This page is here for archive purposes, to showcase CFO and European Social Fund (ESF) achievements between 2009 - 2015. For information on the latest ESF funded National Offender Management Service (NOMS) programme, please click here

Research

Projects aimed at improving employability are seen as key to changing offender's lives and reducing reoffending. Since January 2010, the NOMS European Social Fund (ESF) Co-financing programme has been working with participants who would benefit from additional employment and skills provision.

The NOMS ESF Programme aims to complement existing provision, particularly the Offender Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) in prisons as well as other existing employment and skills services.

Provider Report - East Midlands – Female Sex Workers

The prime provider, Leicestershire and Rutland Probation Trust, have sub-contracted two women’s specialist services, Women in Prison (WiP) and Changing Lives, to help with the delivery of the provision. The provision itself is delivered in HMP Foston Hall. The role of the WiP Case Worker is to identify potential participants, sign them on to the sub-project and then offer tailored outcome-focused support until they feel that the participant is confident enough to join the group courses run by Changing Lives. Changing Lives’ role in the project is to run a series of courses that are designed specifically for women; these are the Chrysalis, X-it and GOALS courses.

The themes found from this research included how the purpose of provision should be that it empowers the participants; giving the choice back to them and allowing them to direct it. Support should be sympathetic and understanding of the chaotic nature of the sub-group and time should be allowed for delivery staff to build a working relationship with a participant so that she feels comfortable and confident enough to access the support needed. This approach also facilitates an improvement in self-esteem and self-worth; traits that are found to be typically low in this cohort.

The report is available to read or download here: CFO Provider Report - East Midlands

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