Individual Placement & Support (IPS)

Supporting Recovery Through Employment and Education: Individual Placement and Support (IPS)

Being in employment or education can have a significant positive impact on a person’s recovery and overall wellbeing.

Our Individual Placement and Support (IPS) employment service is designed to help patients achieve these goals by supporting them into work or education if they are currently unemployed.

We also provide support to people who are already employed but whose job is at risk—or perceived to be at risk—due to their mental health.

Our IPS Employment Specialists are embedded within:

• Primary Mental Health Teams and Keystone Mental Health hubs  in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire
• Adult Community Mental Health and Early Intervention Service Teams
• The Forensic Community Team

Through close collaboration with clinical teams, our IPS specialists offer tailored, one-to-one support to help individuals achieve meaningful and sustainable employment or educational outcomes.

How the IPS Employment Service Works

Each patient is paired with a dedicated Employment Specialist, who will work with them to identify and achieve their personal employment or education goals. The specialist will take time to understand the individual’s needs, preferences, and aspirations before collaboratively developing a tailored plan of action.

Support is delivered in line with the eight core principles of Individual Placement and Support (IPS):

1. Competitive employment is the goal
   We support patients to find paid employment—either part-time or full-time—at or above minimum wage.
2. Eligibility is based on choice
   Anyone receiving care from one of our community mental health teams is eligible. Diagnosis or background is not a barrier to support.
3. The individual’s preferences drive the process
   We focus on what the patient wants to do, tailoring the job search to their interests and strengths.
4. We act quickly
   Job searching typically begins within four weeks of working with the patient.
5. We are integrated with mental health services
   Our Employment Specialists work as part of the patient’s wider mental health team to ensure joined-up, holistic care.
6. We offer expert benefits advice
   We support patients to understand how employment may affect their benefits, helping them make informed decisions.
7. We actively engage with employers
   With the patient’s permission, we can contact employers on their behalf to explore suitable opportunities and build supportive relationships.
8. We provide ongoing support
   Our support continues after a job has been secured—both for the patient and, if agreed, for their employer—until the individual feels confident and settled.

Watch our animation explaining all about IPS

Accessing IPS Employment Support

Our Individual Placement and Support (IPS) service helps people living with severe mental health difficulties to find and sustain employment or access education.

Access to the service is via referral from your community mental health team or GP.

To benefit from IPS, you should:

• Be motivated to find work or enter education
• Be ready to start job searching with support from a dedicated Employment Specialist

We’ll work alongside you and your mental health team to help you move toward your goals—based on your interests.

Get in Touch

If you would like to know more about the IPS service, please don’t hesitate to contact Shelley Monaghan, Operational Service Manager, shelley.monaghan@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk  or reach out via our team email inboxes below. We’re happy to provide more information or discuss how we can support you.

Referrals can also be made via these email addresses:

•  Buckinghamshire: bucksemploymentservice@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
•  Oxfordshire: OxonEmploymentService@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Individual Plaement & Support leaflet