Mental health work rehabiliation services in the United States-innovation and good practice

Abstract

During the spring of 1994, the author visited innovative and good practice, mental health rehabilitation schemes in the United States. Current practice and the training of staff especially in the field of work rehabilitation, was observed, and comments are made on the positive features of these exemplary schemes and their programs. There are both striking similarities and differences in the philosophy and delivery of mental health work rehabilitation services in the United States and United Kingdom. The move away from the traditional workshop model to placing people in competitive employment, strongly emphasized in the United States in recent years, has shown promising results. The employment models used, and their relevance to services in the United Kingdom, are discussed. Ideas and information generated by the visit will be used to develop work rehabilitation services within the author's organization and in Oxfordshire as a whole.