Employment outcomes and their predictors among people with severe mental illness participating in an individual placement and support programme

BackgroundThe impact of client and programme-related variables on employment outcomes among participants of Individual Placement and Support programmes has been sub-optimally researched. We evaluated the effectiveness of an Individual Placement and Support programme and examined selected demographic, clinical, and programme-related variables associated with obtaining competitive employment.MethodsData were collected retrospectively from consecutive participants with severe mental illness enrolled in an Individual Placement and Support programme co-located as a partnership between a disability employment service provider and a public mental health service in Western Australia. Demographic, clinical, and service engagement characteristics of the groups that obtained and did not obtain competitive employment were collated, compared, and analysed to predict successful employment outcomes.ResultsOf the 84 participants, 36 (42.9%) secured competitive employment. The absence of psychiatric comorbidity (<i>p</i> = .037) and especially, shorter time between the programme commencement and first face-to-face contact (<i>p</i> < .001) were strongly associated with positive employment outcome.ConclusionModifiable participant and programme-related characteristics can significantly impact the outcome of Individual Placement and Support services for people with severe mental illness implemented at everyday clinical settings. Managing these within clinical services and Individual Placement and Support programmes has potential to improve participant outcomes.