APM's Executive Chairman, Bob Leach, has revealed details of the company's ground breaking partnership with the NHS during a keynote speech at this year's Into Work Convention at the ICC, Birmingham.
Addressing an invited audience at one of the employability sector's most prestigious events of the year, Mr Leach spoke of his pride at the development of a relationship with Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust in the delivery of IAPT services.
Delivered by healthcare professionals based within APM sites across Birmingham and the Black Country, IAPT services are offering expert support to jobseekers suffering from anxiety and depression.
It is the only partnership between a Mental Health Trust and a Work Programme provider of its type within the UK.
"I'm hugely proud of what we've collectively achieved to date and what I believe we can achieve together in the future," said Mr Leach.
"Such a partnership can only happen where there is mutual respect and understanding - of the value that mental health services can provide to unemployed people and the contribution that recovery can make to helping someone to re-enter the workplace.
"It really is about having an appreciation that employment is a major route to social inclusion and recovery."
Representatives from APM worked closely together with occupational therapists, psychologists and physiotherapists from BSMHFT in the design of key services.
John Short, Chief Executive of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: "As a Trust we are totally committed to aiding our service users' recovery, helping them to take control and lead as fulfilling lives as possible.
"Employment and employment support is a key part of this and the work we are doing with APM in this area is therefore extremely important to us and the communities we serve."
As a prime Work Programme provider in the West Midlands, APM is expected to be one of the specialist health focused organisations set to tender for government Work and Health contracts later this year.
"We recognise the importance of the NHS, local authorities and key stakeholders in meeting the employability needs of the local people we all strive to support - whether through Work and Health or other provisions," added Mr Leach.
"And we are on a mission to provide the very best delivery solution to people with mental and physical health needs in the UK, with the NHS and local government as an integral part."