IPS, at its core, is a psychiatric rehabilitation service with a more singular focus on competitive employment as an immediate and obtainable goal. To be successful, there must be close integration and coordination between behavioral health and employment professionals. Siloed services do not work, a finding influencing transformation across many areas of care.
Integrating IPS employment services within behavioral health shifts the culture of the mental health workforce as they come to value competitive employment as a critical part of many people’s recovery. Integrating behavioral health services within IPS, as an employment service, produces a more effective model of care. IPS team members, through their mental health training and close access to mental health providers as consultants, are clinically more adept in their assessment practices and in the individualized support they provide to people.
High fidelity to the IPS model is demonstrated by the documentation of close interaction between employment specialists and behavioral health professionals at weekly treatment team meetings for individuals who have already expressed an interest in employment. Clinicians can suggest job matches and job support for people based on their symptomology. When individuals are satisfied with their job and have the necessary support (both on-site and off-site), they are more likely to have longer job tenure. The treatment team meeting is also an opportunity for employment specialists to advocate for employment opportunities for individuals who have not yet been referred to IPS.
