IPS Rapid Placement — MRCPsych Paper B MCQ

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EasyRehabilitationIPS Rapid PlacementMRCPsych Paper B

A 40-year-old man with schizophrenia wishes to return to paid work. An employment specialist begins an immediate search for an ordinary competitive job that matches his preferences, without requiring pre-vocational training or a sheltered placement. Individualised support will continue after he starts work. Which employment model is being used?

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Correct answer: A — Individual Placement and Support (IPS)

The correct answer is A, Individual Placement and Support (IPS). Its characteristic “place then train” approach involves rapidly seeking ordinary competitive paid employment according to the person’s preferences, rather than delaying placement for pre-vocational training. Individualised support continues after employment begins. Sheltered workshops provide work in a protected setting rather than mainstream competitive employment. Pre-vocational programmes use a “train then place” sequence. A social firm is a commercial enterprise employing a proportion of people who are disadvantaged in the labour market, rather than an individual supported-employment method. Day-centre attendance may provide structured occupation or social activity but is not a rapid competitive-employment model.

Reference: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Rehabilitation for adults with complex psychosis, NG181, recommendations 1.8.10 and definition of Individual Placement and Support, 2020. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG181/chapter/recommendations