A PIONEERING pilot project is being launched across the district to help people with mental health problems into work.

Bradford District Care Trust has joined forces with the Centre for Mental Health for the initiative.

The aim of the Making Work Work venture is to support 60 people from Bradford, Airedale and Craven into paid employment.

Nicola Lees, the care trust's deputy chief executive, said: "We're really excited to be part of this project.

"Professionals will support people to make an informed choice about work and will provide practical and emotional help to access and sustain paid employment."

The project is being piloted across six areas, including Bradford, and will help a total of 340 people over three years.

Assistance will be given through the Department of Health-funded scheme with tasks such as seeking jobs, organising travel to work and managing symptoms when returning to work, and there will be ongoing support when in the workplace.

It is an extension of the so-called Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach.

Centre for Mental Health chief executive, Sean Duggan, said: "Only seven per cent of people using mental health services are in employment yet we know that more than half would like the chance to work with the right support.

"IPS has been shown to enable at least 50 per cent of people into jobs and to help sustain them. Yet there is currently a postcode lottery in access to IPS. Making Work Work will help to address this gap in provision.

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to extend IPS to people using mental health services in more parts of the country.

"The project will offer people help with both health and employment based on the principles of IPS which include having no exclusions, a rapid job search based on a person's preference with support for them and their employer as long as it's needed, and the provision of health care and benefits advice alongside employment support."