V5 Aug19

My Way to Employment - Handbook

Project Aim Statement: 10 individuals (in total) who are on a custodial sentence, CPO Supervision or Diversion from Prosecution are being supported to make progress on the Employability Pipeline by March 2019

Contents

Page

1. Overview Employability Pathway/ Responsibilities 2

2. Flyer for Individuals 3

3. Initial Assessment Form 4

4. Individuals’ Plan Do Review Sheet 6

5. Key Partners/Lead Professionals - Summary Information:- CJSWS;- SPS Throughcare Support Officers;- Job Centre Plus;- Skills Development Scotland;- Fair Start Scotland;- Apex Steps Programme;- Aberdeen City - Progress Through Positive Partnerships

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6. Other Partners – Summary Information: 16

Appendix Project Charter 18

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V5 Aug19

1. Employability Pathway/Responsibilities

Stage of Pathway →

1 Engagement/ Assessment- 1 month?- Use Initial Assessment Form

2 Conversation with Apex re Disclosure etc

3 Identification of Personal Support Mentor- any stage as appropriate

4 Link in with JCP / SDS Work Coach (Lead Professional (LP))- within 1st month- onward referral to FairStart, Apex etc if appropriate

5 Individualised Plan developed for progression along Employability Pipeline- within 1st month

6 Progression along Employability Pipeline according to Individualised Plan

7 Regular Review Meetings, Progress recorded on Personal Log/ Plan Do Review Sheet

8 Support into Employment

Stage of Justice System ↓

Diversion from Prosecution

CJSWS CJSWS signpost to Apex

CJSWS & Individual

CJSWS/SPS, Individual & Work Coach

LP with Individual, Mentor, & CJSWS/ TSO

LP works with individual according to Plan, and/or liaises with relevant partner/s, eg:- Momentum;- Skills Devt Scotland;- Progress through Positive Partnerships- *Adult Learning (UPWOA);- *training provider/s (NESCOL?);- *volunteering placement providers (ACVO)- *work placement providers (statutory partners?)[*Single points of contact to be identified]

Support from Mentor

LP, Individual, Mentor & CJSWS/TSO

LP supports individual in liaison with *employer

[*Single points of contact to be identified within employer organisations]

Support from Mentor

CPO Supervision

CJSWS- Supervising Social Worker

CJSWS signpost to Apex

CJSWS & Individual

Custodial Sentence

SPS- TSOs

TSOs signpost to Apex

SPS & Individual

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2. Flyer for Individuals

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3. Initial Assessment Form including Prompts

Date completed:

Referring Agency Details

Agency Name

Agency Worker Name

Agency Worker Role

Office Address

Office Phone Number

Mobile Phone Number

Email Address

Participant Details

Name

Address

Postcode

Home Phone Number

Mobile Phone Number

Date of Birth

Age

National Insurance No.

Email Address

Length of time since last in regular employmentBenefits currently received Prompt: nature of benefit not amount

How did individual hear about MWTE?

My Profile

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1. My goals are: Prompt:- what do you want to achieve?- where do you want to be in 1,3 months or 6 month’s time?

2. My qualifications are: Prompt:- what (if any) qualifications did you get at school?- in what subjects?- any other qualifications, training, certificates including, for example, Venture Trust, Foyer, in prison

3. My strengths and skills are:

Prompt: tease out and identify strengths and transferable skills- what do you like doing?- what are you good at e.g. people skills, maths, computers, negotiating, caring, cooking, timekeeping…….?- what kind of job would you like to do?

4. My work experience and history is:

Prompt:- what was your last job?- what jobs (if any) have you had?- include formal and informal to identify additional transferable skills- include any volunteering, placements or Unpaid Work- why did you leave your last/ previous job/s?

5. What’s getting in the way of you working?

What do you need to clear your way?

