Employment rehabilitation schemes for people with mental health problems in the North West region: Service characteristics and utilisation

Abstract

Background: This paper describes the methodology and findings of an extensive survey of vocational rehabilitation services in the North West region. The objectives of the survey were to identify the number and types of Vocational Rehabilitation (V-R) service available to people with mental health problems in the North West; to determine whether there is any correlation between the level of utilisation of V-R services within each Health Authority (HA) area and the level of need as measured by the Mental Illness Needs Index (MINI) (Glover et al. 1996); measures of unemployment rates; and to determine whether the proportion of ethnic minorities utilising services are proportionate to the level of need reflected in the ethnic population. Methods: Services were identified using the Ermis database, employment networks and by asking services if they were aware of any we had missed. Data on type of service provision and number of clients were collected from all identified employment services that were aimed specifically at people with mental health problems. Conclusions: Vocational rehabilitation schemes appear to have been developed in a haphazard manner. If we are serious about improving these services for mentally ill people we need to implement an effective system of determining where services are needed. In addition, we need to examine further the types of approach on offer and implement more specific supported employment services in the North West region.