BACKGROUND: Approximately onethird of cancer survivors encounter challenges reintegrating into the workforce, often experiencing involuntary unemployment and/or partial or full work disability following diagnosis and treatment. Returning to paid employment presents evident challenges due to uncertainties regarding work ability, perceived employer discrimination, and a lack of support, thereby risking social exclusion. However, interventions addressing return to paid employment among unemployed and/or work-disabled cancer survivors are scarce. Here, we describe the protocol of a randomized controlled trial (RCT), including a process and economic evaluation, evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the PLACES (unemPLoyed cAnCEr survivors Support) intervention aimed at supporting unemployed and/or work-disabled cancer survivors returning to paid employment.
METHODS: A two-armed RCT with a 12-month follow-up period will be conducted. Eligible participants: (1) are of working age (18-65 years), (2) are diagnosed with cancer between 6 months and 10 years ago, (3) are unemployed and/or partially or fully work-disabled, (4) have completed cancer treatment, and (5) are seeking paid employment and are motivated to initiate work immediately. Participants will primarily be identified through the Dutch Social Security Agency and the Netherlands Cancer Registry and recruited via healthcare professionals. Participants randomly allocated to the intervention group (n = 82) will receive the PLACES intervention: a tailored supported employment intervention based on the principles of Individual Placement and Support (IPS). This includes support in seeking, returning to, and maintaining paid employment. Participants allocated to the control group (n = 82) will receive care as usual. All participants will be asked to complete questionnaires, at baseline (T0), and after 3 (T1), 6 (T2), and 12 (T3) months of follow-up. The primary outcome is paid employment [yes/no]. Secondary outcomes are time until paid employment, change in working hours, work ability, quality of (working) life, and self-efficacy regarding return to work. Additionally, process and economic evaluations will be conducted.
CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that the PLACES intervention will be effective in obtaining paid employment, enhancing work ability, and improving quality of life. In addition, we expect the intervention to be cost-effective. If proven effective and cost-effective, actions should be taken to implement the intervention in usual care.
BACKGROUND: NCT06028048.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of integrated employment support and mental health treatment (Individual Placement and Support, or \"IPS\") on Aotearoa New Zealand participants\' employment, income, health, education and justice outcomes.
METHODS: De-identified linked data from the Stats NZ Integrated Data Infrastructure and propensity score matching were used to estimate effects.
RESULTS: In total, 1,659 IPS participants were matched to 1,503 non-participants. Compared with matched non-participants, matched participants were 1.6 times more likely to be in employment at 12 months. Over 3 years, matched IPS participants had more earnings, more time in employment, greater total income and were more likely to gain qualifications. They also had more face-to-face contacts with mental health teams, mental health-related inpatient stays and mental health service crisis contacts than matched non-participants. Effects for Māori were similar in direction and scale to the overall results.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that people with mental health conditions or problematic substance use who receive employment support made available together with mental health and addiction treatment have more employment, gains in qualifications and more independent income when compared to similar people who do not receive this support. More research is needed to understand differences in engagement with mental health services and effects on participants\' health and wellbeing.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a common mental disorder and is associated with work disability. For the implementation of evidence-based interventions, such as Individual Placement and Support (IPS) for people with depression in Germany, the aim of this study was to investigate client variables that predict return to work.
METHODS: The sample consisted of 129 participants, initially treated in a psychiatric hospital due to major depression, who participated in IPS as part of a German clinical trial. Baseline demographic (age, sex, education, sickness absence days, employment status), psychiatric (symptom severity, comorbidity, general physical and mental health, disability), and neuropsychological (self-rated deficits, test performance) variables were included. Return to work within one year was predicted using separate and overall binary logistic regression analyses.
RESULTS: A total of 70 participants (56 %) returned to work within the one-year follow-up period. >100 days of sick leave in the year prior to study entry (vs. <100 days) and higher self-rated cognitive deficits were significantly associated with reduced odds of return to work within one year of IPS.
CONCLUSIONS: The sample consisted of participants with a relatively good work history who were assigned to IPS by the treatment team, thus, the generalizability of the results is limited.
CONCLUSIONS: People with depression who participate in IPS interventions might benefit from specifically targeting perceived cognitive deficits. Factors associated with prolonged sick leave due to depression and their role in return to work with IPS need further investigation.

