Haringey residents with mental health problems will be offered extra help to find and maintain work, thanks to a new service launched in Haringey today. The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) service, which will be delivered by the charity Twining Enterprise has been commissioned by Haringey Council in Partnership with the Haringey Clinical Commissioning Group and the Department for Work and Pensions.  It will support people with severe and enduring mental health needs into employment over the next two years.

IPS has been shown to significantly increase the job prospects of people with mental health problems elsewhere, and it has demonstrated that securing employment can be a crucial factor in helping people recover, as well as improving their overall health and wellbeing.

Cllr Peter Morton, Haringey Council Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said:

"I am delighted that we are going to be able to offer people with severe or enduring mental health problems in Haringey support to get into work.

"Research has shown that finding and maintaining employment can have a profoundly positive effect on helping people to recover from mental illness."

Bob Kitchin, Chief Executive at Twining Enterprise said:

“Twining is a local London based charity that exists solely to improve mental wellbeing by helping our clients enjoy the benefits of a working life.

"We are excited to be delivering an employment service for residents in Haringey - making a positive change to people who are most disadvantaged in the labour market.

"At a time of continued financial pressure, it is fantastic to see this vision and leadership from Haringey’s local agencies”

The service will be available to people who are living in Haringey, are either unemployed with a desire to work or employed and in need of support, and receiving support from the Early Intervention in Psychosis Team or Recovery and Enablement Track (RET).

The programme, which has been commissioned by Haringey Council in partnership with Haringey CCG, The Department for Work and Pensions and Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust.