Individual placement and support (IPS) – a time-out from modernity: an investigation on the relationship between IPS specialists and clients

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study examines how evidence-based individual placement and support (IPS) interventions can be perceived to go beyond their constituent principles and fidelity scale to foster a relationship between IPS specialists and clients guided by three principles that promote deceleration and resonance, concepts put forward by Hartmut Rosa. This article is based on a case-study involving two municipalities in Denmark where the IPS method was implemented, resulting in high fidelity and good job outcomes. This study shows that when IPS specialists adhere to the IPS model, their relationship with their clients was seemingly guided by three values, namely, patience in securing sustainable employment, persistence in experimenting with employment and accepting and dealing with barriers to employment. These values originate from the evidence-based IPS approach and principles, but they can be interpreted to supplement the IPS model and form a professional practice. This practice promotes deceleration of social life as well as the immersion of clients in a resonant relationship with job opportunities, with their own mental health and with IPS specialists. The IPS intervention is in sharp contrast to the regular employment service wherein clients are pressured into taking jobs they do not want before they are ready to work. In this sense, the relationship IPS clients establish with IPS specialists is a time-out from modernity.