Guidance

Annex A: Questions and answers

Updated 18 December 2023

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2023

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/individual-placement-and-support-in-primary-care-initiative/annex-a-questions-and-answers

Question 1: What is the purpose of the Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care Initiative?

   Answer 1: In existing IPS programmes, LAs and other organisations work with people who have severe mental health issues on an individual basis, place them into employment and provide support to them to remain in employment. The IPSPC initiative will aim to build on evidence from the Health Led Trials which adapted the traditional IPS model to provide support for people with mild to moderate, common mental and physical health disabilities. IPSPC will not only be available for people out of work but those in work and struggling with their health.

Question 2: Who is eligible to receive support?

Answer 2: The initiative is aimed at:

  • have a physical or mental health disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010.
  • be of Working Age.
  • be willing to participate in IPSPC to remain in paid work or to be willing to find and sustain paid work.
  • not currently be receiving employment support, other than from Jobcentre Plus, and
  • not be participating in another employment programme or provision.

Eligibility is not affected by either:

  • receipt of DWP benefits, or
  • employment status.

Question 3: How much grant funding will each Grant Recipient receive?

Answer 3: Funding of up to £40million has been allocated to deliver IPSPC. Applications should include a clear rationale that justifies and explains the number of participants that an authority is able to provide support for.

Question 4: What are the Fidelity requirements for LAs?

  Answer 4: Delivering against a fidelity model supports services to implement IPSPC effectively. This should increase job outcomes and support a culture of continuous improvement. IPSPC services and LAs will work with IPS Grow (Home - IPS Grow) who will provide tailored advice and support to each Grant Recipient to fulfil the fidelity requirement for this initiative.

Question 5: How much information will LAs need to provide with their funding bid?

Answer 5: LAs will be required to complete a short Grant Application template including details of:

  • Service design
  • Participant support
  • Activity delivery
  • Implementation
  • Delivering supported employment
  • Local Integration
  • Data handling
  • Future plans

Question 6: What MI do I need to collect and return to DWP?

Answer 6: There will be a template to complete and return to DWP each month. This will include and is not limited to; staff numbers, participant numbers, provision starts, job starts, and hours worked. A summary of the costs incurred by the Grant Recipient will be required each quarter. Grant Recipients will need to retain evidence to provide assurance relating to hours worked, earnings and duration of employment. More information will be provided with the invitation to apply together with the MI reporting template.

Question 7: What support will I receive from DWP?

  Answer 7: The DWP Grants Team will support authorities through the Grant Application process by providing points of clarification as required.

After the successful bids have been selected, a Regional Engagement Lead (REL) appointed to each LA. The REL will provide support through the implementation process, share good practice across locations and facilitate workshops where LAs may share experiences and help each other to resolve issues. REL support will continue throughout the 24-month service delivery period.

Question 8: What are the 8 IPS Principle?

Answer 8: The HLIPS approach is based on a modified version of the IPS eight key principles:

1. It aims to get people into employment in the open labour market

2. It is open to eligible people who want to work

3. It aims to find jobs consistent with people’s preferences

4. It works quickly – a place then train model of rapid activation and job search alongside delivery of work, health, and wider support needs

5. It brings IPS Employment Specialists into clinical teams

6. IPS Employment Specialists develop relationships with employers based upon a person’s work preferences

7. It provides time limited, individualised support for the person and their employer

8. Access to specialist benefits advice is included

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