Even greater support for residents’ mental health, as IPS service expands

Shaw Trust, the Good Work Charity, is taking over the delivery of the region’s Individual Placement Support (IPS) service – helping more local people find good jobs while accessing specialised mental health treatment.

IPS joins up work and wellbeing, tackling growing unemployment in the UK – of which poor health is a leading driver. Shaw Trust will be rolling out primary care support to complement existing secondary care in the area.

Commissioned by the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, IPS Focus will be delivered in those same locations. The charity is the second largest provider of the service after the NHS, and will continue to address some of the region’s challenges:

• Almost 10,000 residents have a diagnosis of Serious Mental Illness (SMI).
• Cases of SMI are likely to increase as the population grows.
• There are pockets of high deprivation and inequality in the area, including 14 neighbourhoods that sit in the most deprived 10% nationally.

A previous report by the charity into the impact of IPS shows that work and wellbeing are inextricably linked:

• 62% of people at risk of falling out of work kept their job.
• 73% of people who found a job kept it for 13 weeks.
• Of those 73%, 68% still had their job 26 weeks later.
• 73% of people who found work improved their wellbeing.
• 63% of people who didn’t find work, but used the programme, still reported improved wellbeing.

IPS can also save taxpayer money.

For secondary care, there is an estimated £20,000 saving to taxpayers for each person who secures employment, due to reduced pressure on services. For primary care, every £1 spent on a person participating gives £2.43 back in return. This all goes on to benefit wider communities.

David Harper, Managing Director for Work, Wellbeing and Health, said:

“At Shaw Trust, it’s our belief that everyone should have the opportunity to succeed and find good work, whatever their circumstances.

“The data shows that there’s a clear link between health and work, including mental health. IPS looks at the picture holistically, giving people the right support at the right time, for the right work.

“We’re extremely proud to have won this contract in the South West, and to be helping more people to find meaningful work that fits around their needs.”

Dr Georgina Ruddle, Interim Director of All Age Mental Health, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said:

 “We are delighted to be working with the Shaw Trust, and are passionate about empowering as many people as possible who are living with a serious mental illness to access employment and training for career development.

“Having a job and forging a successful career path not only supports an individual’s mental health and personal self-esteem, but can have real tangible benefits in other areas too, as we know both working and socialising with others on a regular basis can lead to lives that are happier, healthier and more independent.”