Waythrough (formed in October 2024 after the merger between Richmond Fellowship & Humankind) is a national charity that works to tackle poverty and disadvantage in communities across England. Through this work, it is a leading provider of employment support services. With growing demand for outcomes-based delivery models like Individual Placement and Support (IPS), Waythrough needed a flexible, data-driven system to support service delivery and meet commissioner requirements.
Waythrough have used the CDPSoft system for over 10 years, adapting it as their reporting obligations evolved across multiple funding streams – including Local Authorities, the NHS, and the Department for Work and Pensions. This long-standing partnership has enabled Waythrough to respond quickly to new audit standards, changing contract requirements, and complex service delivery needs.
Using CDPSoft, Waythrough has implemented tailored IPS forms and reports that closely mirror the fidelity of the IPS model, impressing auditors and securing high compliance ratings. Their story is a blueprint for other providers looking to improve performance and simplify complex reporting.
About the Service
Waythrough delivers IPS employment support services across multiple regions, funded by NHS, DWP and Local Authorities. The IPS model helps people with mental health and related challenges gain and retain employment through personalised, community-based support. Services must meet rigorous IPS standards, audited by IPS Grow.
Previously reliant on spreadsheets and manual systems, Waythrough transitioned to CDPSoft to build structured IPS forms, streamline data capture, improve working practices and support cross-team visibility. Today, all new employment support contracts at Waythrough use CDPSoft as the central data and reporting system.
Challenge
IPS contracts require:
- Monthly reporting to IPS Grow and commissioners
- Clear tracking of job starts, retention, referrals and outcomes
- Fast adaptability to different funders’ requirements (e.g. DWP, NHS)
- Secure data handling for sensitive employment support journeys
Spreadsheets were error-prone, admin-intensive and did not provide a sufficient audit trail, or integration. The team needed a single system to build and adapt the IPS model through custom forms and self-serve reporting, with the ability to evidence progress clearly.
CDPSoft in Action
With CDPSoft, Waythrough implemented a set of IPS-specific forms:
- Client Profile
- Vocational Profile
- Job Retention Form
- In-Work Support Plan
These mirror the IPS model exactly. The forms were created in-house using the CDPSoft custom forms model, without needing software supplier intervention, offering full control and flexibility.
“What impressed auditors most is how faithfully our forms mirror the IPS model. We get five out of five in audits consistently.”
“You don’t need to build complicated forms to make an impact. The basic tools in CDPSoft were enough for us to replicate IPS fidelity requirements.”
CDPSoft allows Waythrough to:
- Report on employment outcomes monthly to IPS Grow and commissioners
- Adapt forms to new funder requirements (e.g. capturing job end dates for IPS Grow)
- Avoid duplicate data entry and maintain data quality
- Build tailored reports or simple data dumps to match audit needs
Turning Outcomes into Evidence
Employment services are complex to deliver and even harder to evidence. In a space where funding and success often depend on measurable impact, Waythrough knew it was vital to demonstrate outcomes clearly and consistently.
Using CDPSoft’s configurable software, the team developed tailored pathways and forms that aligned with their service delivery model. These allowed frontline staff to record activity and progress in real time. Key performance indicators, such as job starts, retention rates, and ongoing support, were captured seamlessly across services.
The result? An audit trail that not only met external inspection standards but exceeded them.
Results
- IPS audits score 5/5 consistently across services
- Staff can self-build and adjust forms as funder demands change
- DWP, NHS and local authority funders express high satisfaction
- The system is used for both job-seeking and job-retention services
- CDPSoft helps services secure and deliver on multi-agency contracts
“We now have services funded by DWP, NHS and local authorities. Each has different data needs, but with CDPSoft, we can build what’s needed ourselves.”
“Some services were worried about losing data in spreadsheets. With CDPSoft, they feel secure and in control.”
Advice for Providers
Christina Hare, System Lead at Waythrough, shares her top tips for other service providers who want to simplify data collection and reporting. Drawing on over a decade of experience managing CDPSoft, Christina offers practical advice for anyone implementing or evolving their digital systems.
- “Get a system that gives you flexibility. You should be able to build your own forms and reports without needing a developer every time. We found CDPSoft ideal for this ”
- “Start by asking: what data do funders want? Then build from there. CDPSoft lets you match those requirements precisely.”
- “Don’t overcomplicate it. You can build smart, impactful forms without using advanced features. A simple form and a clean data dump can tell a powerful story.”
- “Train your team or identify champions who can create and adjust forms quickly. This builds internal capacity and saves time when funders change their requirements.”
- “Think long-term. Use the system to not only report on performance but also demonstrate impact to win future contracts.”
- “Ensure you can distinguish between job-seeking and job-retention pathways. Custom forms can help you clearly show the different types of outcomes achieved.”
Key Takeaway
Waythrough shows how a flexible, custom form-led system like CDPSoft enables employment services to meet high-fidelity IPS standards, respond to complex commissioner demands, and track real-world impact, without over-relying on IT teams or external developers.
CDPSoft’s 10+ year track record with Waythrough demonstrates its adaptability across funding cycles, policy shifts, and performance frameworks, making it an ideal long-term partner for employment support providers.
For organisations aiming to grow IPS services or evidence success in employment support, CDPSoft offers a proven platform that evolves with your service.