Prompt:- offending- caring responsibilities- mental/ physical health/ anxiety- transport or other practical issues- housing/ accommodation issues- personal circumstances- literacy/ numeracy- lack of skills/ confidence/ experience- English is second language

6. What other agencies or services are you currently working with (if any)?

I give permission for my Criminal Justice Social Workers or support workers to share this document with Job Centre Plus, Skills Development Scotland, Apex or other employment related agencies added below.Other agencies:

Signed: Date:

4. Individuals’ Plan Do Review Sheet

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NAME:

My Goal:

Week One – what I did how did it go

Week Two – what I did how did it go

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Plan/Do/ReviewDecisions about what I will do next (small steps, realistic, achievable)

Review

Next steps

Review

Next steps

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5. Key Partners/Lead Professionals – Summary Information

Criminal Justice Social Work

Role of CJSWS (in relation to this project): - To identify potential participants who meet project criteria, including checking

LS/CMI, if in place for the individual, to see if they score highly for ‘Employability’ issues

- To engage participants – use of Flyer;- To undertake Initial Assessment – use of IA Form;- To begin to address any barriers identified on IA Form;- To seek consent re working with JCP or SDS Work Coaches;- To help individual identify a Personal Support Mentor;- To make Personal Support Mentor aware of expectations of role;- To arrange initial meeting with JCP or SDS Work Coaches, Individual, and

Personal Support Mentor, to go through IA Form;- To provide ongoing support via dedicated Support Worker.

Role of CJSWS (in relation to individuals with CPO Supervision Requirement): Supervision by a Social Worker of individuals given a Community Payback Order with a Supervision Requirement by the Court. Individuals have to agree in Court to the imposition of a CPO. An individual may be given one or more CPO ‘Requirements’. The vast majority of Requirements imposed are Supervision and/or Unpaid Work. (Most issues can be addressed under a Supervision Requirement, without the addition of a specific requirement.) At the first meeting, the individual will go through a full induction with the Social Worker, following which they will meet at least weekly initially. The Social Worker has two key roles:

to work with the individual and relevant others to achieve change in the individual’s behaviour to encourage desistance from offending behaviour; and

to work with the individual to achieve compliance with the Order.

Client Group: Adults aged 18+ (16 and 17 year olds in some circumstances) made subject to a CPO by the Court

Timescales: A CPO can last between six months and three years.

Role of CJSWS (in relation to individuals Diverted from Prosecution): If an individual is assessed as suitable to be diverted from prosecution, they will undertake an intervention, under the supervision of a Social Worker, aimed at reducing their risk of re-offending. If the individual complies fully with this intervention they will not be prosecuted and not go to Court.

Client Group: Adults aged 18+ (16 and 17 year olds in some circumstances)

Timescales: An intervention under Diversion from Prosecution will last a maximum of 12 weeks

Contact Details:

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JobCentre Plus/DWP

Role of Work Coaches (in relation to this project):- To support individual to develop personal plan using CWilliams planner (tbc);- To support individual to progress according to personal plan;- To arrange regular review meetings with individuals, Mentor, and

CJSWS/TSO;- To record data v measures in Project Charter on ongoing basis

Role of Prison Work Coaches: Prison Work Coaches conduct one to one diagnostic interviews with prisoners prior to release and continue to support more vulnerable customers on release, as well as supporting appropriate claims to benefit. The interviews cover previous experience, identify transferable skills and any training needs, refer to relevant provision and signpost to partner organisations, as well as supporting jobsearch.

Role of Work Coaches (community): As above for customers who do not require specialist support on release

Role of Employer Engagement and Partnership team: Work closely with employers throughout the Aberdeen City and Shire area to identify employment opportunities for ex-offenders, including Work Experience placements. Act as an advocate for customers who require additional support to access recruitment and application processes and assist with Disclosure issues. Identify gaps in provision for the customer group and either negotiate access to existing training / support or design and fund specific programmes. Undertake regular employability events within HMP Grampian, bring partners and employers in to meet with prisoners prior to release to promote opportunities within sectors prevalent in the local labour market. Work with SPS to identify employability training that can be delivered within HMP Grampian to enhance employment opportunities with local employers.

Client Group: recipients of any DWP benefit e.g. Jobseekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Income Support, Universal Credit

Timescales: Prison Work Coaches can work with individuals throughout their sentences and Work Coach support is available throughout an individual’s benefit claim.

