Dont Label Me

1
Dont Label Me

• 18th September 2008
• George Peden
• Wayne Lawson
• John Thow
• Jennifer Park

2
How do we make prisoners employable?

• The challenges offenders face whilst in Prison
  and on release, of being labelled unemployable.

3
Employability Officer

• Developing links
• External Partnerships
• Selection criteria for employability days. Is
  this right?
• Prisoner attitudes
• Demands of Role- Are we committed?

4
Initial Challenges/Obstacles

• Lack of confidence of Jobcentreplus Staff in
  seeing the benefits of working with SPS and how
  it would develop.
• Attracting employers to consider ex-offenders as
  suitable to work within their organisation, and
  dispelling preconceived myths they may have.
• How to convince partnership organisations of
  Jobcentreplus to participate in this initiative?

5
When the initiative commenced, nobody knew what
to expect or what outcomes could be achieved.
With a positive spin we have

• Overcome the lack of confidence of JCP staff, who
  now actively volunteer to participate in the
  events. Due to the positive spin we have
• JCP Staff
• Offering benefit advice to prisoners prior to,
  and on release
• Interviewing prisoners on behalf of employers in
  Prison prior to their release
• Setting up Work Trials for prisoners with
  employers on their release from Prison
• Negativity has swung to positivity in working
  with this client group through this initiative as
  a result of.
• Positive feedback being received from previous
  events
• Reported successes of job starts through good
  news stories
• Prisoners positive attitude towards employers
• Working relationships and selection processes
  undertaken by the SPS staff
• Good quality candidates supporting the events

6
Through employer networking groups within
Grampian, positive messages are now being
cascaded about this initiative.

• Having met and discussed initiative with several
  JCP partnership organisations, we now have the
  support of
• Apex
• Aberdeen Foyer
• Careers Scotland
• Sacro
• Learning House
• Home Choice
• Grampian Housing

7
As a result of our partnership with SPS Aberdeen

• Prisoners are now more aware that there are
  employers out there who are willing to consider
  ex-offenders to fill current vacancies.
• Prisoners hear of the success stories of people
  they have been serving time with in the Prison
• Prisoners are now actually requesting to attend
  the recruitment events
• From March 07 to date, working closely with SPS
  we have developed a close working relationship
  and achieved successes beyond our expectations
• Through consultation with SPS, Jobcentre Plus can
  now target employers who are likely to have
  vacancies suitable to the prisoner requirements
• In contrast to the challenges we faced at the
  start, all obstacles have been addressed through
  regular communication and positive working
  practices between all parties.

8
View from an employer

• Why successful?
• Welcoming atmosphere comfortable feeling
• Positive attitude of all concerned
• Rapport between prisoners and staff
• Mutual dignity respect
• Genuine interest/courtesy/enthusiasm of prisoners
• Participative approach
• Realistic, honest communication
• Informal style..with injection of humour!
• Determination of prisoners not to re-offend
• Acknowledgement that work aids rehabilitation

9
View from an employer

• Enhanced employability training to include-
• Confidence building
• Communication skills
• Teamworking skills
• Preparation for interview
• Promote rehabilitation of offenders ethos.
• Encourage more employers to participate.
• On the job training for suitable prisoners.
• Get testimonials from ex-offenders now in jobs.
• Mechanism for follow up.

10
Moving forward

• Do qualifications matter?
• More short term prisoner work placements.
• How can the SPS help employers?
• Criminal Justice services lead by example?
• Employability events?