04 Mar IPS Into Work Service for people with experience of addiction – celebrating with Dame Carol Black
Since 2019 Westminster Drug Project’s IPS Into Work service has helped over 250 people in West London with experience of drug and alcohol addiction back into work. IPS, or Individual Placement & Support, is a model that genuinely helps participants to transform their lives and regain the confidence, independence, social and financial benefits of working.
On the 23 February Dame Carol Black, author of the two-part independent review on drugs, visited WDP to hear about the West London Alliance commissioned IPS Into Work scheme and meet with team members. The recently-published second part of her review has called for the roll out of IPS services across England and this recommendation has been included in the new government drug strategy.
The success of IPS Into Work was recognised at the 2021 MJ Awards when WLA and WDP won the Transforming Lives Award. IPS Into Work has also won a poster prize at the Society for the Study of Addictions (SSA) Annual Conference 2021.
There are number of aspects that make IPS into Work different from traditional employment support services.
These include:
• helping clients gain work during their recovery, when they feel ready
• focussing on work first, identifying clients’ skills and their transferrable skills so they can gain paid work quickly
• working with employers to find clients work in the sectors they want
IPS Into Work is a very personalised service, provided by expert employment specialists who understand the ebbs and flows of relapse and recovery. The service is available in nine London boroughs, namely Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster.
IPS Into Work is available for people in these boroughs who are out of work, aged 18 and over, and who have experience of drug or alcohol issues.
Read or download WDP’s IPS Into Work impact report to find out how high-quality employment support can transform the lives of people in recovery.
Visit www.wdp.org.uk/employment-support to find out more or to access the service.