An introduction to the new Lambeth Individual Placement and Support (IPS) employment service

Zandi Zungu, Area Manager, introduces her new service, part of our work helping prevent homelessness in London. Working with people with mental health support needs in the borough of Lambeth, the team are looking at ways of helping people back into employment.

“Our new project that is part of our partnership in the Lambeth Living Well Network Alliance is employment support for people receiving mental health support from the Alliance. We are focused on accessing good quality employment for people. 

“We are working directly with people who have expressed a need or want to work, or return to work. This new team fits well into Thames Reach’s structure, as we have a great deal of experience providing skills training and employment, as well as helping people to sustain jobs. Our Employment and Skills team has supported over 4,000 people actively pursuing employment, helping them with referrals, training and assessments in the last year. With the financial resilience side, we are helping people to reduce their debt, source discounts for their debt repayments, as well as manage general expenses.  

“While finding a job seems like one specific process, the aftercare is very important, when there are also mental health support needs to consider. Employment sustainment is something we actively work with, ensuring we are in contact with both the individual and the employer where wanted. We also provide advice for communicating health needs with employers, including disclosing mental health conditions if that’s something they want to do, as well as navigating difficult situations and managing expectations of what might be expected of them in a role. We also work to champion work as a route to recovery within the Alliance. 

“As per the remit of the Alliance, we work with people with a range of mental health support needs, so everything discussed is tailored to the individual. We have a multidisciplinary team approach, comprised of support workers, psychologists, and clinicians. Although we are a new team, we are working hard to identify and shape the best approach to helping people with mental health support needs get and sustain jobs. I’m really proud of this approach, which is not only multidisciplinary but also person-centred and trauma-informed.”