Impact Newsletter - May 2023

Ingeus awarded for boosting good employment practices across Greater Manchester

series of Share and Learn sessions for the movement, helping a variety of local employers to become involved.

To read the article in full, visit www.ingeus.co.uk/news

Your leadership and vision have clearly made a significant impact and it is a testament to your dedication that you have been recognised for your efforts

What’s inside...

Ingeus has been praised by Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, after scooping a prestigious award for its work to promote business excellence. Ingeus was honoured at the Greater Manchester Good Employment Awards, which celebrate and promote good employment practices.

The employability specialist was named Partner of the Year for its work with the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter – a voluntary membership scheme that aims to raise employment

standards across the region. Ingeus was recognised as being an advocate for the Charter – spreading the message of good work far and wide through its extensive networks.

Held at Manchester’s Whitworth Hall, the second annual ceremony was attended by business and council leaders, along with the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham. Andy Burnham. He said the award recognised the hard work, dedication, and commitment that Ingeus has demonstrated towards the Good Employment movement.

The ceremony heard how Ingeus is always willing to lend a hand to support the Charter’s work with its insight and facilities. Ingeus actively encourages its partners, suppliers, and employers to join the Charter and has hosted a

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This month we joined the nation in raising awareness for Mental Health Awareness Week and Learning at Work Week.

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Our team had a bowl volunteering at Surrey Cricket Club for Disability Cricket Day.

Supporting team’s mental wellbeing through workplace learning

Mental health charity, Mind, chose the cost of living as their theme for this year’s awareness week – a problem impacting many Restart Scheme participants.

Jamal, 39, explains, “A lot of the people we see have issues with anxiety and self-doubt, but also financial worries too. Mental health and the cost of living go hand-in-hand. I see participants who are on the verge of homelessness because they can’t afford to pay their bills. We have a dedicated debt advisor in the office and her diary is always booked.”

Ingeus, Jamal is keen to highlight how significant support provided by your employer can be.

He says, “It’s amazing how much support we offer – internally and externally. Ingeus has very clear values and they’re embedded into everything we do. It’s refreshing to work for a company that has mental health at the forefront of its mind – there’s so much practical support on offer.

For Jamal Miah, a Local Integration Lead for the Restart Scheme, the week is particularly meaningful. Completing a mental health first aid course with Ingeus last year, he’s appreciating just how much value learning at work can bring.

Jamal, who has only worked for Ingeus for six months, is one of five mental health first aiders in our Birmingham team, with similar numbers in centres around the country, across all Ingeus divisions. Having worked in the retail sector for 15 years before joining

“We’re big on encouraging people to develop their skills too – there’s a lot of learning available for staff. I’m dyslexic so struggle to write emails and I’ve completed a course to help with that. My line manager is very supportive in my development.”

To read more about Jamal’s full experience, visit www.ingeus.co.uk/news

Ingeus shortlisted in Better Society Awards alongside Coca-Cola!

Despite being pipped at the post on the night, we’re incredibly proud of the impact we’re making. The awards recognise companies going the extra mile to make a positive impact on society.

Ingeus was one of just two companies, along with Coca Cola, judged worthy of a shortlist place in the Inclusive Employer category at the Better Society Awards.

The spotlight on mental health and learning at work is brighter than ever at Ingeus. This month we joined the nation in raising awareness for Mental Health Awareness Week and Learning at Work Week – two issues integral to our values.

Continuous Improvement Academy celebrates first anniversary

Celebrating the first anniversary of its Continuous Improvement (CI) Academy, Ingeus launches its Agents of Change series –shining the spotlight on some of the academy’s successful participants. Here, Collette Westerman, CI Academy Development Manager, reflects on just how successful –and busy – the past year has been, as well as what it means to Ingeus and its employees.

Developing Ingeus’s Continuous Improvement (CI) Academy from scratch has been a huge undertaking for Collette Westerman, CI Academy Development Manager, and her Ingeus colleagues. But witnessing light-bulb moments along the way and the impact they produce, have made it hugely worthwhile.

The Academy is open to over 2,700 employees at Ingeus, providing learning opportunities to maximise each individual’s role in enabling better lives. Delivered in partnership with Lean Competency System, an accreditation partner of Cardiff University, the CI team has created resources to support colleagues in developing Lean Six Sigma tools and techniques.

Collette, who graduated with a firstclass degree in chartered management last summer, reflects, “It’s been a whirlwind of a year, but we’ve achieved everything we set out to achieve, and more.

