A fidelity scale for the individual placement and support model of supported employment

A 15-item fidelity scale was developed to assess the extent to which vocational programs for people with severe mental illness followed the individual Placement and Support (IFS) model of supported employment (SE). It was piloted with staff at 27 sites, including 9 IFS programs, 11 other SE programs, and 7 other vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs. Both interrater reliability and internal consistency were adequate. The scale discriminated between IFS and the other VR programs. IFS and the other SE programs differed on items relating to integration with mental health services and zero exclusion admission criteria. Applications of fidelity scales are discussed.