Individuals with a serious mental illness often have difficulty keeping a job because they do not have the proper supports in place to help them maintain employment. IPS Supported Employment services include job development, job placement, and follow-along supports.
IPS services continue for as long as the individual needs them, because helping an individual keep a job is just as important as assisting them in finding a job. In completing the Career Profile, job supports are identified from previous work history, strengths, symptoms, and client preferences. After a person starts working, job supports are updated in the Career Profile (or Job Support Plan) to determine what is needed for the individual to maintain employment at that particular job.
Job supports are individualized and planned by the individual in collaboration with the IPS Team and other support providers (natural, behavioral health, employer, EIPD Counselor, etc.). All parties agree on the supports needed for the individual, based on their strengths and needs. Job Supports include things like symptom management on the job, role-playing conversations with coworkers and supervisors, bus training, wage reporting to the Social Security Administration (SSA), on-site job coaching, requesting job accommodations from the employer, problem-solving, finding work uniforms, asking for a raise or promotion, budgeting, and social skills training.
Educational supports can also be included in the job support plan, as career development is an integral part of IPS services. They are based on the individual’s preferences, educational history, and issues related to their disability. Education supports can include assisting the individual in registering with the disability services office on campus, applying for financial aid, developing study plans, finding tutors on campus, teaching time management skills, and requesting accommodations.
