About Social Finance

We are an ambitious not for profit organisation that partners with governments, service providers, the voluntary sector and the financial community. Together, we find better ways of tackling social problems in the UK and globally.

Since we started in 2007, Social Finance has helped to pioneer a series of programmes to improve outcomes for individuals with complex needs. Our innovations, including the social impact bond model, have mobilised more than £500 million globally. We have sister organisations in the US, Israel, the Netherlands and India and a network of partners across the world.

What we do

Our unique method combines financial analysis, data science, service design, and social issues research.

We focus this expertise on understanding the needs of service users and working with communities to create new responses to challenging social problems.

We develop models, products and services that are pragmatic and have the scope to drive systemic change to improve people’s lives. In the UK, we focus on issues such as homelessness, domestic abuse, mental health, learning difficulties, loneliness and vulnerable children on the edge of the care system. We also look to improve equity for marginalised communities in social services. Internationally, we design outcomes-based models for issues such as maternal and neonatal health, education and employment. 

The team

IPS Grow is a national programme designed to support the expansion of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services in mental health, primary care, and drug and alcohol teams across England. The programme is led by Social Finance in partnership with the Centre for Mental Health. It is funded by NHS England and Improvement (NHSE/I), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID).

Subject to funding, we are recruiting three Senior Workforce Leads to support hands-on recruitment, onboarding, and training of IPS Employment Specialists across various regions. These roles will include the development and delivery of in-depth IPS specific training and involvement in the delivery of a Level 3 accredited IPS qualification and apprenticeship.

The opportunity

The Senior Workforce Leads will play a crucial role in the recruitment, onboarding, training and will lead on the promotion of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) within the IPS workforce across their designated regions. They will support the scale up of IPS by ensuring high-quality recruitment processes within IPS services, comprehensive training programs, and effective onboarding practices. There is a particular focus on embedding a race equity lens across recruitment practices in line with our IPS Grow strategy. Additionally, they will be responsible for developing and delivering advanced IPS training across the country and acting as tutors for the Level 3 accredited qualification program.

Responsibilities

The key requirements of the role are:

Recruitment and Onboarding:

• Provide hands-on support on the recruitment process for IPS Employment Specialists in assigned regions.

• Collaborate with IPS services in the region to identify staffing needs and develop tailored recruitment strategies.

• Support with interviews, evaluate candidates, and make hiring recommendations.

• Attract and retain a diverse workforce that reflects the communities they service, promoting race equity and inclusivity in all workforce development activities.

• Develop and implement EDI initiatives, ensuring all recruitment and training processes are inclusive and equitable.

• Coordinate and facilitate onboarding activities for new hires, ensuring they are well-prepared to deliver high-fidelity IPS services.

 Advanced Training and Development:

·     Develop and deliver comprehensive training programs for new IPS Employment Specialists, with a focus on advanced IPS principles and practices.

·     Provide ongoing support and mentorship to new hires during their first year.

·     Identify and address training needs, offering additional resources and workshops as necessary.

·     Working closely with the Workforce Manager, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of training programs and make improvements based on feedback.

·     Develop and deliver the Level 3 accredited qualification, acting as a tutor and ensuring high-quality learning experiences for participants.

·     Support with the development of an apprenticeship framework.

·     Signpost and encourage enrolments of existing and new IPS e-learning as well as the accredited qualification.

 Specialist IPS Knowledge:

·     Apply specialist knowledge of IPS to enhance the quality and depth of training programs.

·     Stay updated with the latest research and best practices in IPS and incorporate these into training materials and delivery.

·     Support with the development, delivery and facilitation of IPS e-learning.

 Relationship Building:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with local and national stakeholders, including IPS services, ICB Leads and Regional NHS Leads.

• Report into Workforce Manager, sharing insights and updates on workforce development initiatives in the region.

 Quality Assurance and Reporting:

• Ensure that recruitment, onboarding, and training processes align with IPS Grow's quality assurance standards.

• Collect and analyse data related to workforce and EDI development activities, providing regular reports to the Workforce Manager.

• Identify challenges and propose solutions to improve recruitment, training and EDI outcomes.

• Support IPS services in developing and implementing race equity action plans.

 Communication and Collaboration:

• Work closely with the Regional Leads, Workforce Manager and other Workforce Leads to share best practices and coordinate efforts across regions.

• Foster a culture of inclusivity within the IPS workforce, supporting IPS workers to feel valued and supported.

 About you

 ·     Specialist IPS Knowledge: In-depth understanding of IPS principles and practices, with the ability to apply this knowledge to training and development activities.

·     Recruitment Expertise: Significant experience in recruitment processes, including interviewing, evaluating candidates, and making hiring decisions within IPS. Experience in promoting and implementing EDI initiatives within a workforce is desired.

·     Advanced Training and Development: Extensive experience in developing and delivering training programs, particularly in IPS, with a focus on adult learning principles and effective onboarding practices. Proven ability to design and implement training modules including face-to-face and e-learning formats. Experience of mentoring and supporting new hires. Ability to assess training needs and tailor programs to meet these needs.

·     Relationship Management: Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. Ability to develop, influence and motivate others.

·     Organisational Skills: Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, create project plans, and meet deadlines.

·     Problem-Solving Abilities: Creative thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to quickly understand challenges and develop effective solutions.

·     Adaptability and Flexibility: Ability to adapt to changing project needs and work effectively in a dynamic environment.

·     Tutoring and Qualification Delivery: Participation and deliver of formal training programmes. Experience in developing and delivering accredited qualification programs is desired, with the ability to act as a tutor and ensure high-quality learning experiences.

·     Commitment to travel: The role will involve significant travel to build relationships and provide hands-on support and training as well as meeting with IPS Grow team members from across England.