A practical, three-day IPS training course designed to help teams deliver the IPS model with confidence, consistency and strong fidelity in real services.
Build a clear, structured approach to delivery that helps new services establish strong practice early, rather than having to correct drift later.
Understand how to apply the principles consistently, even when working under pressure and across complex systems.
Support Employment Specialists and Team Leaders to make decisions with clarity and align their approach across the service.
Direct experience working as an IPS Employment Specialist within a live service
Supported my team to achieve Exemplary status in our IPS Fidelity Review
Contributed to a service recognised with an ERSA Health in Work Award
Delivered IPS training to local authorities and services across England
I have worked within IPS services and supported teams through the realities of delivering the model in practice, including preparing for fidelity reviews and developing consistent ways of working across a team. I have seen first-hand how important it is for services to build a strong foundation early, particularly when new teams are forming and establishing their approach.
Through my work delivering IPS training to services across England, including local authorities developing their provision, I have focused on creating training that reflects the real challenges Employment Specialists face. This includes balancing competing priorities, maintaining momentum with job search, and working effectively alongside clinical teams.
This training is designed to give teams that structure from the outset, helping them build confidence, maintain fidelity and deliver IPS in a way that feels clear and manageable in practice.
This training is grounded in the 8 IPS principles, but the focus is on how they are applied in real services and day-to-day delivery, rather than simply understanding them in theory.
Participants leave with a clearer understanding of how the model fits together in practice, and how to apply it confidently and consistently in their own role.
I work with you to understand your service, your structure and your current stage of delivery, particularly where services are newly established or developing under Connect to Work. This ensures the training reflects your context and priorities.
Participants are split into small groups at the start of the programme and each group is introduced to a case study character.
Across the three days, groups support their character through an IPS journey, including engagement, vocational profiling, job search, employer contact and in-work support. This approach helps bring the model to life and allows participants to apply the principles in a way that feels realistic and relevant.
Participants leave with a clear structure for their work, practical tools they have already used in context, and a shared understanding across the team of what strong IPS delivery looks like.
This is a structured three-day course designed to build both confidence and consistency across a team, particularly for services that are new or developing.
The training is highly interactive and scenario-led, with a strong focus on application rather than presentation. Activities, group work and discussion are used throughout to maintain engagement and ensure the learning remains grounded in real IPS delivery.
Includes:
Yes, this training is particularly well suited to new services, including those being developed through Connect to Work. It helps teams establish a clear and consistent approach from the outset, which is important for building strong fidelity and avoiding drift as the service develops.
Yes, established services often use the training to strengthen consistency, revisit the core principles and improve fidelity. It can be especially useful ahead of a fidelity review or when a service wants to reset and align its approach.
The training is strongly focused on application. Participants work through realistic scenarios across all three days, applying the principles in context. This helps build confidence in how to deliver IPS in practice, rather than only understanding the model at a theoretical level.
Yes, each participant receives a structured workbook that is used throughout the training, along with practical tools such as the Vocational Profile and in-work support planning resources. These are embedded within the exercises so participants actively use them during the course.
Groups of around 6 to 12 participants tend to work best, as this allows for meaningful discussion and group work. This can be adjusted depending on your service
Training is delivered in-house across the UK. The format can be adapted depending on your location, team size and how you would like the sessions structured.
Practical, expert-led training on mental health, reasonable adjustments and inclusive employment.
Led by Amanda O’Connell, Certified Disability Management Professional, with real-world experience in workplace wellbeing, disability inclusion and IPS/employability support.
Copyright © 2026 Forward Focus Training Ltd.
Registered Office Address: 5 South Charlotte Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH2 4AN
Company No: SC829882
ICO number: ZB963902
