Education

There is a strong link between crime and standards of literacy and numeracy. Education and training in basic skills can help people turn their lives around.

All rehabilitative interventions delivered by Wiltshire Probation Area and its partners can help offenders prepare for employment. In particular, through contact with probation and learning partnership support staff/tutors, offenders can access basic skills qualifications in literacy and numeracy in addition to gaining skills which can lead to greater employability thus help to significantly reduce the risk of re-offending.

During 2007/08, 795 offenders commenced Essential/ Basic Skills provision which led to 215 recognised awards being made up to Key Stage 2 literacy/numeracy level (the level that an 11 year old commencing secondary school should be at). In addition 135 offenders gained employment in this period.

The Employment Training and Education (ETE) Team works with supervised offenders to help them overcome barriers to employment.

On receipt of a referral from an offender manager, an ETE officer will make arrangements to interview the offender, conduct an assessment of risk issues and suitability for work or training possibilities, help them consider various realistic options, and link them into services for employment and/or job-related training, eg with Job Centre Plus(JCP).

Depending on the case, the work may involve general information on what’s available and how to access provision, assessment of relevant basic and key skills, advice on disclosure of convictions, application and interview techniques, life skills (incorporating personal development), and/or on-going support to facilitate progress.

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