Vocational Recovery in Young People With First Episode Psychosis.

The intervention will be an employment intervention called Individual Placement and Support which is a well defined version of Supported Employment. Individual Placement and Support has six key principles: it is focussed on competitive employment (i.e. jobs which are not set aside but open to anyone with the appropriate skills or qualifications to apply for) as an outcome; IPS is open to any person with mental illness who chooses to look for work and that acceptance into the program is not determined by measures of work-readiness or illness variables; job searching commences directly on entry into the program; the IPS program is integrated with the mental health treatment team; potential jobs are chosen based on consumer preference; and the support provided in the program is time-unlimited, continuing after employment is obtained, and is adapted to the needs of the individual. A seventh principle is also sometimes considered as part of the model of IPS which is benefits counselling as there are often disincentives to be negotiated in transitioning from a welfare benefit to paid employment. These can include loss of concessions for transport and utilities, high effective marginal tax rates and loss of public health access (especially in USA). Those in the intervention group will receive service from one of two employment consultants who will follow the principles of the IPS model described above. These consultants are people who have worked in and are familiar with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) system, but are not subject to the contractual conditions of DEWR services in their current role. Their job will be to meet with participants as required, begin job searching immediately, support the job seeking process and support those who find work in their position for the duration of the intervention. They may also work with participants to achieve an educational outcome such as enrolment in a course where this is the most appropriate outcome for the individual. Those in the intervention group will have access to all normal Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) services. In intervention the consultant liaises with the participant’s case manager, and clinical care is continued throughout. The intervention will last for a period of 6 months. The employment sought will be in the open labour market.