Programmes and services adopting the individual placement and support (IPS) approach have been operating in New Zealand for some time.
Research and experience show us that implementation support and technical assistance really helps in integrating employment and mental health services. It also improves programme reach and outcomes and importantly for many people, encourages the role of employment as a health intervention.
IPS employment support national steering group
As part of a commitment to support the development of high-quality IPS programmes in New Zealand and internationally as part of the learning community, New Zealand has established an IPS employment support national steering group. This group provides oversight and information-sharing in relation to IPS development and implementation across the country.
Representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Development, job seekers and their family/whānau, NGOs, district health boards and Work Counts currently make up the group.
Where is IPS offered in New Zealand?
Work Counts has been working with the IPS employment support national steering group to have an oversight of IPS employment support coverage by district health board (DHB).
View the updated map (PDF) which shows current availability of IPS employment support integrated with secondary mental health and addiction services.
It’s also a helpful resource to see which IPS employment support providers are working in each region.
Latest news
New report highlights value of employment support
The National Health Service (NHS) in England has committed to a massive scale-up of employment support programmes for people accessing mental health services.
Strong interest in IPS employment support for drug and alcohol teams in Aotearoa
Paul Anders and Dr Rob Robertson from the individual placement and support (IPS) employment support research trial in England’s alcohol and drug services shared their experiences at our Work Counts webinar.
Honouring employment aspirations
As we transform Aotearoa’s mental health and addiction system, we need to honour people’s employment aspirations. Integrating employment support in mental health and addiction services is key.
