Enhancing implementation of the Individual Placement and Support for Young Adults programme in Norway: identifying challenges and facilitators

The rise in mental health issues among young people in Norway led to the introduction of the Individual Placement and Support for Young Adults (IPS-Y) programme. Implemented across 47 labour and welfare offices, the programme targets 16- to 30-year-olds with mental health issues, focusing on employment and education. Individual Placement and Support (IPS) specialists, who are central to the programme, coordinate activities with employers, healthcare providers, welfare agencies and educational institutions. While standard IPS has been thoroughly evaluated, there is limited knowledge about the implementation of the IPS-Y programme. Based on four cases and 22 interviews, this qualitative study bridges this gap by examining the experiences of IPS specialists and collaborating partners, exploring how education functions within the model, and evaluating experiences with the young participants as a target group in the programme. The findings indicate that IPS specialists face challenges navigating the educational system due to its complexity and lack of efficient collaboration structures. IPS specialists are seen as engaged, filling gaps where the system fails and often extending beyond their intended role, as the young participants require extensive effort and flexibility. Our study underscores the need to develop effective collaboration structures for the success of the IPS-Y model.