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196 3457 3 Mental health service users' experiences of returning to paid employmentResearch into mental health and employment has focused largely on people who are unemployed. This paper reports the experiences of 20 clients of employment support agencies who had succeeded in returning to work. A number of barriers to getting back to work were identified, but receiving employment support could enable people to overcome them. There was consistency with previous studies of factors associated with high and low levels of job satisfaction. Even those participants who were less satisfied with their jobs identified benefits and none described any negative effects. The quality of the employment support provided was important, including advice and counselling during the job search, enabling informed choice about disclosure, and support in work.Job retention targets are required for funding programmes in addition to placement targets. Further research into the timing and processes of disclosure and into occupation health screening processes would be helpful. AcknowledgementThe study on which this paper is based was financed by the European Social Fund (http:www.sesami.org.uk) and six supported employment agency partners made contributions in kind. The authors gratefully acknowledge the participation of interviewees and agency staff in this study, and also the constructive contributions made by Miles Rinaldi.

Background: The UK government is advocating the use of supported employment to help people on incapacity benefits back to work, with an emphasis on Individual Placement and Support (IPS) models. However there is little UK-based evidence on the key ingredients of effective support. Aim: To ascertain service users' views of what they found helpful about supported employment. Method: Interviews were carried out with 182 people with severe and enduring mental health problems who were actively engaged with one of the six supported employment agencies included in the study. Results: Three themes emerged: emotional support, practical assistance and a client-centred approach. Conclusion:The findings highlight the importance of the quality of support, particularly through interpersonal dynamics, which go beyond the organizational features emphasized in the IPS model. Declaration of interest:The study was financed from Higher Education European Social Fund Objective 3 resources and the six partner agencies made contributions in kind.

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