Warbarth Working Links Devon and Cornwall Probation Reducing Crime – Tackling Exclusion Together Presentation to The Howard League for Penal Reform House of Lords 4 th February 2009
Background Response to National Action Plan to Reduce Re-offending (2004) –“Having a real job reduces the risk of reconviction by between 33% and 50% depending on age” Financed by European Social Fund’s (ESF) Objective One and match funded through DCPA and Working Links from May 06 to June 08 Partnership between Devon and Cornwall Probation and Working Links Eligibility - offenders/ex-offenders aged over 18 living in Cornwall. Most referrals from DCPA but also from offenders not on licence and ex-offenders who still consider offending to be a barrier.
Approach Specialist Offender Programme Voluntary County Wide Discretionary Enabling Fund Individual tailored solutions Cross Agency Activity
Meet the team
Customer Journey Engagement Activity Meeting Clients Diagnostic interview and tools Action Planning Job Search and Interviews A New Job Aftercare support
Case Study One Schedule one offender Referred to us by DCPA Licence restrictions Change of career needed Disclosing to employers Getting a job! What happened next He won ‘Store man of the Year Award’ Probation agreed trip abroad His long term partner moved in He has been promoted He is loving life Signing with Probation until April 2009 On sex offenders register for further 5 years
Case Study two Previous job Foreign Exchange Broker in Hong Kong Due to alcohol misuse suffered liver damage Re-located to Cornwall Convicted of dealing Class B drugs Split from partner – twin boys born Housing – caravan Warbarth helped him develop his photography skills Do a Business Plan for self employment Secure Housing Purchased lap top
Outcomes Starts 655 v Profile 280 Jobs 162 v Profile 70 Other Outcomes 233 v Profile 85 Qualifications 122 v 75 National Award from Howard League and National Justice Award
Lessons Learned Recognise & Respond to Local need Specialist staff Cross agency approach Invest and take risk Praise and not punish
Warbarth the Legacy Specialist Ex- offender advisors Relationships with Probation Plymouth University SRRU Evaluation Cornwall Works Plus