"Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services exist because people with mental health conditions want to work, and can work, with the right support", says Emily Talbot, service manager at Rethink Mental Illness Coventry & Warwickshire Employment Service.   

"Employment brings purpose, structure, and hope. IPS helps people move towards their goals by making work a key part of their recovery journey. 

"What makes IPS different is its focus on competitive, paid employment that matches the individual’s preferences. 

"Employment Specialists are embedded within clinical teams and provide personalised, one-to-one support that starts quickly and not after months of preparation or training. 

"IPS takes a strengths-based and personalised approach, with a strong emphasis on building relationships with employers. 

"It’s grounded in eight key principles, including: a focus on competitive employment (rather than volunteering or sheltered work), zero exclusion, meaning it’s open to anyone who wants to work, and close integration between employment services and health teams. 

"Importantly, once someone is in work, the support doesn’t stop. IPS offers time-unlimited, ongoing support to both the individual and their employer to ensure the job is sustainable and any challenges can be addressed early. 

"At its heart, IPS is about recovery, empowerment, and inclusion. It looks beyond a diagnosis and focuses on a person’s strengths, goals, and potential."