IPS helps people accessing health services find work to aid their recovery. IPS Grow, in partnership with Social Finance, provides expert assistance to support health trusts, employment providers and commissioners to support the national development and delivery of evidence-based employment services across England.

With a well-documented increase in mental health conditions over the past 18 months, and the effects of the pandemic on the economy and job market, IPS services across the country adapted to make sure people with mental health difficulties have the same opportunities to work that everyone else does.

An IPS employment specialist works with their clients to help identify the best job match to their profile, supporting the development of their job seeking skills and helping them create an up-to-date CV. Working alongside clinical colleagues, the team engages with employers to identify jobs which match their client’s needs. The approach is internationally recognised as the most effective way to support individuals to secure and sustain employment.

Supporting employment journeys

Talent Works is supporting IPS Grow to attract talent from various backgrounds and with a wide variety of experience to start a career in IPS. Employment Specialists play a vital role in helping people with mental health support needs on their recovery journey by offering hands-on support, to give people the tools they need to recover and find employment, transforming their lives. There are no specific qualifications or clinical experience required, simply a desire to help others and empathy with those struggling with mental health. Through in-depth research into the roles and backgrounds of existing specialists, Talent Works helped IPS Grow create an Employee Value Proposition (EVP) and a meaningful campaign demonstrating how anyone with the right attitude and qualities could transform a life. 

The EVP and campaign are available for use by the NHS, local authorities and mental health charities. Talent Works is currently creating a video and digital media campaign to help IPS Grow reach more potential candidates to commence a career as an IPS employment specialist. This initiative is in line with NHS England’s commitment to expanding access to employment support within the mental health system over the next ten years.

Attracting talent to IPS Grow

“Getting back into employment can be a vital part of a recovery journey,” explained Martina Gibbons, Marketing & Recruitment Lead IPS Grow Programme, at Social Finance. “Employment not only provides an income and routine, but it also helps build a social network, confidence, develop new skills and build self-esteem making it a vital part of their recovery. It’s life changing.”

There are currently 70 IPS services across the country and in order to meet the ambitious targets of the NHS Long Term Plan to support more individuals with mental health challenges into work we are looking to grow the IPS workforce,” Martina Gibbons continued. “Therefore, we needed the help of a company that could understand the importance of what we do and translate it in a meaningful and powerful way to break down the ambiguity around IPS and attract individuals into a career in IPS. Talent Works use research and creativity to get to the heart of what we do.”

“The work of IPS employment specialists has never been more important in the UK,” commented Neil Purcell, CEO and Founder of Talent Works. “Not only are they crucially supporting people suffering from mental health challenges on the road to recovery, but they also do a fantastic job in combating the stigma around mental health in the workplace. Talent Works is proud to support IPS Grow and IPS Services across the country to continue to expand to provide this vital service to an even greater number of clients.”

For people who need mental health support, getting back into work is vital for the recovery journey. Currently, 70-90% of people with mental health issues would like to work, but only 37% are in paid employment. For people with severe mental illness, this figure is 8%. IPS aims to close this gap and help its clients find paid work which can lead to improved self-esteem, financial independence, greater social contact and improved wellbeing. By 2023/4 NHS England aims to help tens of thousands of patients with severe mental illness (SMI) into work through Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services.