Individual Placement and Support (IPS)

What is Individual Placement and Support?
Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is a specialised form of employment support that has been developed over the last 25 years.

It is a structured county wide approach for Gateshead/South Tyneside.

It differs from most employment support in several ways:

  • Employment support is deeply integrated with clinical teams
  • It is a ‘work first’ intervention that focuses on competitive, paid employment (rather than volunteering, education or training)
  • It is preference-led, with specific employers being identified and, where permission is given, approached by the IPS specialist with a particular client in mind
  • In-work support is provided

The aim of IPS is to help people into paid employment rather than into volunteering, education or training.

IPS should be offered to everyone in structured treatment. Evidence suggests that employment can support recovery and reduce the severity and frequency of relapse. Focusing on jobs that people can do – and want to do – minimises the risk of employment turning out to be unsustainable.

Employment can – and should – be part of the recovery journey, not the destination. This means referrals can be made at any stage of the journey.

Please speak to your key worker for more information.

You can read the STARS IPS privacy policy by clicking on this document.