We have successfully rolled out our first-ever
Employability Course at HMP Stocken.
The six-week course covered a range of subjects, including CVs, Disclosures, Barriers to Work, AI, Interview Skills, Job Searches, and much more.
The course was employer-led, which is important from a prisoner’s perspective as it demonstrates what an Employer wants to see from an individual they may employ.
Seven prisoners were selected for the course who were either approaching release or parole.
The course was well-organised, informative, and relaxed, so the men engaged well.
Feedback from one prisoner towards the end of the six-week course stated, ‘It was the best course I have completed within the 18 years I have spent in prison.’
Benoit Firmin and Leanne Walton, Social Value Managers at Wates, delivered the course to a high standard and adapted their communication skills to meet the men’s needs.
They both had to say this about their experience delivering the employability programme.
Why is Wates delivering employability sessions in prisons?
Benoit Firmin: The programme was designed to support people in custody to better their understanding of employment and training opportunities and to increase their awareness of roles, specifically within the built environment. The workshops are seen as an important step to ensuring that Wates can deliver effective programmes in custody and to support our efforts in safely and fairly recruiting prison leavers and people with criminal records. We also recognise the value of helping to ensure that people leaving prison have been provided with the relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours akin to work readiness and, therefore, increase the likelihood of them sustaining employment in the longer term.
How did you bespoke the programme to suit HMP Stocken?
Benoit Firmin: We initially visited the prison with our proposed delivery plan and facilitated a focus group with some participants ahead of delivery. We used this session to share our ideas and understand from the participants whether the programme would be beneficial and if any changes needed to be considered. We also engaged with the Employment Lead and the CIAG team at the prison to ensure that our programme met the current and emerging needs of the establishment regarding preparing the men for employment upon release. Following these conversations, we made the necessary changes and amendments to the programme content and agreed on the delivery schedule with the prison.
What’s the plan for delivering any future programmes in prisons?
Benoit Firmin: Having successfully completed the pilot programme at HMP Stocken, we plan to roll the programme out to a further five prisons (as a minimum) before the end of this year. The programme will also be redelivered for a second time at Stocken in September and in each of the future programmes, where possible, Wates will help to capacity build prison based staff to deliver the programme to ensure the delivery is sustainable in the longer term.
We hope that this course will inspire prisoners approaching release to seek Employment opportunities with Wates. We are looking forward to the next course, which is due to start in September. Due to its success, Wates is looking to roll this course out to another five prisons in the near future.
Were you apprehensive about delivering the programme in prison at first?
Leanne Walton: Having never worked in Prisons before, yes, there was a certain level of apprehension, but from the first session, the level of respect shown to me made me feel very comfortable.
What do you think the inmates got out of the programme?
Leanne Walton: The inmates got so much out of the programme, not only knowing that their life isn’t over after prison but also that there are employers out there who give ex-offenders a second chance. It gave them real-life insights into employment and the recruitment journey. But it also included real-life information about the cost of living. So they know what to expect when they are released.