Contact Details:Kirsty Jarman, Partnership Manager, 01224 804526

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Skills Development Scotland Work Coaches

Role of Work Coaches (in relation to this project): - Lead professional for 16s/17s - To support individual to develop personal plan - To support individual to progress according to personal plan;- To arrange regular review meetings with individuals, Mentor, and CJSWS/TSO;- Use of Plan Do Review sheet with individual at regular review meetings- To record data v measures in Project Charter on ongoing basis

Role of Work Coaches: The “Next Steps” offer delivers Career Management Skills (CMS) service to young people aged 15 – 18½ years who are unemployed.

Skills Development Scotland uses a needs-based approach. The Maximum Level of service is provided to: Young Offenders, people with; interrupted learning, travellers background, care experienced, drug/alcohol problems, young homeless, multiple needs.

Customers will be assigned to a Lead Adviser from the Post School Team to take a lead role in developing a coaching relationship with the customer, which will support the customer to develop their CMS and to achieve a sustained positive outcome.

Next Steps aims to develop and deliver a progressive and cohesive CIAG (Career Information Advice and Guidance) service offer which:

• Enables customers to receive the right support, at the right time and from the right person as part of their CMS development • Enables customers to develop their Career Management Skills, recognising improvement at each stage as they progress towards a sustainable destination • Extends and develops our coaching relationship for those who have the greatest need • Enables customers to receive ongoing support even after they have progressed into a positive outcome. This support can be for the duration of the outcome if it is of a short term nature e.g. local employability programme, up to 6 months if a longer term outcome e.g. FE. The extent and nature of the aftercare will be negotiated and agreed with the customer.

Client Group: young people aged 15 – 18½ years who are unemployed.

Timescales: support can be for the duration of the outcome if it is of a short term nature e.g. local employability programme, up to 6 months if a longer term outcome

Contact Details:Susan Ritchie, Prison Work CoachTel: 03000132481 andMob: 07789988967susan.ritchie@sds.co.uk

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Fair Start Scotland

Role of Key Workers:

Initial Engagement (Day 1)•Initial contact within 5 working days of referral to arrange first interview.•A face to face initial assessment within 10 working days of referral to confirm eligibility and an action plan for the Discovery and Planning phase (see below) of the service.•Allocation to a named key worker who will be your adviser for the duration of the service•Agreement of a Participation Agreement, setting out the commitments of each party.

Discovery and Planning Phase (1 to 8 weeks)•Weekly interventions with key worker•Face to face monthly review with key worker;•Baseline assessment of employability skills;•Better Off in Work calculation and financial planning; and•Planning for additional support to be provided by external or partner services;•Development of a detailed personalised Employment Action Plan which sets out agreed activities and timescales to help you into work including activities for overcoming barriers including engagement with external services, current skills, employment history, vocational training needs, employment aspirations, monitoring and review arrangements and in-work support plan.•Vocational Profiling leading to an individual action plan

Pre Work Support (9 to 52 weeks)•Minimum of 3 hours weekly contact with key worker;•1 to 1 coaching by key worker as necessary;•Face to face formal monthly review with key worker;•Quarterly distance travelled assessment and feedback;•Employability activities as detailed in the individual Employment Action Plan;•Engagement with external or partner services as detailed in the individual Employment Action Plan;•Monthly workplace reviews (if on work placement);•Weekly job search activities;•Employer engagement including support for interviews and negotiations of reasonable adjustments; and•Financial guidance.•Support to overcome recruitment barriers;•Job matching with suitable vacancies, including job carving; and•Job carving during work experience placements (if necessary)

In-Work support (Job entry date + 52 weeks)•An In-Work Support Action Plan, detailing timeline for workplace reviews with employer, future training and career development goals and actions;•Minimum of weekly contact with key worker, fading as appropriate;•Minimum monthly workplace review with employer, reducing over time as appropriate•Workplace induction; Support at workplace training (if necessary);

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•Support to develop workplace relationships;•Financial guidance; Advice for employer, training for employer’s staff (as necessary); and•Individual exit planning in the final stages of the service•Job Analysis;•Task Analysis (if necessary); and•Workplace job coaching, reducing over time as appropriate

