First Step Trust - Research and Publications

FST’s contribution to the debate on mental health and employment

Over the last decade FST’s model has been recognised at a national, for providing a positive employment option to people with mental health problems and other disadvantages. FST has built up a wealth of experience and expertise in this area and has been asked to contribute to Government initiatives on a number of occasions.

Employment of People with Mental Health Problems and Histories of Offending Programme 2008/9 – 2010/11

Ronnie Wilson MBE and Joint FST CEO, is a member of this steering group run by the Employment Programme of Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health. The purpose of the group is to identify and develop new ways of promoting the employment of people with mental health problems who also have had a history of offending.

‘Mental Health and Work’

Published in March 2008. Produced by The Royal College of Psychiatrists for the cross-government Health, Work and Well-being programme.
This is a report formed part of a Government review of the health-related factors that influence our working life. The purpose of the review was to inform policy on health and employment. The review team was lead by Dame Carol Black National Director for Health and Work who commissioned this supplementary report because ‘mental health problems have a greater impact on people’s ability to work than any other group of disorders.’

FST’s Chair, Paul Lelliot, Consultant Psychiatrist, was one of the authors of the report with Carole Furnivall, FST’s Joint CEO, a contributor.

The report sites FST’s SMaRT project in Greater Manchester as an example of type of work scheme which provides work experience and support for people with mental health problems (see page 30, box 9). Mental Health & Work Report (PDF)

Dame Carol Black – Video Clips

Video Clip 1 - Work is a critical factor - The Value of Work

Video Clip 2 – First Step Trust - I was the speaker....

‘On the job’ training delivers positive results in Salford

Published in November 2008. First Step Trust.
FST commissioned Credo Community Solutions, to carry out an independent piece of research and evaluation of their SMaRT garage project in Greater Manchester. The report identified the key aspects of FST’s social enterprise model and demonstrated that FST’s unique approach to learning ‘on the job’ had a positive impact on the employability of those hardest to reach groups.
Download report summary (PDF)
Download full report (PDF)

‘Mental Health and Social Inclusion’

Published in June 2004. Social Exclusion Unit, ODPM.
The report examines the cycle of deprivation linked to mental health and the important role that employment, amongst other things, can have in breaking that cycle and preventing social exclusion.

The report features a number of case studies of successful local projects that have supported individuals overcome ‘the challenges posed by mental health problems to lead fulfilling lives.’ One of these case studies is of an FST workforce member who successfully used the project to move into open employment (see p16). The report also lists FST as an example of ‘an employment option’ which can benefit people with mental health problems, currently excluded from the workplace, who want to get back into employment (see p64). View or download report summary (PDF)

Evaluation: First Step Trust (Berkshire) Project in Broadmoor Hospital

Published August 2001. Institute for Applied Social and Health Policy, Kings College, London.
This report was an independent evaluation of FST Berkshire – a project based in the high secure hospital, Broadmoor. The research and evaluation set out to discover what impact the project was having on participants and on the culture of the hospital itself. It also identified the key characteristics of the FST model that brought about this change. Key factors included: opportunities for taking responsibility, high level of workforce involvement in decision-making, the focus on commercial work, and staff attitudes and approach.
*Bob Grove now heads up the Employment Programme at the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health which advises government and local authorities on the implementation of policy. Helen Lockett is the Research and Development Manager of the Employment Programme.

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