OFFENDERS IN THE COMMUNITY Risk Assessing Offender Learners in Mainstream Education Gina Reilly and Sue Rampton

Overview Background to OLASS and Job Deal in the community Issues providers face when trying to work with offenders Who were the Thames Valley partners? A group activity based on some samples of risk assessment paperwork A group activity with scenarios based on the kind of offences we have been asked to consider and the level of risk. Finally we will run a Q and A session.

OLASS in the community Background to Milton Keynes College, SERCO and working with offenders Milton Keynes College is an established provider of OLASS in custody and is currently responsible for 12 prisons in the East Midlands and East of England From offenders in the community have achieved over 1200 qualifications and over half progressed into further learning or work. Endorsement from Ofsted in 2007 and 2010 and as a model of partnership working. Flexible delivery across the Thames Valley– it is not a one size fits all solution. Good practice has been shared within the area at operational and strategic level with the formation of the Thames Valley Local Offender Skills and Employment Partnership (TVOSEP ).

Providers and Partners

Issues for education providers Perceived and actual risk Staff may be nervous about working with offenders Small classes sizes and unpredictable attendances make funding through mainstream routes difficult Offenders behaviour can be perceived to be challenging Commitment to diversity conflicts with safeguarding Methods and policies for the admission of offenders differ between different providers. Confidentiality/ data protection Establishing boundaries

Risk assessment process Things to consider Policy development and senior level commitment is essential Admissions teams ensure equality of access and safeguarding Ensure application forms provide the opportunity for disclosure of unspent convictions Training staff in partnership with NACRO and Thames Valley Probation Trust to understand the terminology of the offending community and the degree of misdemeanour and disclosure requirements under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 Training staff to handle disclosure appropriately Conforming to data protection and information sharing legislation and obtaining consent explicitly from offenders Putting in place support measures or conditions of entry Monitoring and evaluating measures of support

Over to you….. Overview of paperwork Enrolment form Risk Assessment Policy Risk assessment Interview Scenarios – would you let this offender enrol with your organisation?

Any questions What would you like to know?