The Opportunity

We are seeking an IPS professional based in the Midlands, with current or recent experience at Employment Specialist or Senior Employment Specialist level. Post holders will work with IPS Grow colleagues to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to become an effective IPS professional, supporting the national expansion of evidence-based employment provision within health systems. A key focus of the role is on supporting IPS fidelity reviews as a co-reviewer. This position also involves collaborating closely with IPS Grow regional teams to provide hands-on support, remove barriers to successful IPS delivery, and ensure services achieve expected job outcome rates. A mix of remote and on-site work across the designated region is required, with some out of region work on occasion. Attendance at quarterly organisational events and regular team days in London is required. Please get in touch with IPS Grow if you have any questions about the locations and/or travel required.

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).

A core element of the programme is the expert assistance provided by a team of IPS professionals, known as IPS Grow Leads, to support providers to improve their fidelity to the IPS model and achieve better employment outcomes for their clients.

Responsibilities

The key requirements of the role are:

Quality assurance and fidelity reviews

• Train to become a fidelity reviewer, with an initial focus on co-reviewing with IPS Grow Regional Leads.

• Support services through fidelity reviews and guided self-assessments, focusing on client outcomes.

• Produce impactful, concise and accurate fidelity reports and action plans within agreed timescales.

• Ensure active, measurable fidelity and race equity action plans are implemented and monitored regularly.

In field mentoring support

• Model IPS best practices alongside Regional and Workforce Leads.

• Coach IPS staff in employer engagement, delivering racially equitable services, and IPS performance management.

• Support the development of impactful training materials and resources for IPS services.

Stakeholder engagement and performance support

• Build strong relationships with priority IPS services and key stakeholders in the region, maintaining open communication around delivery, performance, and race equity practice.

• Support Regional Leads in performance and quality conversations with services, backing key messages and following up on any actions for teams and/or steering groups.

• Support services to improve data integrity reported to national systems and the IPS Grow Reporting Tool.

• Create accurate and timely reports, including case studies demonstrating impact.

Learning networks and communities of practice

• Identify and facilitate links between services to maximise peer support and learning.

• Collaborate with other IPS Grow Regional and Support Leads to support network events and communities of practice.

• Support national webinars and workshops in line with wider team objectives.

About you

Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate:

• IPS experience and expertise: Experience at Employment Specialist or Senior Employment Specialist level, with a foundational understanding of the IPS model, fidelity scale and practical applications.

• Driving performance outcomes: Track record of delivering good employment outcomes for people accessing IPS, with a strong focus on employer engagement and integration

• Change management: Ability to plan, implement, and solidify positive change within IPS services. Drive improvements in employment outcomes for IPS clients through supporting strategic change initiatives.

• Planning and organisational skills: Manage workloads and competing priorities efficiently and meet deadlines consistently while maintaining high-quality output

• Driven by a core belief in evidenced-based employment support and integrity to the IPS model.

• Commitment to race equity and willingness to contribute to IPS Grow race equity objectives.

• Takes a structured approach to solving problems and develops creative and innovative solutions to overcome challenges.

• High level of integrity, empathy and commitment to driving social change.

• Thoughtful and effective communicator.

• High levels of initiative and personal leadership and committed to own development and keeping up to date with IPS practice.

• Commitment to travel.The role involves significant travel to build relationships and provide hands-on support as well as meeting with IPS Grow team members from across England

Working at Social Finance

The fixed salary for this position is £39,000 per annum. Working for a mission driven organisation is more than just what we pay though, it’s about our culture, our approach and what else we offer. Read more about working at Social Finance. 

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.

Our Values

Everyone at Social Finance believes that change for communities is possible. To help us achieve it, we have three core values that guide everything we do. We are curious, empathetic and pioneering

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

We actively encourage applications from under-represented and minoritised groups, including those with lived experience of the social issues we are working to address. We are an equal opportunities employer and support a range of flexible working options.

How to Apply

Social Finance are using Applied, a platform developed by the Behavioural Insights Team, to record your application. Applied uses behavioural and data science to improve hiring decisions and minimise unconscious bias in the recruitment process.

You will be asked to respond to situational based questions which will allow you to express your ability. Your answer to each question will be viewed in isolation. Please therefore ensure there is enough detail in that single response, without any references to your other responses.

Apply for this position using this link or by copying and pasting the address below into your browser.

Closing date for applications: Thursday 20th February 2025 at 1 pm

• First stage 30-minute telephone Zoom interviews will take place Thursday 27th & Friday 28th February.

• Face to face interviews will take place in Vauxhall London Thursday 6th & Friday 7th March.

Should you require any reasonable adjustments to allow you to attend, please highlight this when you are invited.

If you would like more information about the role, please email support@ipsgrow.co.uk