Mental health service users’ experiences of returning to paid employment

Abstract

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.

Being candidates in a transitional vocational course: experiences of self, everyday life and work potentials

“…When service users have been asked about their primary motivation for employment, the internalized values of being a worker, the satisfaction of belonging to a normal, encouraging but challenging working environment, and the possibilities of revitalization and empowerment are described (Auerbach and Richardson 2005;Borg and Kristiansen 2008;Gewurtz and Kirsh 2007;Iannelli and Wilding 2007;Kennedy-Jones, Cooper, and Fossey 2005;Kirsh 2000a;Krupa 2004). The literature also echoes dilemmas of revealing one's mental health history, when it comes to timing, processes and consequences (Boyce et al 2008;Honey 2004).…”

“…Quite a few qualitative studies (Gewurtz and Kirsh 2007;Kennedy-Jones, Cooper, and Fossey 2005;Inman, McGurk, and Chadwick 2007;Iannelli and Wilding 2007;Rebeiro-Gruhl and Laporte 2008;Marwaha and Johnson 2005;Tse and Yeats 2002;Boyce et al 2008;Johnson et al 2009) have explored service users' past and present work experience within diverse vocational rehabilitation programs and employment settings. Gewutz and Kirsh (2007) revealed that through paid and unpaid work, individuals discovered their potential and became citizens with prospects of work.…”

“…Researchers have tended to investigate causes of unemployment rather than explore the service users' potentials and positive experiences at work (Boyce et al 2008). There is a lack of knowledge concerning the most effective way to enable work participation for people who are not ready for open employment (Inman, McGurk, and Chadwick 2007).…”

Impact of supported employment on service costs and income of people with mental health needs

“…The SESAMI (Social Inclusion through Employment Support for Adults with Mental Illness) study was a naturalistic investigation of the provision of supported employment for people with severe mental health problems in England in 2004-2006(Boyce et al, 2008aJohnson et al, 2009;SESAMI, 2007). Six agencies, among them public sector providers, private notfor-profit and voluntary organizations, participated.…”

“Watch your steps” – Community mental health professionals’ perspectives on the vocational rehabilitation of people with severe mental illness

“…potential; self-management strategies for staying well and coping with workplace stress; guidance during the job search; assistance to enable informed choices regarding disclosure; ongoing support from significant others; and feeling connected to others, welcomed, and respected at work (Boyce et al, 2008;Fossey & Harvey, 2010;Johnson et al, 2009;Woodside, Schell, & Allison-Hedges, 2006).…”