Our goal is for people to have sustainable jobs

”I am really looking forward to being part of Lumena. To collaborate and learn from the other sub-projects and work more with IPS, which is an evidence-based method. We know that the method works, but it gives us deeper knowledge.

By the end of the project, we will have introduced IPS in more organisations,” says Jonas Andersson, project manager for the Lumena integration of IPS psychosocial care.

 IPS helps people with mental health problems find and keep jobs. The aim of IPS, which stands for ”Individual placement and support”, is to support participants to become independent and successful in the workplace while taking care of their health.

”The idea is to support people in the way that best suits their needs. They are helped to find a job that they like and are good at. At the same time, they are supported to deal with any challenges that may arise due to your mental health.” 

Jonas previously worked as a project worker in the IPS project that started in 2019 via Samordningsförbundet Stockholm stad.

”It had been identified that it was difficult for municipalities to integrate IPS with psychiatric work. Since the basis of IPS is that the work should be integrated with psychiatry, we looked at the solutions and trialled IPS in different psychosis clinics.”

There is evidence that the more programmatically you work, the better the results. It works for people who are ready for work and study. IPS support can be provided over a long period of time, with a particular focus on the ”retention phase” - that is, providing support during work or study. The aim is for people to have sustainable working lives. In the long run, more people will start working or studying through this method.

”In the region, we saw that there were people with mental health problems who wanted to work, but that the barriers for them to enter the labour market were too high. The IPS project made the method available to people who had not previously had access to this support.”

Jonas and his team always work towards work and study and always towards regular jobs.

”For us, the most important thing is that the person is motivated. Once we know that this is the case, we start an IPS programme. Then we start with a mapping of resources, goals in life and everything else that is important. When we are done with that, we look for workplaces that match the person. 

”Under Lumena, we work as we always have, providing personalised support. Our labour specialists are part of the teamwork in the clinics.”

Jonas is a human resources scientist and sociologist with a focus on individuals and organisations. He has worked in care all his professional life and in the Supported Employment method for the last ten years.

”What annoys me is that there are not more of us working with IPS. We know that it works. That it will save us a lot of resources and money. I'm always going on about it. It's good for society, good for people and good for the economy,” says Jonas.