This paper examines the potential of an Individual Placement and Support (IPS) program embedded within primary healthcare centres, targeting adults with a history of complex barriers to employment. Few IPS programs are integrated into primary healthcare systems. We administered a series of 4 surveys over 12 months, consisting of standardized health measures and open-ended questions, to participants enrolled in the program (n=41) and performed descriptive and qualitative analyses to report on the common barriers and patterns of barriers experienced, changes in employment and health over time, and suggested program enhancements. While our results are preliminary, they provide important insights into the potential impact of IPS embedded within primary healthcare settings. Future research should focus on how to implement integrated health and social service models to ensure continued engagement from populations with complex barriers.
Kwan et al. (Mon,) studied this question.