IPS – Individual Placement and Support Project
The IPS - Sijoita ja Valmenna! (IPS - Individual Placement and Support) Development Project implements a content-related and functional reform of the services rehabilitating to working life referred to in the National Mental Health Strategy.
The IPS model promotes entry, return and staying in the labor market of persons suffering from mental health disorders.
Since 2020, the project have been funded by the implementation of the National Mental Health Strategy and Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland (RRP).
The IPS activities will be consolidated in 2025–2027 as part of the National Health and Wellbeing Programme of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (Terveydeksi).
National Health and Wellbeing Programme
Objectives
In the IPS Development Project 2020-2023 the employment support services and the psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation services formed a mutually supportive service process. The aims of the development project were:
- Promotion of employment of people with mental health disorders
- Promotion of the wellbeing and social inclusion of people with mental health disorders
- Increasing and enhancing the competence of professionals
- Supporting the wider implementation of the IPS operating model in Finland.
The IPS Development Project was extended to six new wellbeing services counties in 2023-2024.
Työkyvyn ja työllistymisen tuki (in Finnish)
Implementation
IPS Development Project (ended)
The Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health granted financing to five regional try-out projects:
- Joint municipal authority for social and health services in North Karelia, Siun sote
- City of Helsinki Social Services and Health Care Division
- HUS Psychiatry and Uusimaa TE Office
- The Hospital District of South Ostrobothnia (supplementory application round 2021)
- Lapland Hospital District (supplementory application round 2021)
The regional projects funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health ended on June 30, 2023. After the try-outs, the regions introduce the IPS model as part of permanent operations.
IPS Development Project's Extention (ended)
The IPS Development Project was extended to six new wellbeing services counties in 2023-2024.
- Wellbeing services county of Central Finland
- Wellbeing services county of Central Ostrobothnia Soite
- Wellbeing services county of Southwest Finland
- Wellbeing services county of Northern Savonia
- Wellbeing services county of Ostrobothnia
- Wellbeing services county of Kainuu
The regional projects funded by the Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland (RRP) ended on December 31, 2024. After the project, the regions introduce the IPS model as part of permanent operations.
Partners and funding
- IPS Development Project: Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
- IPS Development Project's Extention: Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland, Next Generation EU, Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP)
Contact information
Helka Raivio
Project Manager
tel. +358 (0)29 524 7183
[email protected]
Minna Ahola
Senior Planning Officer
tel. +358 (0)29 524 7983
[email protected]
Kaija Appelqvist-Schmidlechner
Research Manager
tel. +358 (0)29 524 7275
[email protected]
Noora Sipilä
Researcher
tel. +358 (0)29 524 7929
[email protected]
- The number of clients who have started IPS job coaching: 428 clients
- The number of clients who have gained employment with IPS job coaching: 154 clients
- The share of clients who have gained employment: 36 %
The figures are gathered on 18 December 2024. The regional IPS projects belonging to the extension of the IPS Project, funded by the Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland, RRP, ended on 31 December 2024.
- The number of clients who have started IPS job coaching: 763 clients
- The number of clients who have gained employment with IPS job coaching: 348 clients
- The share of clients who have gained employment: 46 %
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has financed the IPS Development Project since 2020. The regional try-outs ended on June 30, 2023.