Refining Individual Placement and Support (IPS-LITE)

INTERVENTION: Eligible participants will be identified from a newly established IPS service during the IPS service eligibility assessment. Patients will enter the study in the same time when they enter the service. After obtaining of the written consent the baseline interview will be administered by research assistant. Recruitment period will last 15 months with follow‐up of 18 months and assessments at baseline, 9 months and 18 months. The interviews will consist of appropriate validated and standardised questionnaires. Data will be obtained from patients' medical records. After 18‐months of trial the IPS service continues as usual. After the baseline interview participants will be randomised to either IPS‐LITE (intervention group) or IPS standard (control group). Control group: IPS workers are integrated into the secondary mental health team and have a maximum caseload of 25 clients. Clients usually remain in the care of the MH team and the approach is to ascertain job preferences from motivated clients and, through local knowledge of employers, help them identify and obtain open employment without prolonged preliminary assessment or training. IPS workers continue to support client and employer indefinitely according to need. Intervention group: IPS‐LITE follows exactly the same principles as IPS, including integration with the MH team, maximum caseload and procedures for job search and support. However it restricts the period of engagement. Clients unplaced after 9 months will be discharged back to the MH team who can re‐refer if clinical circumstances change (re‐referral will be treated as an outcome, not as new study subjects). Engagement and support will be reduced when clients have been continuously employed for 13 weeks, handing back to the MH team at 16 weeks. CONDITION: Clinically established diagnosis of mental illness ; Mental and Behavioural Disorders ; Mental illness PRIMARY OUTCOME: Worked for at least one day.; ; All outcomes are measured at 9 months and 18 months after the baseline assessment. SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Worked for at least 13 weeks; 2. Number of days worked; 3. Number of hours worked; 4. Job tenure (length of longest job); 5. Time to first job; 6. Client disengagement from IPS; 7. Hospitalisation (Y/N); 8. Number of days hospitalised; ; All outcomes are measured at 9 months and 18 months after the baseline assessment. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Aged 18 ‐ 60 years, either sex 2. Clinically established diagnosis of mental illness 3. Enhanced care programme approach (CPA) 4. Unemployed for a minimum of six months 5. Declared wish to obtain open employment 6. Written and informed consent