Additionally looking at developing partnership with other available services to which individuals may be referred in order to meet participant needs, for example:•Mentoring for those at risk of offending•Part time courses related to job goals•Services and organisations to provide health information•Support for participants to engage in physical activities•Specialist support to overcome barriers e.g. Participants recovering from drug and alcohol addiction Support to address housing issues for tenants and Housing Associations•Assisting participants who are technically homeless and /or looking to exit the private rented sector•Supported Employment businesses to provide work experience and work trials for participants; enabling our delivery staff to identify issues and barriers in a working environment and set revised actions and goals to overcome them

Client Group:

Participants will be in receipt of a reserved UK Working Age Benefit, unless they are disabled and will be either:•Aged 18 years old and over, out of work and living in Scotland, or•Aged 16 and 17 years old and either disabled or in receipt of ESA/Universal Credit (work focused interview group, work prep group or no work requirements)

Individuals with a conviction need to have been unemployed for six months prior to engagement with the service.

The Service will target:•Disabled People (as defined in the Equality Act 2010).•Those who are long term unemployed (those reaching 2 years on Job Seekers Allowance/ Universal Credit equivalent).•People on the Employment and Support Allowance Work Related Activity Group.•People with convictions (someone who has completed a custodial sentence or a community sentence) or offender (someone who is completing a community sentence).•Care Experience Young People (allows care experienced young people to be eligible for support until age 29 (i.e. up to, but not including, their 30th birthday).•Lone Parents.•Refugees.•Ethnic Minorities.•People in the 15% most deprived Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) areas.•People with a health problem which presents a barrier to employment.

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Timescales: See ‘Role of Key Workers’ above

Contact Details:

Lynne Gallagher Partnership Manager 07958 191484

Main Office•Ruby House, 8 Ruby Place, Aberdeen, AB10 1ZP

Fair Start Scotland – Partners in the NE Scotland

Momentum are the lead delivery partner for the new Fair Start programme being delivered in the North East. Momentum have over 25 year’s experience of delivering successful employability programmes in Scotland

Enable – one of the largest and most successful providers of employment services to people who have learning disabilities in Scotland.

Aberdeen Foyer - a successful social enterprise empowering individuals to achieve their potential and break down the root causes of inequality – homelessness, unemployment, poor health, lack of access to support and opportunities.

Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) – with 30 years’ experience of delivering employment focussed activities that recognise the positive impact of work on personal identity, confidence and self-esteem, as well as health and wider citizen outcomes.

Life Skills –a leading provider of training across Scotland, offering over 70 accredited training services across key growth sectors. They work to support participants to gain the necessary skills to enter real and sustainable employment.

Enterprise Mentoring - a Scottish based disabled-led specialist self-employment provider with expertise in working with the most disadvantaged and challenged participants, including those with complex disabilities and support needs.

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Apex - Steps programme

Objective is for each individual to complete their action plan by moving into employment, training, more advanced qualifications or progression to stage 3 providers on the Employability Pipeline.

Role of Personal Development Mentors: will work with each person and agree an action plan, reviewed at regular intervals, created together to address any barriers while building on the individual’s strengths and skills. Will support each person to achieve specific milestones to ensure they progress towards full time employment, education, training or accessing other employment support.

Assistance with:

• benefits requirements (including signing up for Universal Jobmatch)• letters of disclosure • Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974• registration with health professionals • opening bank accounts• progression into volunteering or work experience• opportunities to achieve recognised vocational qualifications such as CSCS card etc

Client Group: Participants who have multiple barriers to employment or are long term unemployed. Individuals can self-refer.

Barriers (other than being long term unemployed) can include:• having criminal convictions• mental health issues• Looked after young person• Migrants• From employment deprived areas• Living in a jobless household• Armed forces veteran• Low income employed• Substance related conditions

This list is not exhaustive and a call to the Apex Grampian team on 01224 611 875 can give more details on qualifying criteria.

Timescales:

Contact Details: Tel 01224 611 875.

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Progress Through Positive Partnerships (Aberdeen City Council)

Role of Key Worker: Key Worker will support an individual on their journey along a Strategic Employability Pipeline to be developed by the PTPP project, enabling individuals to develop relevant skills based on their individual needs and abilities.

