St Mungo's and Oxford North

St Mungo’s partnered with Oxford North’s ionnovation district, having been introduced by Stanhope, to create employment,training and skills opportunities for people recovering from homelessness.

St. Mungo’s Employment Support use the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) employment modality, providing intensive, personalised support, focused on helping people secure sustainable paid employment in the open labour market.

The IPS model is built on the principle that anyone can work when the right opportunities and support are available. Employment support is integrated alongside wider recovery services, ensuring clients receive practical help with job searching, benefits advice, employer engagement and ongoing in-work support.

During the partnership year:

• 177 clients received employment support, significantly exceeding the original target of 45
• 20 clients accessed learning, training or education opportunities
• 34 clients secured paid employment in Oxford, more than double the target of 15
• 10 clients participated in work experience, training or employment opportunities connected to Oxford North through Careys’ Bootcamp
• Two clients secured paid roles directly on the Oxford North development in security and site management.

A key element of the partnership was collaboration with employers and training providers. St Mungo's worked closely with organisations including RAW, Whiting Landscape, ABM and Careys to create accessible routes into employment for people facing multiple disadvantages.

Working in partnership with ABM, St Mungo's helped create a pathway into a full-time Security Officer role at Oxford North for a client experiencing homelessness, demonstrating the value of inclusive recruitment and strong employer collaboration.

One of the most important lessons from the partnership was that barriers to employment were rarely linked to motivation. Many clients were highly motivated to work but faced practical and systemic obstacles within recruitment processes.

Challenges included:

• Delays obtaining and verifying identity documents

• Lengthy security vetting processes

• Complex address and employment histories

• Limited visibility of recruitment stages and points of contact

• Difficulties obtaining timely feedback on applications

The partnership highlighted the importance of close collaboration between employment services and employers. Regular communication, clear points of contact and a shared commitment to inclusive recruitment helped clients navigate complex recruitment and onboarding processes that might otherwise have prevented them from accessing employment opportunities.

The partnership delivered positive outcomes for both individuals and employers. Access to paid employment helped clients move forward in their recovery journeys, increase financial independence and build confidence for the future.

Careys Bootcamp proved particularly effective as a pathway into the construction sector at Oxford North. Of the 10 participants enrolled:

• 5 completed the programme

• 3 moved directly into paid employment

• 3 achieved full CSCS qualification

The partnership also generated wider social value. Three Laing O’Rourke employees volunteered across four outreach sessions, contributing 16 hours of support to St Mungo’s services and helping strengthen connections between local employers and people experiencing homelessness.

“Our experience at Oxford North showed that ambition and willingness to work were never the barriers. The real challenges were often practical and systemic. By working closely with employers and providing personalised support, we were able to help people overcome those obstacles and achieve employment outcomes well beyond our original targets.”

Grace Tracoshas, Senior Employment Specialist, St Mungo’s‍