BACKGROUND: People with severe mental illnesses are often excluded from working life and would like support to (re)enter the general labor market as part of the psychiatric treatment. Individual placement and support (IPS) is an effective method of finding and retaining work in the general labor market. The aim of the study was to determine the integration rates of IPS into the general labor market in acute and postacute psychiatric settings, identifying patient, setting and program characteristics associated with (re)entering work.
METHODS: A retrospective chart review (RCR) of routine clinical data between 2016 and 2021 was carried out. The IPS program adherence was rated using the IPS fidelity scale.
RESULTS: A total of 375 patients participated in the IPS with at least 4 appointments. The (re)integration rate into the general labor market was 51.7%. A shorter time period to the last working day, diagnosis of F1, F2, F3 (vs. F4), change of treatment setting and IPS in the psychiatric institute outpatient department (PIA), IPS fidelity and the number of IPS coaching sessions were positively correlated with (re)integration into work.
CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of IPS in clinical mental healthcare is possible and leads to high integration rates in the open labor market. An early start of IPS during the clinical treatment can promote social inclusion.
UNASSIGNED: HINTERGRUND: Menschen mit schweren psychischen Erkrankungen sind häufig aus dem Arbeitsleben exkludiert und wünschen im Rahmen der psychiatrischen Behandlung Unterstützung bei der (Wieder)aufnahme einer Arbeit auf dem allgemeinen Arbeitsmarkt. Individual Placement and Support (IPS) ist ein wirksames Verfahren, Arbeit auf dem allgemeinen Arbeitsmarkt zu finden und zu halten. Ziel der Arbeit war die Ermittlung der Eingliederungsraten von IPS auf den allgemeinen Arbeitsmarkt im akuten und postakuten psychiatrischen Setting sowie die Identifikation von Patienten‑, Setting- und Programmmerkmalen, die mit der (Wieder)aufnahme von Arbeit assoziiert waren.
METHODS: Retrospektiver Chart-Review (RCR) klinischer Routinedaten zwischen 2016 und 2021. Rating der IPS-Programmtreue mithilfe der IPS-Fidelity-Scale.
UNASSIGNED: Insgesamt 375 Patienten nahmen mit mindestens vier Terminen am IPS teil. Die (Wieder)eingliederungsrate auf den allgemeinen Arbeitsmarkt betrug 51,7 %. Eine kürzere Zeitspanne zum letzten Arbeitstag, die Diagnosen F1, F2, F3 (vs. F4), ein Wechsel des Behandlungssettings und IPS in der psychiatrischen Institutsambulanz (PIA), IPS-Fidelity sowie die Anzahl der IPS-Coachings waren positiv mit der (Wieder)aufnahme von Arbeit korreliert.
UNASSIGNED: Die Umsetzung von IPS in der klinischen Versorgung ist möglich und führt zu hohen Eingliederungsraten auf dem allgemeinen Arbeitsmarkt. Ein früher Beginn von IPS während der klinischen Behandlung kann die soziale Inklusion fördern.

BACKGROUND: Persons with mild and moderate intellectual disability (MMID) have the right to participate in all aspects of society and be afforded equal opportunities to realise their full potential. However, it is a challenge for persons with MMID to find and maintain employment due to many different barriers. Currently, there is no contextually relevant framework in South Africa that considers the unique employment support needs and accommodation of persons with MMID, which can guide and inform the transition to employment interventions, strategies and national policy directives.
METHODS: The proposed scoping review will be guided by the methodological framework developed by a working group from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and the JBI Collaboration. The search for relevant studies will be conducted across 12 research databases. Reference mining of review studies will be conducted. A three-step search strategy will be used, including the use of information management software to manage the search results. Three independent reviewers will screen the full-text studies to finalise the list of included and excluded studies. Included studies will be assessed for methodological quality using a critical appraisal tool. Data will be charted by one independent reviewer and assessed by two independent reviewers, using a data charting instrument. The data chart will be presented using tables and charts describing the demographic features of the reviewed studies, with an explanation of the thematically analysed results.
BACKGROUND: This scoping review has received ethical approval (BM22/10/11). A summary of the findings of the study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. This scoping review will contribute to a better understanding of the key characteristics or factors underpinning the components of a multilevel transition to employment framework that will result in open labour market employment for persons with MMID.

