“Is work good for you?” Does paid employment produce positive social capital returns for people with severe and enduring mental health conditions?
| Pages | 14-25 |
| Published date | 24 February 2012 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/20428301211205865 |
| Date | 24 February 2012 |
| Author | Martin Dominy,Toby Hayward‐Butcher |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
‘‘Is work good for you?’’ Does paid
employment produce positive social capital
returns for people with severe and
enduring mental health conditions?
Martin Dominy and Toby Hayward-Butcher
Abstract
Purpose – This paper seeks to examine whether paid employment produces positive social capital
returns for people with severe and enduring mental health needs.
Design/methodology/approach – A sample of 96 users of mental health services in Sussex, who had
been supported to return to work, completed a questionnaire rating their level of agreement with
statements about their quality of life both before and after they started working. In addition, three
supplementary individual case studies were made.
Findings – Analysis showed significant increases in reported quality of life following employment. The
post-employment positivity of responses was found across most areas of well-being. Significant but
varying gains were found in the majority of individuals who reported improvement in the following areas;
social life; independence; resilience; confidence and self-esteem; optimism; satisfaction; general
happiness and ability to manage mental health. A third of individuals reported improvementsin personal
relationships and physical health. Qualitative data indicated that increased confidence was perceived
by participants as the most important factor. Increased benefits were also found to be associated with
individuals who had worked for a longer period, worked longer hours and were supported on a contract
with high fidelity to the IPS model.
Research limitations/implications – The paper relies on a self-report method requiring respondentsto
reflect on how they felt pre and post gaining employment. This follows a rather subjective methodology.
There were a number of individuals who had only worked for one month or less in the past year. These
are unlikely to have experienced social capital returns or in fact any real impact at all as a result of
working and likely distorted the results to some extent.
Originality/value – There have been limited research studies that have examined the additional social
capital returns for people with enduring mental ill health who return to work.
Keywords Mental health, Social capital, IPS, Employment, Social inclusion, Well-being
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Southdown Housing Association, a not-for profit Sussex-based organisation, is jointly
commissioned by local authorities and Primary Care Trusts to provide vocational support
services within Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’sMental Health Recover y Teams.
It currently provides vocational support to over 1,000 people each year across Brighton and
Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex, and in 2010/2011 successfully met its contract targets
by securing paid employment for 191 individuals.
Based on the proven success of these kinds of services, Southdown has been accredited as
a national ‘‘Centre of Excellence’’ for delivery of the individual placement and support (IPS)
model by The Centre for Mental Health, working in partnership with the Sussex Partnership
Foundation Trust.
PAGE 14
j
MENTAL HEALTHAND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
VOL. 16 NO. 1 2012, pp. 14-25, QEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308 DOI 10.1108/20428301211205865
Martin Dominy is Head of
Supported Employment
and Toby Hayward-Butcher
is a Researcher, both at
Southdown Housing
Association, Lewes, UK.
Southdown Housing
Association is a specialist
provider of support and
housing services to disabled
and vulnerable people across
Sussex. Its vision is for
‘‘everyone, no matter what their
life experience, background or
challenges will have the
opportunity to lead their life to
the full.’’ Established in 1972 it
has a long history of working
locally to develop and deliver
innovative community based
projects that puts this vision into
practice. It employs 800 staff
and provides support services
to over 5,500 people each year.
To continue reading
Request your trial