title: Supported employment for persons with mental illness: systematic review of the effectiveness of individual placement and support in the UK.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High levels of unemployment among persons with mental illness are a significant social disability. The individual placement and support (IPS) model of vocational support has been shown to be effective in establishing persons with mental health problems back into competitive employment in North America. Evidence outside North America is more limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the evidence for the effectiveness of the IPS model of supported employment within the United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review of studies of the effectiveness of IPS conducted principally in the United Kingdom.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The evidence base was small. Overall quality of evidence was fair. There is evidence that interventions with high fidelity to the IPS model increase the proportion of patients engaged in work or education/training over the short- to medium-term (6-18 months follow-up).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More research is needed to improve the evidence base in relation to IPS within a UK context. Evaluation should focus on both the nature and quality of the employment gained, patient and service factors.
authors.affiliation: North Bristol Rehabilitation Team, Avon and Wiltshire Partnership NHS Trust, Bristol, UK. john.heffernan@nhs.net
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heffernan
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pilkington
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016832:Employment, Supported / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007207:Individuation; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009656:North America; D012944:Social Support; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006113:United Kingdom