Gaining insight from experience: what are service users saying about employment?

Abstract

Developing employment services can feel like trying to push water uphill. Staff must often battle against local mental health services that have only a short history of interest in this issue, a welfare benefit system that speaks of promoting opportunity but seems to block every step forward, and discriminatory employment practices that appear to be rife despite the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. This means that anyone with the vision and determination to create an employment project deserves high praise.It takes unusual courage to listen to blunt and direct feedback about one's local employment service. This article describes the findings of a consultation conference, many of which will be of interest to anyone working in the field.