IPS Grow Support Lead

social finance; Greater London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

IPS Grow is recruiting an experienced IPS professional to join the Grow team, providing practical support to IPS services across London and the South East. The role focuses on developing IPS expertise, fidelity reviews, and improving employment outcomes.

You will train to become an IPS fidelity reviewer, initially as a co-reviewer with Regional Leads, and support services to overcome barriers to successful IPS delivery and data reporting across the region.

Qualifications

• Current or recent experience as an IPS Employment Specialist or Senior Employment Specialist.
• Foundational understanding of the IPS model, fidelity scale and practical application.
• Track record of achieving good employment outcomes for people accessing IPS.
• Strong experience of employer engagement and integration within clinical teams.
• Ability to support positive change and improvements within IPS services.
• Strong planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Structured and practical approach to problem solving.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Commitment to race equity and evidence-based employment support.
• High integrity, empathy and personal leadership.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and keeping up to date with IPS practice.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly across London and the South East.

Responsibilities

• Training to become an IPS fidelity reviewer and supporting fidelity reviews and guided self‑assessments.
• Producing clear and accurate fidelity reports and action plans.
• Supporting services to implement and monitor fidelity and race equity action plans.
• Providing in‑field mentoring and modelling IPS best practice.
• Coaching IPS staff in employer engagement, race equity and performance management.
• Supporting the development of training materials and resources.
• Building relationships with IPS services and regional stakeholders.
• Supporting Regional Leads with performance and quality conversations.
• Helping services improve data quality and use of national reporting systems.
• Supporting learning networks, communities of practice, workshops and webinars.
• Producing reports and case studies demonstrating impact.

Skills

IPS model understanding

Employer engagement

Stakeholder management

Travel willingness

Communication skills

Problem solving

Data and reporting

Job description

IPS Grow Support Lead

We are recruiting for an experienced IPS professional to join the IPS Grow team, supporting services across London and the South East.

This role is ideal for a current or recent Employment Specialist or Senior Employment Specialist looking to develop their IPS expertise and support services to improve quality, fidelity and employment outcomes.

Position: IPS Grow Support Lead - London & South East
Location: London & South East/Hybrid, with a mix of remote and onsite working
Hours: Full-time
Salary: £39,000 plus £5,000 London Market Premium
Contract: Permanent
Closing date for applications: 4 September 2026 at 9am
First stage interviews: 23 September 2026, via Zoom
Second stage interviews: 7 October 2026, face to face in London Bridge

About the Role

You will work alongside experienced IPS Grow colleagues to develop your skills and knowledge while providing practical, hands‑on support to IPS services across London and the South East.

A key focus will be training to become an IPS fidelity reviewer, initially working as a co‑reviewer alongside Regional Leads. You will also support services to overcome barriers to successful IPS delivery, improve performance and achieve strong employment outcomes.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Training to become an IPS fidelity reviewer and supporting fidelity reviews and guided self‑assessments
• Producing clear and accurate fidelity reports and action plans
• Supporting services to implement and monitor fidelity and race equity action plans
• Providing in‑field mentoring and modelling IPS best practice
• Coaching IPS staff in employer engagement, race equity and performance management
• Supporting the development of training materials and resources
• Building relationships with IPS services and regional stakeholders
• Supporting Regional Leads with performance and quality conversations
• Helping services improve data quality and use of national reporting systems
• Supporting learning networks, communities of practice, workshops and webinars
• Producing reports and case studies demonstrating impact

The role involves significant travel across London and the South East, with occasional travel outside the region. You will also attend regular team days and quarterly organisational events.

About the Team

IPS Grow is a national programme supporting the expansion of Individual Placement and Support services across mental health, primary care and drug and alcohol teams throughout England.

The programme is led by a not for profit organisation in partnership with a leading mental health charity and is funded by national health, employment and public health bodies.

A core element of IPS Grow is the expert support provided by a team of IPS professionals who work directly with providers to improve fidelity to the IPS model and achieve better employment outcomes.

As a Support Lead, you will work closely with Regional Leads, Workforce Leads and other Support Leads, developing your own IPS expertise while providing practical support to services across the region.

About You

This role suits an IPS professional with current or recent experience at Employment Specialist or Senior Employment Specialist level who is ready to build on their frontline experience and develop their knowledge of IPS quality and service improvement.

Skills, experience and qualifications we are looking for include:

• Current or recent experience as an IPS Employment Specialist or Senior Employment Specialist
• A good foundational understanding of the IPS model, fidelity scale and practical application
• A track record of achieving good employment outcomes for people accessing IPS
• Strong experience of employer engagement and integration within clinical teams
• The ability to support positive change and improvements within IPS services
• Strong planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities
• A structured and practical approach to problem solving
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills
• Commitment to race equity and evidence‑based employment support
• High levels of integrity, empathy, initiative and personal leadership
• Commitment to your own professional development and keeping up to date with IPS practice
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly across London and the South East

About the Organisation

Join an ambitious not for profit organisation that works with governments, service providers, the voluntary sector and the financial community to find better ways of tackling complex social problems.

The organisation combines expertise in financial analysis, data, service design and social research to understand the needs of people and communities and develop practical solutions capable of creating systemic change.

Its work addresses issues including homelessness, domestic abuse, mental health, learning difficulties, employment, loneliness and support for vulnerable children and families.

The multi‑skilled team brings together people from diverse backgrounds who share a commitment to creating meaningful social change. The organisation's work is guided by three core values: curious, empathetic and pioneering.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Applications are actively encouraged from under‑represented and minoritised groups, including people with lived experience of the social issues the organisation is working to address.

The organisation is an equal opportunities employer and supports a range of flexible working options.

Reasonable adjustments can be provided throughout the recruitment process.

Other roles you may have experience with could include:

IPS Employment Specialist, Senior Employment Specialist, Employment Specialist, Employment Adviser, Employment Support Adviser, Supported Employment Adviser, IPS Practitioner, Employment Coach, Employment Support Officer, IPS Support Officer.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People.