ABSTRACT
Commissioners are under pressure to increase employment opportunities for service users with mental health problems to aid recovery and promote social integration. This chapter presents the results of a survey examining the current operation of supported employment in the UK for people with mental health problems. The survey was part of a wider study of employment support for all disability groups to which 423 employment officers working with people with mental health problems responded. The chapter describes the employment officers and their clients and then draws out conclusions about the current stage of development of supported employment in the UK and the further developments required. Very few employment officers appeared to focus exclusively on mental health issues. Most worked with other client groups as well, including people with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorder, acquired brain injury, physical disabilities and sensory disabilities.