Client Group: Individuals aged 16+ with at least two specific barriers, including unemployed, in low-paid employment, in recovery, women returners, care leavers, those for whom English is not their first language, ethnic minorities, long term health issues, disabilities, alcohol / drug misues, and ex-offenders. Focus on priority areas (Middlefield, Woodside, Tillydrone, Seaton, Torry) but will take clients from elsewhere in the city.

Timescales: The project does not support individuals for a set period of time, rather it takes a person-centred needs-led approach and will provide the support the client needs to enable them to progress.

Contact Details:Tel 01224 523879

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6. Other Partners – Summary Information

Aberdeen City Adult Learning Team

The Adult Learning Team offers help with: reading, writing and numbers basic computing skills basic English for speakers of other languages health eating, cooking and budgeting getting back in to learning getting into paid work or volunteering life skills

Delivered in various settings across the city, in small groups or one-to-one, non-accredited and accredited opportunities.

Contact Details: Tel 01224 346447/346448Email: lifelonglearning@aberdeencity.gov.uk

Training Providers- North East Scotland College (NESCOL)

NESCOL is the single largest provider of vocational education and training in the North East of Scotland. We have a course to suit everyone; whether you're fresh out of school, currently working, returning to education or simply want to try something new — whatever your educational or occupational background, an opportunity awaits at NESCol.

Contact Details: Tel 0300 330 5550Email enquiry@nescol.ac.uk

Volunteering Placement Providers

ACVO (Aberdeen Third Sector Interface): Manages the Aberdeen Volunteer Centre website, which has a large and diverse range of opportunities across the city.

Contact Details:Contact Details: Mike MelvinTel: 01224 686076 / 07814 902083Email: mike.melvin@acvo.org.uk

Work Placement Providers

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- statutory partners – single point of contact info to follow

ACVO: Holds a register of 3rd Sector organisations willing to provide suitable positions to people prior to release from prison

Contact Details:Contact Details: Susan MorrisonTel: 01224 686070 / 07814 896676Email: susan.morrison@acvo.org.uk

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APPENDIX

Improvement Project Title: My Way To Employment

Executive Sponsor (Chair of Outcome Improvement Group or Locality Partnership):Derek McGowan, Chair, Community Justice Group

Project Lead: Nicola Graham, SDS

Aim statement (What are we trying to accomplish? Over what time? Numerical target for improvement?)

Increase to 30 in total, the number of individuals who are on a custodial sentence, on a Community Payback Order with a Supervision Requirement, or who have been Diverted from Prosecution who are being supported to make progress on the Employability Pipeline by September 2021 [Baseline: 9 in 2018-19]

Ultimately, our vision for this project is to establish an employability approach and set of tools that will support individuals to progress into employment.

Link to Local Outcome Improvement Plan:

Also links to Stretch Outcome 2 (Aberdeen Prospers Group): Driver 2.1 Promoting inclusive economic growth for our most disadvantaged communitiesProject Aim: Increase the number of people from priority groups (care experienced young people, people with convictions, people with housing need) employed by public sector partners by 2021

Going forwards, the above project, under the auspices of the Aberdeen Prospers OIG, will take the lead role in engagement with employers in the public sector whilst this project charter will take the lead role in engagement with people with convictions, linking in with employers as required.Why is this important (The rationale/business case for the improvement project: Does this support prevention and early intervention? Benefit to clients/ stakeholders/ residents? Are costs reduced now or in the future by addressing this issue? What published research can you draw on as evidence?)

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There is a range of evidence available which shows that being employed can contribute to reducing the likelihood of someone reoffending. The stability and quality of the job are also important factors. [What Works to Reduce Reoffending: A Summary of the Evidence (Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services 2015)]. One in five job applicants have a conviction and being locked out of employment by a criminal record creates multi-faceted social and integration problems. [Recruit With Conviction 2017]. By addressing this issue, outcomes will be improved for individuals involved in the Justice System, their families and communities, and there is potential to address skills shortages.

This refreshed charter provides an opportunity to develop further the learning from the initial phase of this project (which ended in March 2019) which began to demonstrate success in establishing systems to support people to take small steps towards employment. The focus is on individuals who are some distance from being in a position to work, due to the barrier of having a conviction (ie a Community Payback Order with a Supervision Requirement or a custodial sentence) alongside other barriers including addictions, mental and other health issues, etc (‘complex needs’), and who have not been in employment for at least six months. (The individuals who have engaged with the project so far have generally been out of employment for far longer than that.) The aim is to provide a wrap-around, holistic service.

