Vocational rehabilitation via social firms: a qualitative investigation of the views and experiences of employees with mental health problems, social firm managers and clinicians

Nicola Morant*, Alyssa Milton, Eleanor Gilbert, Sonia Johnson, Nicholas Parsons, Swaran Singh, Steven Marwaha

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)
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Abstract

Background: Employment within social firms in the UK is under-developed and under-researched, but a potentially beneficial route to vocational rehabilitation for people with mental health problems. This study explores the views and experiences of employees with mental ill-health, managers of social firms and mental health clinicians, in order to understand the potential value of social firms for the vocational rehabilitation, employment and well-being of people with mental health problems. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 employees with mental health problems in 11 social firms in England. A focus group and individual interviews were conducted with 12 managers of social firms. Two focus groups were held with 16 mental health clinicians. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Most employees expressed very positive views about working in a social firm. In responses from both employees and social firm managers, an overarching theme regarding the supportive ethos of social firms encompassed several related features: openness about mental health issues; peer, team and management support; flexibility; and support to progress and develop skills over time. Managers identified benefits of employing people with mental health problems who were sufficiently recovered. Knowledge of social firms within clinician focus groups was very limited, although clinicians thought they could be a welcome additional vocational resource. Conclusions: High levels of job satisfaction among social firm employees may be explained by the supportive ethos of these working environments. Social firms have potential to be a helpful addition to the range of vocational pathways available for people with mental ill-health. Further mixed methods investigations of experiences and outcomes in order to understand who engages with and benefits from this form of vocational rehabilitation would be valuable in informing decisions about scaling up the model.

Original languageEnglish
Article number566
Number of pages11
JournalBMC Psychiatry
Volume21
Issue number1
Early online date12 Nov 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This report represents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research under its Research for Patient Benefit Programme (grant number PB-PG-0609-19079). The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the National Institute for Health Research or the Department of Health.

We would like to thank members of Suresearch who collected the data, and particularly Adrian Fisher who collected data and contributed to data analysis. We also thank Di Cunliffe from Social Firms UK, and the social firm employees, managers and clinicians who gave their time to be interviewed, and the expert by experience researchers who conducted interviews. For this manuscript, Dr. Milton was supported partially by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course (Project ID CE200100025).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).

Keywords

  • Mental illness
  • Qualitative research
  • Social enterprise
  • Social firms
  • Supported employment
  • UK
  • Vocational rehabilitation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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