Specialist work schemes, user satisfaction and costs

This paper summarises the findings of a study of the costs and quality of life of 157 people attending specialist employment schemes for people with long term mental health problems in south east England. It briefly describes the research, the work force, and the seven work settings. It reports some of the differences found between service users in satisfaction, social networks and costs at 1994-5 levels. This is the first time that such data about work schemes in this country have been presented, and while still not generalisable, this study supplies valuable empirical evidence for all those concerned with psychiatric rehabilitation.