To-date seven of the nine individuals engaging with the project have been individuals liberated from custody. Systems have been put in place to identify individuals, engage with them and refer them into the project, and support them to continue to engage. The focus of the project moving forward will be on continuing to build on and spread the learning so far to engage with individuals on CPOs and those diverted from prosecution, with a particular emphasis on young people.

Measures (How will we know if a change is an improvement?)

Outcome measuresNumber of individuals being supported to make progress on the Employability PipelineImprovement in outcomes (‘small steps’) for individuals progressing along the Employability Pipeline

Process measuresNumber of individuals provided with information about MWTENumber of referrals to MWTE (Initial Assessment Forms completed) split by- Community Payback Order with Supervision- Custodial Sentence – HMP Grampian- People rapidly rehoused from HMP Grampian- Custodial Sentence – HMYOI Polmont- Custodial Sentence – Other prison establishments- Diversion from ProsecutionNumbers of people accessing opportunities (eg education/ training/ volunteering/ placements/ employment)Number of individuals referred for mental health supportNumber of individuals completing Plan Do Review logNumber of education/ training/ volunteering/ placement providers identifying a single point of contactNumber of employability events/people attending such events

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Balancing measure/s

Change ideas (What changes can be made that will result in improvement?)(Changes tested to March 19 in bold)

Individuals are motivated to participate in MWTEMy Way to Employment Pathway/Responsibilities document (summarises steps to be followed, plus roles of relevant partners)Flyer for individualsPosters aimed at staff and individualsSimple info about MWTE in partner staff inductions/training/ processes eg SPS CMBInfo about MWTE in prisoner/ CJSWS client inductions (the Flyer?)Participation in MWTE contributes to UPW Hours (indivs on Supervision & UPW)MWTE for people on Diversion - specific change ideas to be developed

Effective & person-centred MWTE pathways & processes are in placeInitial Assessment Form‘Lead Professional’ identified for each individual – Job Centre Plus Work Coach or SDS Work Coach or other relevant partner agencyRegular (case conference) meetings involving Lead Professional, individual, Job Centre or Fair Start Employer liaison staff, and others as appropriateSpreadsheet for recording participants’ progressPlan Do Review Sheet – for participants to identify their goals and record progressWarm handoversDirectory of work placementsPathways to relevant supports, including mental health - specific change ideas to be developed

Education/Training/ Employment-related opportunities are availableSingle point of contact identified by education/ training/ volunteering/ placement providersSystem to identify skills gaps/ sympathetic employers/ tailored opportunities – to targetRegular Employability events in prison/communityUse of positive stories in promotions, blogs, videos, leaflets for employers and to share with other project charter groups

Potential risks and/or barriers to success & actions to address these

Capacity of organisations in the Lead Professional role.Capacity of organisations in the project team to work intensively with individualsWithdrawal by SPS of Throughcare Support Officer service – it is hoped that the involvement of other ‘throughcare’ services (eg CJSWS, New Routes and Shine Mentoring Services) will mitigate this to some extent

Project Team:

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Nicola Graham, Skills Development Scotland (Project Lead)Kayleigh Alexander, ACC Youth TeamRioghnach Armstrong, ApexLinda Brownlie, CJSWSFiona Ferguson, Job Centre PlusLynne Gallagher, Momentum/Fair Start ScotlandStephen Gray, SPSCarol Hughes, Job Centre PlusClare Hyslop/Nicola Williams, BarnardosKirsty Jarman, Job Centre PlusAngela Taylor, Aberdeen CitySusan Morrison, ACVOAmanda Fitzpatrick, Momentum /Fair Start ScotlandLesley Simpson, CJSWS, AHSCPKaren Watson, New Routes (TPS)Val Vertigans, CJ Officer (Improvement Adviser)

Virtual MembersNESCOL – Duncan Abernethy/Neil CowieGreig Chisholm, Scottish GovtDughall Laing, Recruit With Conviction

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