What Works
IPS-Y impact evaluation
Exploring what works to support young people with mental health difficulties into employment, education and training.
The systems challenge
Young people with mental health difficulties are at increased risk of not being in education, employment or training (NEET). For young people aged 16-17 with complex mental health needs, navigating educational transitions can also coincide with moving through or out of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), creating risks of discontinuity in support which can leave young people and families navigating separate systems for mental health treatment, education support, careers advice and employment support.
Our aim
To build on international evidence and grow our understanding of how integrated mental health, education and employment support might be delivered effectively for young people approaching adulthood in England, and of its effectiveness in improving education and employment outcomes.
What are we doing?
We are partnering with Ipsos, University of Strathclyde and Centre for Mental Health to deliver and evaluate the first large-scale trial of IPS-Y in the UK.
Participating NHS Trusts include Pennine Care Trust and Manchester Foundation Trust (MFT).
What is IPS?
Read more about What is IPS?Individual Placement Support is a recognised employment intervention for people with mental health conditions. It delivers intensive assistance to secure rapid job placement followed by ongoing workplace support to maintain employment sustainability.
Programme overview
There are examples of IPS having successfully been delivered in Europe to improve education and employment outcomes for young people with mental health needs.
While this is promising, we want to know more about the potential impact of IPS-Y on young people approaching adulthood, and if and how IPS-Y could be translated to a UK context.
Evaluation approach
Following a 2026 feasibility study, researchers will now conduct:
- A randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing education, employment, training and wellbeing outcomes for young people receiving treatment from CAMHS and a control group of young people that will receive business as usual support available locally.
- An implementation and process evaluation (IPE) that will seek to understand how IPS-Y achieved any impact.
- An economic evaluation that will monetise the benefits of IPS-Y to the Exchequer and society to understand whether it provides value for money.
Find out more
Meet the partners
University of Strathclyde Business School
What Works: testing youth employment interventions ·
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