Background People with multiple sclerosis (MS) often leave the workforce prematurely due to MS symptoms and difficulties managing workplace relationships and performance. Vocational rehabilitation (VR) can improve job retention outcomes for people with MS, but there is a lack of evidence on the effectiveness of these interventions.

Methods A multicentre, feasibility, parallel-group randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing a job retention VR intervention plus usual care (n=30) with usual care alone (n=30). This study includes an embedded mixed-methods process evaluation. People with MS, aged 18-65 years, in paid employment will be recruited from MS charities.

Participants with MS will be able to include their employers in the intervention to receive information about MS and employment. The intervention involves an initial interview and up to 10 hours of employment support for people with MS and up to four hours of support for employers, over six months. Employees from MS charities will be recruited and trained to deliver the MSVR intervention. Participants will be followed up by postal/telephone/online questionnaires at 6-, 9-, and 12-months post-randomisation.

The aim is to ascertain the feasibility and acceptability of delivering the intervention within MS charities, and to determine parameters for future trial and explore the acceptability of the study intervention and procedures.

Discussion This novel study will provide insight into how existing services from MS charities can fill a service gap by providing employment support to people with MS. Findings will inform the design of a future fully powered RCT.

Trial Registration Number NCT06966115

Author BDP has received funding from the Neurology Academy (speakers bureau) to deliver lectures on vocational rehabilitation for people with MS. Author RdN has received funding (speakers bureau) from Novartis, Biogen, and Merck for delivering lectures on psychological aspects of MS and cognitive screening and rehabilitation in MS.

This study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06966115).

Yes

I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.

Yes

The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

This study has received ethical approval from the School of Medicine Research Ethics Committee (REC) at the University of Nottingham (FMHS 102-0325).

I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals.

Yes

I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).

Yes

I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable.

Yes

No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.