Context and problem(s) addressed
In the United Kingdom, individuals with severe mental health conditions, learning disabilities, or autism face significant barriers to employment. As of 2021, the employment rate for individuals with mental illness was 28.8% lower than that of the general population. Additionally, only about 8% of those in contact with secondary mental health services were in paid employment, despite studies indicating that 30-50% are capable of working. Employment is crucial for mental and physical well-being, including for people with mental health conditions and disabilities.
Intervention and financing model
The Mental Health and Employment Partnership (MHEP) was launched to address these employment challenges by helping people with mental health problems into paid employment, following the evidence-based Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model. It was established in 2015 by Social Finance who helped commission 7 large IPS services across England, using the world’s first social impact bond for IPS.
MHEP received initial funding from Big Issue Invest and support from outcome funds like the Commissioning Better Outcomes Fund, Social Outcomes Fund, and the Life Chances Fund. In total, £2 million social investment was raised that could be used to pay for services. Investors are repaid when the services lead to positive job and health outcomes for the participants.
Key outcomes (if applicable) and associated measurements
In the MHEP, SIBs’ outcomes contract payments are structured around the achievement of three pre-specified, measurable outcomes: job starts (individual spends one full day in a paid competitive employment), job sustainment (individual sustains paid competitive employment for at least 13 weeks), and engagement with service (individual engages with the programme and completes the vocational profile).
By the end of 2021, in the 5 LCF sites, MHEP had supported 392 people with severe mental illness or learning disability into starting paid work, 192 into job sustainment and 1322 into engagement with the service. This means an average of one new job start for every 3 to 4 people who engaged with the programme.
The launch of the SIBs was nevertheless complicated, as it coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent national lockdown in the UK.
Publications:
- Mental Health and Employment Partnership (MHEP)
- Mental Health and Employment Partnership Evaluation: Life Chances Fund – Summary report