to choosing the right job and settling in, IPS is there every step of the way. The team works closely with clinical services to ensure employment and mental health support go hand in hand.

For those already in work but facing challenges, IPS acts as a trusted bridge between the individual and their employer. Support includes arranging reasonable adjustments, exploring redeployment options, developing return-to-work plans, and helping service users decide when and how to talk about their mental health at work.

Individual Placement and Support is an evidence-based model proven to be more effective in finding meaningful, sustainable work than other more traditional employment support methods. The service works with an IPS fidelity model which incorporates the following eight key principles:

Competitive employment is the goal
Employment support integrated with treatment
Zero exclusion – everyone is eligible
Job search based on client preferences
Rapid job search
Developing employer relationships
Providing in-work support
Benefits advice to support the transition into work

You can find out more about the service here: Individual Placement and Support (IPS) | Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust