In this session we will explore the latest findings from the second interim report of the Mental Health and Employment Partnership (MHEP) evaluation for the Life Chances Fund (LCF) which looks at the MHEP Social Outcomes Partnerships (SOPs, also known as social impact bonds).The Mental Health and Employment Partnership (MHEP) was established in 2015 to drive expansion of high-quality employment support programmes, based on the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model. Within the Life Chances Fund, MHEP supports five impact bonds. Alongside one of the authors of the report, Emily Hulse at the Government Outcome Lab, we will be joined by leading experts in the field with our guest speakers at Social Finance and Big Issue Invest. During our session, we will explore the lessons and insights from the second Interim Report of MHEP evaluation of the “SOP effect” including 5 key questions:

Is there greater accountability in SOP-funded IPS compared to traditional commissioning?
Does the MHEP SOP affect service quality?
How did the structure of the MHEP SOPs affect service delivery?
Through what incentives do SOPs operate?
Does MHEP have a legacy? We will explore the sources of complexity and how to mitigate these common pitfalls of social impact bonds. Additionally, the legacy effects will be presented including new IT systems and dependable data routines for providers and a creation of a new baseline expectation and experience in partnership working for commissioners. Anyone interested in the flow of incentives in SOPs and how effective they were (or not) should also attend in this session.