The Growth Company celebrates ‘Good’ Fidelity rating for IPS initiative

• The Growth Company (GC) delivers Working Well: Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (WWIPSPC) across Greater Manchester.
• The programme aims to help adults with physical and/or mental health disabilities into – or back into – sustained employment.
• The service recently received a ‘Good’ rating following a Fidelity review by IPS Grow.

A programme delivered by the Growth Company is celebrating a ‘Good’ Fidelity rating, less than a year after launching.

Commissioned by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Working Well: Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (WWIPSPC) provides IPS services in Greater Manchester, aiming to help residents with physical or mental health disabilities into sustained employment – or provide them with support to stay in or return to their current job.

The initiative is one of only three IPS programmes to receive a ‘Good’ rating following the review conducted by IPS Grow in December 2024. The review recognised the programme’s dedicated team of employment advisors for their ability to support people into sustainable employment and ‘impressive’ employment conversion rates for a service of this age.

WWIPSPC follows the place, train, and maintain model. This means prioritising flexible one-to-one support for individual participants, from guidance on how to write a CV and apply for jobs to bespoke career advice and follow-up assistance once paid work has been secured or resumed. It also involves direct and ongoing engagement with employers to produce the best possible results.

Since becoming fully operational in late 2023, over 1,700 people have registered to receive tailored employment support, 800 of whom have successfully gained a new job or received help to stay in their current role.

One participant commented: “[The advisor] did all sorts – interview techniques, put me in touch for clothes for interviews. I couldn't have asked for more; it has really built my confidence. I am so thankful.”

Alex Howley, Operations Director at the Growth Company, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive a ‘Good’ rating following our Fidelity review. It is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our wonderful IPSPC team.

“Our employment advisors collaborate closely with clinical partners to break down barriers to employment while prioritising the health and wellbeing of our participants. It’s fantastic to see their commitment recognised this early in the programme’s delivery, and we look forward to building on our success so far.”

The Growth Company

The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise with a 30-year history of enabling growth, creating jobs, and improving lives. We help people and businesses to develop, grow, and succeed through a range of employment, skills, and business support services. We provide employment, justice, and health services across the North of England and beyond.

Contact us today to find out more.