Evaluation of a national supported employment programme for people with psychiatric conditions

Statement of context: Job Club is a National Mental Health Blueprint programme funded by the Ministry of Health in Singapore, to provide supported employment for people recovering from psychiatric conditions. Critical reflection on practice: Professional staff such as occupational therapists were re-designated as vocational specialists in this programme. Between financial years 2009 and 2014, a total of 1449 job placements were carried out. Fifty-six per cent of all job placements lasted more than two months and 47% of them lasted more than three months. From 2012, the service was integrated with an existing occupational therapy psychiatric rehabilitation service, resulting in an improved job placement rate from 19% to 63%. Linear regression analyses found that only prior vocational training predicted job tenure. Implications for practice: Overall, occupational therapists found that our training in activity analyses enabled us to conduct job task analyses, employer education as well as worksite support and modifications competently.