Organisations accredited national Kitemark for supporting people experiencing mental ill health back into work
Shropshire Council’s Enable Supported Employment Services and Midland Partnership Foundation Trust (MPFT) have been awarded the IPS Grow Quality Kitemark, for helping people experiencing mental ill health back into work.
Enable works in partnership with MPFT to offer an Individual Placement and Support (IPS) service to those accessing mental health services into long term paid employment.
The national accreditation follows a Fidelity Review that took place in March 2023, which gave the service a ‘Good Fidelity’ rating under the IPS Grow Quality Kitemark.
Feedback from the review said:-
“The tenacity and hard work from both Enable’s service manager and colleagues within MPFT and it is clear the service is valued and well respected”.
And that:-
“The whole team are highly responsive, highly adaptive and personalised to people’s needs, with very positive client feedback”.
Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care, public health and communities, said:-
“We are thrilled that we have been awarded this Kitemark; this demonstrates excellence in the delivery of IPS and is a real achievement for both Enable and MPFT.
“We couldn’t have achieved this outcome without the support of our partners, and it is testament to the hard work and commitment of everyone involved.”
90% of people with mental health issues say that they want to work’ and those that have used the IPS service are twice as likely to gain employment, compared to those seeking employment through traditional vocational services. The service is tailored to the individual, so it understands what people’s interests, skills and experiences are, and it can then tailor a service that meets those needs.
Jessica is now working at Thomas Adams School in Wem thanks to the support of Enable’s IPS service.
Over the past year, Enable’s IPS Employment Service has helped over 143 people across Shropshire and the Telford area back into work.
Positive feedback from those that have benefited from the service includes:-
“Enable have done so much for me in helping me stay in work, when I’ve been going through a bad patch in my mental health, liaising with my employer on my behalf to help them better understand my condition and find a workable solution for both myself and my employer, enabling me to remain a productive and valued member of staff, I couldn’t have done it without them”.
“Enable has supported me and helped me secure employment and checked in on my wellbeing throughout”.
“The employment specialist assigned to me has helped me not only get a job, but learn how to stop focusing on my weaknesses, recognise things I’m struggling with and how to rectify them. She worked with my employer to help them understand my needs and best of all she is the most compassionate and understanding human being I could have hoped to have helping me, and if I could have a pocket-sized version of her in my, well, pocket, for little pep talks then I would”.
The IPS employment team has built, and continues to build, partnerships with local employers, and works with many individuals to address barriers to employment, helping to build confidence, whilst also helping to create CVs and look for employment.
To find out more about the employment service visit: Mental Health Employment Service – Enable. Supported Employment Services (enableservices.co.uk) or email enable@shropshire.gov.uk
Further information
Enable’s IPS Employment Service has been awarded a ‘Good’ rating under the IPS Grow Quality Kite Mark, which replaces the ‘Centre of Excellence’ title, following the IPS Grow external Fidelity review.
