At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead IPS services, mentor teams, and drive impactful employment outcomes across the Northwest.
- Company: Join a mission-driven organisation dedicated to social change and community empowerment.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with a commitment to equity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in IPS leadership and stakeholder management required.
The predicted salary is between 49000 - 49000 £ per year.
We are seeking an experienced IPS professional with recent IPS team leadership experience at a Team Leader, Senior Employment Specialist or Service Manager level. The role will have a focus on working with regional and national stakeholders to support the national expansion of evidence-based employment provision within health systems. This will require the post holder to lead by example helping services translate research into on the ground practice, with a focus on quality and good performance. This will involve carrying out field mentoring/case reviews, quality assurance fidelity reviews, facilitating workshops and learning networks.
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
- Leadership and technical support
- Conduct regular in-person and virtual visits to services, supporting them to implement good fidelity IPS.
- Work alongside IPS teams to model new skills and help solve problems. This includes coaching staff as they meet with employers; attending vocational unit meetings; and supporting meetings with commissioners and health system leaders.
- Provide feedback on organisational practices and structures, making recommendations to overcome barriers to IPS delivery.
- Mentor IPS Team Leaders in supervising Employment Specialists, focusing on: employer engagement field mentoring, delivering racially equitable services, client centred team meetings, and IPS performance management.
- Support IPS services to raise awareness of IPS and gain buy in from system leadership.
- Create training materials and resources that drive impactful technical support to IPS services.
Performance oversight and stakeholder engagement
- Build strong relationships with IPS services and key stakeholders, maintaining open communication around delivery, performance, and race equity practice.
- Navigate performance and quality conversations effectively.
- Support services and the commissioners in workforce planning and outcome forecasting, ensuring KPIs, targets and resources align with stakeholder requirements.
- Benchmark service performance outcomes against best practice standards and work with services, ICBs, commissioners, and health directors to identify key enablers and blockers.
- Collaborate closely with NHSE/I, OHID, and DWP to provide cohesive support for services.
- Improve data integrity reported to national systems and drive uptake of the IPS Grow Reporting Tool.
- Create accurate and timely reports, including case studies demonstrating impact.
Quality assurance and fidelity reviews
- Lead on IPS fidelity reviews with a second reviewer, participate in consensus scoring, and organise follow up guided reviews in line with national policy.
- 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.
Facilitate learning networks and communities of practice
- Identify and facilitate links between services to maximise peer support and learning.
- Collaborate with other IPS Grow Leads to run 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 leadership experience: At Team Leader, Senior Employment Specialist, or Service Manager level.
- Stakeholder management: Experience working with stakeholders at operational and strategic levels in fast paced delivery environments.
- IPS expertise: Comprehensive knowledge of the IPS approach and practical applications. Familiar with the IPS evidence base and able to talk convincingly about the benefits of IPS to different types of stakeholders.
- Driving performance outcomes: Track record of driving tangible improvements in IPS outcomes with a strong focus on performance management. Deep understanding of IPS implementation challenges and successful strategies to overcome them.
- Change management: Ability to plan, implement, and solidify positive change within IPS services and systems. Drive improvements in employment outcomes for IPS clients through strategic change initiatives.
- Strategic 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 develop creative and innovative solutions to overcome challenges.
- Ability to adapt quickly to complexities in a rapidly changing landscape with a high tolerance for ambiguity.
- 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 and leadership 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 £49,000 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.
About Social Finance
We are an ambitious not for profit organisation that helps to design, fund and scale better solutions to complex social problems. Our vision is a fairer world where together we unleash the potential of people and communities.
We do this by working in partnership with local and national governments, funders, communities and the social sector to tackle complex and enduring social problems in the UK and across the world. Our skills include financial analysis, data and digital insight, outcomes-focused partnerships, strategy, research and design. We combine these specialisms in different ways to address specific social challenges. We create effective solutions that blend the expertise of communities and professionals to deliver better outcomes in issues such as homelessness, domestic abuse, children’s services, health, employment and skills.
Our multi-skilled team of over 120 people come from diverse backgrounds in the public, private and charity sectors, all sharing a passion for making change happen. We provide a high-quality training and development programme in-house with great opportunities for career progression. We’re a friendly and intellectually curious bunch, always up for a debate.
Our work improves the lives of people and communities in the UK and across the world. We are experts in systems change – shifting the way a whole system works around a specific social issue in order to ensure long-lasting change.
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.
Equity, Diversity and 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.
We support a range of flexible working options and we can also accommodate secondments and part-time working. We work on some projects where our clients may require different levels of DBS checking for our employees. Candidates deemed suitable for a role after interview will be asked to declare any unspent convictions to ensure that we are able to resource them to projects appropriately. Should you require any reasonable adjustments to allow you to attend, please highlight this when you are invited.
IPS Grow Regional Lead – Northwest employer: Social Finance Ltd
At Social Finance, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions human-centred design to drive meaningful social change. Our inclusive work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, providing ample opportunities for professional growth and mentorship within a dedicated team of change-makers. Located in the vibrant area of London Bridge, we offer flexible working arrangements and a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, making it an ideal place for passionate individuals to thrive and make a real impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land IPS Grow Regional Lead – Northwest
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Social Finance Ltd.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Social Finance Ltd!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Social Finance Ltd, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Social Finance Ltd or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace IPS Grow Regional Lead – Northwest
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Social Finance Ltd:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Social Finance Ltd! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Social Finance Ltd
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