“Watching the CI capability grow from just seven accredited staff to a community of 127 Change Agents has been amazing. And seeing those lightbulb moments when people really get continuous improvement and what it means for their team in a real-life context is so rewarding.”

The team has successfully delivered two cohorts of green and yellow belt Lean Six Sigma training – levels are split into white, yellow or green belts – and will complete the third in June. Participants become ‘Change Agents’ once they have completed their learning, equipped to then pass on their new-found knowledge to their teams.

Having delivered 130 hours of accredited training and follow up sessions, Collette easily highlights examples of realisation.

She says, “Our training with our engagement team colleagues helped them see the bigger picture. They realised the difference it would make if they standardised their recruitment process and, using the tools we gave them, they’re already seeing positive results and exceeding their targets.

“It’s important to make individuals recognise the part they play in continuously improving their team’s performance. Whether the discussion is around employability, justice, youth, health or one of our central support services – it really doesn’t matter. All our divisions are striving for customer service excellence.”

The next 12 months will be as busy as the last for Collette. Determined to drive CI further, her diary’s already bursting with a CI graduation ceremony, summer fitness camps and a knowledge bank launch.

“Our next year is about evaluation and building on our success. We have received so much positive feedback from participants. It’s encouraging to see everyone engaging in CI and we’re very grateful to all the Change Agents who’ve come through the Academy.”

Our team had a bowl volunteering at Surrey Cricket Club for Disability Cricket Day

Our team were back for the second year in a row to volunteer at Surrey County Cricket Club’s 2023 Disability Cricket Day where over 550 young people from special educational needs and disability (SEND) schools and community groups, along with their carers and teachers, enjoyed a brilliant day of cricket activities.

Sharing in the laughter and fun, our team supported the day with a variety of activities, helping with a wide range of accessible training exercises and making a difference to young people’s lives.

We would like to offer a huge thank you to Surrey Cricket Foundation (SCF) for inviting us to be a part of this amazing event and rewarding experience.

Transforming people through places on CFO3’s Greenlife Project

The great outdoors… great for your mental health; great for getting active; great if you’re looking to learn new skills! But, can getting back to nature also help people with criminal convictions get back into society? Instilling responsibility, boosting self-esteem, and gaining valuable vocational skills are all important stepping stones away from reoffending.

The Greenlife Project, part of CFO3, provided 36 participants with criminal offences the opportunity to gain confidence, social skills, and horticulture qualifications, while giving back time and expertise to the community through two environmental regenerations.

Residents have shared that the completed projects are ‘an amazing asset for local families’, ‘a beautiful environment’, and ‘a safe and pleasant space for local people to gather’. While participants reveal the experience has been ‘lifechanging’ and provided the realisation that ‘having good people around you can provide you with a positive outlook and greater self-belief’.

To read the story in full, visit www.ingeus.co.uk/news

Subhani sets sights on sharing new skills

Completing a course in childcare is proving a turning point for 46-year-old Subhani from Hounslow. Thanks to Ingeus’ Restart Scheme, not only is her difficult search for work over but she’s in a job she loves and setting herself an ultimate goal of sharing her new-found skills with her former home country, Sri Lanka.

Struggling to find a job after taking time out to raise her three young children, Subhani was referred to the Restart Scheme by her local Jobcentre Plus. Thanks to support and encouragement from her Restart Advisor, Jose, Subhani soon overcame her barriers to finding employment.

“It was so hard to find work,” she explains, “I was searching and searching but I had been unemployed for so long I wasn’t getting anything.”

Moving from Sri Lanka to London with her husband in 2010, Subhani left behind a successful career working as an administration officer in the finance industry. Finding it difficult to secure a similar job in England, her job search was put on hold while she started and raised her family. In 2022, Subhani decided to return to work.

She recalls, “When I went to Jobcentre Plus, I explained that I needed to do a training course because it was too hard to find work after being unemployed for so long. My Work Coach suggested I did a course related to childcare so I could find work in a school which would fit around my family.”

After being referred to the Restart Scheme, Jose supported her through her three-month course and job search.

“Jose helped me to create a perfect CV,” says Subhani. “Every time I met him, he advised and encouraged me to achieve my goal and equipped me

with the skills I needed to deal with the situation bravely.”

Now, she’s working full-time as a special needs support assistant – a career she hadn’t considered before. It’s also a resource which she says is in short supply in Sri Lanka. One day, she’d like to return to use her skills to benefit children there.

