We are delighted to share the results from the independent evaluation of our IPS Works employment support programme! Through IPS Works we have supported unemployed individuals with common mental health challenges move towards employment or training.
Since its launch in 2017, IPS Works has supported 2,051 clients, well exceeding our original targets – and thanks to the support of EACH Counselling and Support we have been especially successful in engaging people from ethnic minority groups (66%) and women (64%). This reflects the supreme effort the team has made to engage with seldom-heard groups.
Monitoring data showed that of those that have exited the programme, 53% had found employment, 31% had entered education or training, and 17% had moved from being economically inactive to searching for work.
Of the clients the evaluation surveyed, who had found employment, a whopping 96% said they were happy with what they had achieved. We also found that 73% of clients surveyed reported improved confidence and 63% reported improved wellbeing.
One client explained:
“It did meet what my expectations were, in finding a job. That was the main thing, that was what I wanted out of this. But not only finding a job – feeling good about myself and feeling positive”