OBJECTIVE: Primary and review studies show that supported employment interventions showed promise in assisting people with severe mental illness (SMI) in achieving successful employment and health-related outcomes. This umbrella review synthesises evidence from across review studies on supported employment interventions for individuals with SMI, to identify key findings and implementation challenges in relation to five key outcomes: (1) employment, (2) quality of life, (3) social functioning, (4) clinical/service utilisation, and (5) economic outcomes.
METHODS: A systematic search of eleven databases and registers (CINAHL, Cochrane, EmCare, JBI EBP, ProQuest, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, and Prospero and Campbell) was conducted to identify meta-analyses and systematic reviews on supported employment interventions for individuals with SMI, peer reviewed and published in English. Quality assessment and data extraction were performed using standardised Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tools. A mixed-methods synthesis approach was employed to integrate both quantitative and qualitative evidence.
RESULTS: The synthesis of 26 review studies primarily focused on the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model among various supported employment interventions. Overall, combining supported employment with targeted interventions such as neurocognitive therapy and job-related social skill training showed a positive effect on employment (including job retention) and non-employment outcomes (e.g., health, quality of life, social functioning) relative to standard forms of supported employment for people with SMI. Contextual factors (intervention fidelity, settings, systemic barriers) were important considerations for intervention implementation and effectiveness.
CONCLUSIONS: Significant overlap of primary studies across 26 review studies exposed considerable variations in interpretation and conclusions drawn by authors, raising questions about their reliability. High volume of overlap reporting from the USA on IPS interventions in review studies is likely to have biased perceptions of effectiveness. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for supporting individuals with SMI in obtaining and maintaining employment. Tailoring strategies based on individual needs and circumstances appears crucial to address the complexity of mental health recovery. We propose creating centralised registries or databases to monitor primary studies included in reviews, thus avoiding redundancy.
UNASSIGNED: This umbrella study was registered with PROSPERO (No. CRD42023431191).

Meaningful progress in improving employment outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities continues to be elusive, despite 40 years of investment in research, policy, and supports. This article reviews the current state of employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and describes policy, practice, and individual factors that influence employment outcomes. Research suggests the need for a holistic approach to change that addresses systems-level strategy, policy, and fiscal investment while strengthening individual experiences with employment and related day services. Recommendations address strengthening the implementation of employment policy, developing pathways to employment, and engaging individuals with IDD and, in particular, individuals with diverse social characteristics in reflecting on the quality of their experiences and supports.

The employment of individuals with disabilities is significantly low. Many factors are associated with this issue; however, support and accommodations that can be provided to such individuals can improve their employment rate and outcomes. This study aimed to examine the support provided to employees with disabilities in Saudi Arabia. The descriptive approach was utilized, and a survey was used to collect the data. The sample consisted of 86 employer participants to examine the support of their employees with disabilities. Findings revealed that the support provided was high, and the participants reported that such support facilitates finding and maintaining a job. In addition, the variables were all found to have no significant differences. Providing needed and necessary support is an effective strategy that leads to competitive employment for individuals with disabilities, especially for the long term. Implications and recommendations are also discussed.

The Chinese government initiated a pilot program to implement supported employment for people with disabilities in 2014. Since then, policies have been enacted to promote supported employment. This study explored how practitioners understand and implement supported employment for people with disabilities in China. It was found that non-governmental service organizations have mainly implemented supported employment with financial support provided by local disabled persons\' federations; without a governmental guide, the small-scale folk practice presented many difficulties and unstable factors. Results indicated that the Chinese government should actively establish and improve the supported employment system and further expand supported employment practices at the governmental level.

BACKGROUND: Employment is a vital source for experiencing well-being and lowering the risk of long-term social marginalisation and poverty. For persons with alcohol and drug addiction, it may also improve sobriety. However, the unemployment situation for this group reflects the knowledge gap in effective interventions to support employment. While Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is recognised as evidence-based supported employment for those with serious mental health problems, no scientific evidence for the target group of addiction exists to date. The aim of the present IPS for Alcohol and Drug Addiction in Sweden (IPS-ADAS) trial is to study whether IPS has an effect on gaining employment for this group.
METHODS: The IPS-ADAS trial is a multisite, pragmatic, parallel, and single-blinded, superiority randomised controlled trial (RCT). Participants (N = 330) will be randomly assigned (1:1) and participate in IPS plus treatment as usual within Addiction Services (IPS + TAU) or Traditional Vocational Rehabilitation (TVR) available plus TAU (TVR + TAU) for 12 months. The principle of intention-to-treat (ITT) will be applied. The hypothesis is that a significantly larger proportion of IPS + TAU participants will be employed for > 1 day (primary outcome), reach employment sooner, work more hours and longer periods of time, and have a higher income as compared to TVR + TAU participants at 18-month follow-up. We further anticipate that those who benefit from IPS + TAU will use less alcohol and drugs, experience better health, and use less care and support, including support from the justice system, in comparison to TVR + TAU participants, at 6, 12, and 18 months. A supplementary process evaluation, using the IPS Fidelity Scale (25 items) and adhered interviews will address delivery and receipt of the IPS as well as contextual hinders and barriers for coproduction and implementation. Working age (18-65), willingness to work, unemployment, participation in an information meeting about the RCT, treatment for addiction diagnosis, and being financially supported by welfare, constitute eligible criteria.
CONCLUSIONS: A primary study on the effectiveness of IPS on employment for the new target group of addictions will add to the international IPS knowledge base and inform national policy to include the underrepresented group in working life.
BACKGROUND: WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform ISRCTN10492363. Registered on 14 August 2023.