Social Finance, in collaboration with the British Association for Supported Employment (BASE), is supporting the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in the delivery of Connect to Work, a central programme within the Government’s Get Britain Working Strategy. Running from August 2025 to March 2030, this national contract is designed to ensure that Individual Placement and Support (IPS) and SEQF services across England and Wales are delivered to the highest standards. 

Fidelity at the Heart of Quality 

Quality assurance is central to the success of Connect to Work. To ensure services are delivered consistently and to the highest standards, the programme will be underpinned by the IPS Fidelity Scale and BASE’s Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF). 

Together, these models provide a structured way of reviewing practice, identifying strengths, and guiding improvement across both IPS and SEQF services. 

  • IPS Fidelity Reviews: Each year, Social Finance’s IPS Grow team will assess how closely IPS services align with the IPS fidelity scale. The scale offers a clear set of standards against which services can measure their practice, highlighting areas of strength and opportunities for development. Reviews focus on principles such as rapid job search, integration with partner services, and ongoing support once employment is secured. 
  • SEQF Reviews: BASE will apply the Supported Employment Quality Framework to services delivering supported employment through Connect to Work. SEQF offers a structured way to evaluate service quality across supported employment provision, providing benchmarks, highlighting strengths, and identifying areas for growth. 

Following both IPS fidelity and SEQF reviews, services will take part in Communities of Practice. These collaborative forums allow services to reflect on findings, share learning, and explore solutions together. Outcomes from these sessions will then inform tailored SMART action plans, ensuring improvements are embedded in practice and drive continuous development across the programme. 

Adapted Language 

As an essential first step, Social Finance and BASE have convened Expert Reference Groups to refine the language used in the Fidelity Scales. These included IPS and SEQF services, experts by experience, DWP, CfMH, commissioners, employers and research professionals.  The adaptation of the language ensures terminology resonates with the unique context of Connect to Work services, while the integrity of the scales themselves remains unchanged. 

Please see the adapted language scales with additional guidance, tailored to Connect to Work via the links below: 

Driving Inclusive Employment 

Connect to Work is voluntary and aims to support people with health conditions and those facing complex barriers to employment. It also helps people at risk of losing their jobs to retain employment and remain economically active. By embedding both IPS fidelity and SEQF assurance into the programme, Social Finance and BASE are ensuring that services meet evidence-based standards, uphold sector-wide quality, and continuously evolve to deliver meaningful, lasting impact. 

Further information about the Connect to Work programme can be found here: