Mapping the growth of individual placement and support services in Norway

Objectives: Individual placement and support (IPS) is an evidence-based form of vocational rehabilitation that aims to help people with mental illness obtain and remain in competitive employment. The objective of this study is to quantify the national growth of IPS over an 8-year period in Norway. Methods: Using a combination of qualitative and registry data, we map how IPS was implemented in Norway between 2012 and 2019, both in terms of geographic availability and intensity of service provision. Results: In 2012 IPS was available in 4 out of 19 counties, with 14.9% of the population living in an area where IPS was present. By 2019 this had increased to all 19 counties in Norway, and more than 70% of the population lived in an area of Norway where IPS was available. The results are presented in eight heat maps that visually display how the intensity and availability of the service have expanded. Conclusion: This study has identified when and where IPS became available in Norway, which is key to future effectiveness studies of IPS in the IPSRON project.