Background & Rationale Routes to employment The Progress Development

Background & Rationale

People with mental health problems are less likely to be employed than any other group of disabled people. The Labour Force Survey of autumn 2004 found that people with mental health problems (including mental illness, phobias, panics or other nervous disorders) were more than three times more likely to be unemployed than all other disabled people (16% compared to 50% respectively). Those with depression, bad nerves or anxiety were also unlikely to be employed, only 23% reporting current employment.

Only 37% of employers are prepared to consider employing people with such difficulties (DWP, 2001) and a survey in 1996 showed that 34% of people with mental health problems had been dismissed or forced to resign from jobs and 69% had been put off applying for jobs because of fear of unfair treatment.

Between 12,000 and 15,000 adults of working age use the services of North East London (NELMHT) and East London and the City (ELCMHT) Mental Health NHS Trusts each year. It is estimated that at least the same number of people with mild and moderate mental health problems use local primary care services. It is therefore likely that at least 30,000 adults of working age are currently having difficulties in accessing work, employment, training or education opportunities or re-engaging in such activities.

Routes to employment

As some of the largest employers and deliverers of mental health services across the region both Mental Health Trusts want to use their influence to provide employment opportunities and vocational support to service users.

In 2004 the two Mental Health NHS Trusts decided to collaborate on Routes 2 Employment a joint NHS Live project focusing on mental health and employment issues across North East London. The main objectives for the project were that the two Mental Health Trusts should:

Lead by example as exemplar employers recruiting and retaining staff who had used or continue to use mental health services.
Deliver services that support mental health service users with their vocational aspirations.

There are numerous employment schemes and examples of good practice within the eight boroughs served by the two mental health trusts. The aim of Routes 2 Employment is to compliment and add value to these existing services.

Progess

Routes 2 Employment Employers’ Charter

An employers’ charter was developed that outlined what it means to be positive about mental health in the workplace. The Routes 2 Employment project steering group then worked on implementing the charter into every day practice in the two trusts.

Routes 2 Employment Toolkit

The R2E Toolkit includes a copy of the R2E Employers’ Charter and outlines the steps the two trusts took to implement the Charter. It suggests what other employers who want to adopt the charter should consider doing. The R2E Employers’ Charter and Toolkit has been shared with all the other NHS Trusts and Local Authorities across North East London and has been favourably received. It has also been shared with some private sector employers including BT our corporate sponsor who are supporting us in championing the importance of well being and good mental health in the workplace.

Routes 2 Employment DVD

During the first year of Routes 2 Employment staff from across both Mental Health Trusts who have experienced mental health problems contributed to a DVD. It demonstrates that people who use mental health services also make excellent employees. The DVD was screened at the Stratford Picture House in September 2005 to local partners in the health and social care sector. The DVD is now used in staff induction and training programmes across both trusts.

Routes 2 Employment Website

The site you are looking at is designed to provide up to date information about local resources for people who use mental health services and for the people who work with them. We welcome your input about what to include and what you have found helpful so others can benefit. www.Routes2Employment.co.uk

Routes 2 Employment Supporting the Vocational Aspirations of our Service Users

A Consultant Occupational Therapist for Employment and Vocational Opportunities was appointed in early 2006. The NELMHT, ELCMHT, NHS LONDON & LONDON SOUTH BANK University funds the post jointly. A network of Lead Occupational Therapists for Employment and Vocational Opportunities in each borough has now been established. They work closely with Jobcentre Plus and other local employment support services. In Newham, City & Hackney and Tower Hamlets they also work with Vocational Service Leads.

Routes 2 Employment Vocational Opportunities

We have achieved a target we set for ourselves in September 2005 to create 500 vocational opportunities for service users. We have achieved 558, which included vocational assessments, volunteer placements, supporting people to remain in existing jobs and to access paid work and training opportunities. We have achieved this target in partnership with other projects funded within the NHS such as ThinkARTS and Routes 2 Employment Forward the recently funded London Development Agency project.

Future Development

We are in the process of developing Routes 2 Employment vocational work plans in each of the boroughs. These will focus on addressing the needs of local mental health service users and working with borough partners to make best use of resources.

Alice Colson

Routes 2 Employment Project Manager

alice.colson@elcmht.nhs.uk