Challenging barriers to employment, training and education for mental health service users: The service user's perspective

Abstract

In 1999 the 'Care Programme to Work' project at the Institute for Applied Health and Social Policy undertook a survey of service users in Sheffield. The aim was to identify users' employment, education and training needs, as they perceived them. One hundred and fifty-six interviews were carried out across the city, followed by 11 focus groups to explore vocational issues in more detail and ensure that the views of groups under-represented in the interviews were included. Service users were employed as interviewers and focus group leaders. Open employment was the most frequently identified long-term goal. The study highlighted the need for an integrated approach to vocational guidance and support; for strong links with employment and educational agencies and with projects supporting diverse groups of users; for access to impartial benefits advice; and for mental health services themselves to take a lead in providing and promoting employment opportunities.