Big tick winner

ESS, DTE (part of Compass Group) - The ESS Rehab Programme

Employability Award 2007 sponsored by Accessible Retail

The ‘Rehab’ project prepares women for sustainable employment when they leave HMP Drake Hall. As well as helping the women out of the re-offending cycle it has helped solve the perennial recruitment problems at the local MOD Swynnerton Training Camp.

Processes

ESS Defence Training Estate (DTE) is part of the Compass Group,  providing catering and support services to 25 defence training establishments in the UK & Ireland. The ‘Rehab' scheme is an initiative where, for the first time, the Ministry of Defence has allowed serving offenders to work at one of its establishments. 

After negotiations between ESS, the MOD and the prison governor, offenders taking part in the prison’s outwork programme could, under stringent employment and security criteria, work at Swynnerton Defence Training Camp as caterers. ESS provides such services to Swynnerton training camp as partner in the contract with the MOD held by Landmarc Securities.

Successful candidates who have satisfied the MOD criteria of being drug-free for two years, meet the HMP outworking rules and who are able to work with young people , are employed by ESS on the same terms and conditions as its permanent staff. 

They receive full training and support including the chance to gain NVQ catering qualifications as well as training in customer service, health and safety and basic food preparation. The women’s details are kept confidential throughout the process. On completing an HMP/ESS induction, they are ‘buddied up’ with a permanent member of the ESS defence staff to ensure successful integration into the work team. 

Offenders normally work at the camp for six to nine months before being released on parole, though some have been employed for two years now. During that time, regular appraisals take place to evaluate progress with bi-monthly meetings between ESS, the offender and the prison’s outwork liaison officer to maintain close contact and provide necessary support.

The women are paid the same rates as permanent ESS staff. They are allowed to access a small part of this income from prison, using the rest to help support their families and themselves on release. 

Impact

  • Since its inception, in 2004 the 40 women who have gained basic qualifications now have work skills and an employment record to help them on release
  • To date, none of them are known to have re-offended since their release from prison
  • The longstanding recruitment problems at this rural site have all but disappeared. There is now a reliable, committed group of women eager to work with the permanent team. Knowing there is always a full complement of staff has improved morale and job satisfaction enormously.
  • ESS has saved money: recruitment costs, once a significant monthly item, are almost zero.

See also