She says, “I’m so happy I’ve done the course and got my job. It provides me with friendship, intellectual challenges, and the finances I need for my family. I enjoy working with the children – I’m now not just a mother of my own three children, but I feel like I’m mother to lots of kids!”

6 ways to take care of your mental health

Looking after your mental health comes in all shapes and sizes.

It involves recognising things that affect you and when you may need to take some extra time to check in with yourself. With the aim to encourage others to take care of their mental health during, and beyond, Mental Health Awareness Week, our team put together some practical tips to equip you with the resilience needed to overcome life’s struggles.

1. Confide in someone you trust

Perhaps the most important step to managing mental health is to talk honestly about your experiences with a trusted relative, friend, colleague, or professional.

2. Find healthy coping mechanisms

Spending time doing something relaxing, getting regular physical activity, making to-do lists and setting goals are coping mechanisms that can help relieve negative feelings.

3. Nurture your physical health

It can often feel like cliche advice, but allowing yourself plenty of sleep each night, eating a balanced diet, and exercising regularly have a positive chemical effect on the body and brain.

4. Take stock

Take a moment each day for quiet reflection. Considering your thoughts doesn’t have to be a scary task but an opportunity to reframe negative outlooks.

5. Employment and keeping busy

Periods of unemployment have been identified as a risk factor for developing feelings of anxiety and depression. Applying for roles can be intimidating, but organisations like FutureYou offer free assistance at every stage of an application, so you can begin to feel like you’re truly making progress. If you are 19-24 years old and live in Greater Manchester, check out www.startfutureyou.co.uk for more information.

6. Seek professional help

If you feel you’d benefit from more extensive support, professionals in the field can offer specialist advice tailored to your personal needs. If you are aged 16 or over and are in work, on an apprenticeship or about to start workAble Futures could help you manage your mental health! Find out more at www.able-futures.co.uk

Welcome to our new Ingeus Youth Voice Ambassadors 2023

We would like to offer a warm welcome to Owen Beckett-Turner, Anca Bozan, Rhiannon Earl-O’Regan, Holly Gallacher, Aminah Haider, Raequoun Noon-Brandy, Oliver Hodges, Jamie Bates, Bilaal Shaid Siddiq, Aaliyah Likuluta, Qasim Khan, Safiyah Smitham & Victoria Lee; our newest advocates for young people across the country.

Our Youth Voice Ambassadors are a dynamic team of young people aged 16-25, coming together from across the country to influence change. The Ambassador Programme is designed to give young people a platform to use their voice and to empower them to be better prepared for life and work.

In a recent workshop in London, the team provided integral feedback on new materials for the National Citizen Service. A great day was had by all, and we can’t wait to see what exciting new initiatives come from the team!

Do something great this summer!

Our colourful hoodies are on and we’re armed with NCS goodies to give away, that can only mean one thing... Our teams have been out and about visiting schools all over the country to chat about the amazing away from home experiences available with NCS this year!

There is a range of opportunities for 15-17 year olds to embark on an exciting new adventure where they can make friends, build their confidence, and develop and strengthen their skills for work and life.

Want to find out more? We will be hosting a series of NCS parent information sessions throughout June. Simply email askncs@ingeus.co.uk to book your place today.

Getting to know you...

Alison Campbell, Service Manager for Employment Advisors in IAPT divisions

This month we stopped to take a minute to find out more about Alison Campbell and her role as Service Manager for Employment Advisors in IAPT.

“I’m the Service Manager for Employment Advisors for the Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) service in Derbyshire.

I have been with Ingeus for three years, and I love knowing that the work my team does has a real and life-changing impact. Whether it’s supporting individual clients or

changing wider perceptions about mental health and employment support I’m proud that our work delivers results on a national level.

I’m a big believer in continuous improvement, and I enjoy turning feedback from our clients, team into positive changes. One of my favourite things about being a manager is supporting my team with their own development, particularly coaching them to overcome challenges and achieve for themselves. I’m also a member of the Diversity & Inclusion group (recently stepping into the LGBTQIA+ sub-group lead), and it’s a great opportunity for me to bring something I’m passionate about into work and I’m excited to see what I can help our group members to deliver!

We asked Alison to answer life’s essential ‘this or that’ questions:

Summer or Winter?

Summer (though I love Christmas and snow!)

Chocolate or sweets?

Chocolate

Night or morning?

Night

City or countryside?

Countryside

Cats or dogs?

Dogs

Dressed up or casual?

Casual

Phone calls or emails?

Phone calls

Books or films?

Films

Night out or night in?

Night in

Holidays or home comforts?

Holidays!