2018). To provide background for this report, the following will now be introduced in turn: the IEMHS pilot project and its aims; international and national policy developments relating to employment for those with mental health difficulties; the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model of supported employment; and research relating to employers’ views on employing people with mental health difficulties. This introduction will conclude with a summary of the aim of this report and its key research questions. 1.1: IEMHS Pilot Project Integrating Employment and Mental Health Services (IEMHS) is a pilot project developed with Genio and Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) funding, and in partnership with the Health Service Executive (HSE) Mental Health Division, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, EmployAbility companies and Mental Health Reform. The IEMHS project piloted the IPS model by integrating a local Employment Specialist into each of four Multidisciplinary Mental Health Teams (MDTs) in order to deliver an IPS service in four sites across Ireland. The overall aim of the IEMHS project was to demonstrate how existing mental health and supported employment services can fulfil the best practice IPS model of supported employment through improved integration with mental health services. Improved integration between public mental health and supported employment services at national and local levels was central to the IEMHS project. These two services are the responsibility of two different Government Departments (the Department of Health and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection) and involve different public agencies (the Health Service Executive, a national agency, and EmployAbility services which are organised at local level). The two services have different funding streams, regulations, management structures and governance systems. A significant part of the IEMHS project involved a proof of concept that an integrated service involving joint working between public agencies is possible in the Irish context. The specific objectives of the project were: To improve integration between public mental health and supported employment services at national trial. To improve integration between public mental health and supported employment services at local level. To support 80 individuals receiving mental health services into employment, 20 individuals in each of 4 sites. To increase the capacity of participating supported employment service trial and mental health service staff to support individuals with severe mental health difficulties.
2018). To provide background for this report, the following will now be introduced in turn: the IEMHS pilot project and its aims; international and national policy developments relating to employment for those with mental health difficulties; the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model of supported employment; and research relating to employers’ views on employing people with mental health difficulties. This introduction will conclude with a summary of the aim of this report and its key research questions. 1.1: IEMHS Pilot Project Integrating Employment and Mental Health Services (IEMHS) is a pilot project developed with Genio and Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) funding, and in partnership with the Health Service Executive (HSE) Mental Health Division, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, EmployAbility companies and Mental Health Reform. The IEMHS project piloted the IPS model by integrating a local Employment Specialist into each of four Multidisciplinary Mental Health Teams (MDTs) in order to deliver an IPS service in four sites across Ireland. The overall aim of the IEMHS project was to demonstrate how existing mental health and supported employment services can fulfil the best practice IPS model of supported employment through improved integration with mental health services. Improved integration between public mental health and supported employment services at national and local levels was central to the IEMHS project. These two services are the responsibility of two different Government Departments (the Department of Health and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection) and involve different public agencies (the Health Service Executive, a national agency, and EmployAbility services which are organised at local level). The two services have different funding streams, regulations, management structures and governance systems. A significant part of the IEMHS project involved a proof of concept that an integrated service involving joint working between public agencies is possible in the Irish context. The specific objectives of the project were: To improve integration between public mental health and supported employment services at national To improve integration between public mental health and supported employment services at local level. To support 80 individuals receiving mental health services into employment, 20 individuals in each of 4 sites. To increase the capacity of participating supported employment service and mental health service staff to support individuals with severe mental health difficulties. trial trial.
IEMHS-Employer-Feedback-Report.docx