module specification

This module covers the importance of work to health, and to social inclusion. It is focussed on the knowledge and skills needed by workers whose role is linked to the aim of increasing participation in paid employment of mental health service users, and to some extent, other disavantaged groups. It will lead to a robust understanding of evidenced based practice and the IPS method.
Assessment is through a 3,500 word essay (60%) and the presentation of a proposal for an evidenced based intervention (40%).

In the 2014-15 session this module should run in Block - June 2015 (to be confirmed)

This module is specifically intended for people working with service users who wish to gain open employment

The aim of this module is to equip workers, whose role includes helping people with mental health problems or disabilities to gain and retain employment, with the knowledge and skills to do so effectively. This includes an understanding of the social and policy context of their work, the literature and research evidence which informs it, the knowledge and skills of effective practice, and insights from the individual, the employer and societal perspective.

Benefits of employment to health and wellbeing; barriers to employment - international comparisons; social inclusion, status and self esteem; finances and welfare benefits; types of work: social firms, common problems in gaining and retaining work; evaluating ‘support’; types of supported employment and the IPS method – the evidence base; IPS method – practice issues; the place of brief therapies in support into work; problems or assets? Employer perspectives on staff with mental health problems or disability; discrimination and the law; building preparation for work into standard clinical practice; mediation and negotiation skills; specific features of the IPS method, and the importance of programme fidelity.

Will consist of a structured programme of both formal lectures and workshops. The profile of the course, copies of lectures, some key reading materials, and web links will be available on WebCT.
Students will also be required to present their case study for supported employment to the larger group toward the end of the module. There will be considerable input from specialists in the field.

Students are recommended to read one or 2 of the listed papers for each session as a minimum. To assist selection, at least one reference is marked with an asterisk as particularly central.

At the end of this module students should be able to
1. explain the value of work to individual wellbeing, and its relationship to social inclusion
2. evaluate the barriers to gaining and retaining employment for excluded groups, and potential responses to counter these
3. devise and present an evidence based strategy for supporting people into work
4. explore the practical, policy and theoretical issues in increasing the engagement of people with disabilities or ill-health into the labour force

The assessment is designed to evaluate the students understanding of the theory, evidence base and practice in relation to supporting people with disabilites and/or mental health problems, into employment. It will aim to achieve this in 2 parts.
Part 1: An individual presentation of a case study showing use of evidence based approach to supporting someone into employment (LO3)
Students may use a range of communication mediums such as powerpoint, poster, or short film, and may supplement this with a short report of 500-1000 words (optional).

Part 2: An essay of 3,500 words evaluating the evidence of benefits to the individual, the employer, and society of contrasting methods of supporting people to work. – 60% (LO 1, 2 and 4).

Bond, G. R., Becker, D. R., Drake, R. E., et al (1997) A fidelity scale for the
Individual Placement and Support model of supported employment. Rehabilitation
Counselling Bulletin, 40, 265 -284.
DH (2002) Mental Health and Employment in the NHS
DH (1999) National Service Framework for mental health
DH (2001) The Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide. London: Dept of Health.
Galloway, J. (1991) The Trick is to Keep Breathing. London: Minerva.
Grove, B., Secker, J. & Seebohm, P. (eds) (2005) New thinking about mental health and employmentOxon: Radcliffe
Leach, S. (2002) A supported employment work book
DH ( 1995) Disability Discrimination Act
Mancuso, L.L. (1995) Achieving reasonable accommodation for workers with psychiatric disabilities: Understanding the employer’s perspective. American Rehabilitation, 21(1), 2-8.
ONS (1998) Labour Force survey
Perkins, R. & Rinaldi, M. (2002) Unemployment rates among patients with
long-term mental health problems: a decade of rising unemployment. Psychiatric Bulletin, 26, 295 -298
Rapp, C. A. (1998). The Strengths Model: Case Management with People Suffering from Severe and Persistent Mental Illness. Chapter 8 – Supported Case Management Context: Creating the Conditions for Effectiveness. New York: Oxford University Press.
Rinaldi, M., Mcneil, K., Firn, M., Koletsi, M., Perkins, R. and Singh, S.P. (2004) What are the benefits of evidence-based supported employment for patients with first-episode psychosis? Psychiatric Bulletin 28: 281-284
Social Exclusion Unit (2004) Mental Health and Employment OPDM Factsheet 4
Social Exclusion Unit (2004) Mental Health and Social Exclusion
South West London and St Georges Trust (2001) Creating Work Opportunities that work
US: Dept of Health and Human Sciences (2007 accessed) Evidence-Based Practices: Shaping Mental Health Services Toward Recovery: Toolkit: Supported Employment Implementation Tips for Mental Health Program Leaders. National Mental Health Information Centre http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/communitysupport/toolkits/employment/SEmhpltips.asp
Waddell, G and Burton, K. (2004) Concepts of rehabilitation for the management of common health problems . Dept of Work and Pensions
www.newdeal.gov.uk
Warner, R. (2004) Recovery from Schizophrenia. Brunner-Routledge
Wilkinson, R.G. (2005) The impact of inequality: how to make sick societies healthier. Routledge