Individuals with a serious mental illness often have difficulty keeping a job because they do not have the right 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 as important as helping them find 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 with input from the IPS Team and other supports (natural, behavioral health, employer, VR Counselor, etc.). All parties agree on the supports needed for the individual based on his or her strengths and needs. Job Supports include things like bus training, wage reporting to SSA, on-site job coaching, asking the employer for job accommodations, problem-solving, finding work uniforms, asking for a raise/promotion, budgeting, and social-skills training.
Educational supports can also be included in the job support plan because career development is also an important part of IPS services. They are based on the individual’s preferences, education 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 for accommodations.
