23 Mar Individual Placement and Support comes to West London Primary Care Services

The WLA have been awarded £5.2 million through the DWP Individual Placement and Support (IPS) in Primary Care Initiative.

The target go-live date is in May 2023 and over the next two years the programme will aim to help 2400 people who are sick or disabled, secure employment. Uniquely for employment support programmes this includes funding for people in work but on sick leave, and at risk of unemployment.

A sum of £40 million was available nationally, for Combined Authorities and Upper Tier Authorities to bid for. The success of the WLA bid is testament to our achievements in delivering a range of employment support programmes and working with high-performing partners experienced in delivering IPS. IPS is a highly personalised employment support approach which has a proven track record for assisting people with health problems.

The IPS funding provides an opportunity to further support the case for devolved programmes, embedding our employment support work across the WLA boroughs and linking to primary care and GP referrals.