Integrated support to overcome severe employment barriers: adapting the IPS approach

What kind of support is needed to help unemployed people who have experienced severe disadvantage to overcome barriers and find suitable employment?

Following an evaluation of the Personal Support Programme (a Commonwealth Government program for unemployed people facing severe or multiple personal barriers to employment), this paper examined the applicability of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model which provides integrated, team-based assistance.

The paper outlines the key conceptual and operational principles of IPS. It reviews the evidence for the model’s effectiveness and relevance to different settings, including in Australia and explores some critiques and limitations. Finally, it identifies challenges of implementation, along with strategies to address these.