NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight has commissioned employability charity Shaw Trust to launch a free, voluntary service, IPS Together, to help residents with mental health challenges find and stay in work.
Launching on 1 July 2025, the new Individual Placement and Support (IPS) service will cover the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth, and parts of Hampshire. IPS is a form of tailored employment support that links work and health, helping people with health problems return to or stay in work and improve their wellbeing.
A recent survey found that 790,000 working age people across Britain are off work due to their mental health, with nearly half of these (44%) expecting to be able to work if their health improves. The survey also found that those who aren’t working overwhelmingly see work as a key part of their identity and a route to higher self-esteem, happiness and security. With 200,000 people ready for work now if the right job or support were available.
Across Hampshire there are around 39,300 or 24% of people who are economically inactive (not in work or looking for work) due to long term sickness. Long term sickness accounts for almost 1 in 4 of all inactive people of working age in Hampshire.
On the Isle of Wight around 18,200 people or 24% are economically inactive. Mental health problems are the most common reason for economic inactivity due to long-term sickness.
The new service will:
- help people get and keep good quality jobs
- provide careers advice and benefits information
- work as a part of community mental health teams
- act as a link between mental health teams and employers
Shelley Southon, Chief Operating Officer at Shaw Trust said: “We are delighted to have been selected as the new provider of this vital IPS service covering Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
“I cannot understate the power of IPS to completely transform a person’s life. It does this by supporting their health and employment needs at the same time. And it works! We’ve supported more than 19,000 people with IPS services, and our data is clear that those who find work are more likely to show an improvement in their wellbeing. There are financial benefits too, with an average wage of £32,000 for those who gained employment through one of our programmes.”
Jenny Erwin, Deputy Chief Delivery Officer at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight said: “Working with Shaw Trust is a great opportunity for us to provide support for people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight with mental health challenges to help them find suitable long-term employment.
“We will be working closely with Shaw Trust to improve the confidence and wellbeing of people who would previously struggle with employment.”