Implementing a combined individual placement and support and vocational peer work program in integrated youth mental health settings.
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(Published version)
Date
2023
Authors
Simmons, M.B.
Chinnery, G.
Whitson, S.
Bostock, S.
Braybrook, J.
Hamilton, M.
Killackey, E.
Brushe, M.
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Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 2023; 17(4):412-421
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Magenta B. Simmons, Gina Chinnery, Sarah Whitson, Sarah Bostock, Joshua Braybrook, Matthew Hamilton, Eóin Killackey, Mary Brushe
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Abstract
Aim: To describe the implementation and outcomes of a combined individual placement and support (IPS) and vocational peer work program for young people with mental ill-health. Methods: This uncontrolled pilot study co-located IPS workers and vocational peer workers within two integrated youth mental health services (provided to clients aged 15–25 years old). Employment outcomes included job placements (working 15 hours or more per week in a paid competitive job in the open employment market) and sustained employment (employed for at least 26 weeks). Participants who required additional assistance also received peer work. Results: Of the 326 young people enrolled, 195 (59.8%) achieved competitive employment, including 157 (48.2%) in funder-approved placements. Among those in approved placements, 87 (55.4%) achieved sustained employment. For the 116 participants additionally receiving vocational peer work, 54 (46.6%) worked in funderapproved placements, of whom 27 (50.0%) achieved sustained employment. Among 210 participants who did not receive peer work, 103 (49.0%) worked in funderapproved placements, of whom 60 (58.3%) achieved sustained employment. Conclusions: The program achieved positive vocational outcomes and good fidelity to the IPS model. Approximately half of young people had employment placements, with a relatively high proportion maintained over time. The similar proportion of placements for those who did and did not receive peer work was encouraging given the IPS team determined that the former group needed additional support. Recommendations include upskilling the workforce, a data linkage system to obtain placement evidence, and using implementation science methodologies to understand how IPS programs are successfully embedded. This demands a coordinated effort between governments and funders, policymakers, services, and professional bodies.
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© 2023 The Authors. Early Intervention in Psychiatry published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.