Inspiring Hope, Raising Aspirations: Forward’s Career Information Advice and Guidance in Prisons
Known for our extensive experience in providing services to people in prison and ex-offenders in the community, Forward is also Matrix Standard accredited and Ofsted-rated Good for adult education skills and expanding employability services.
What is CIAG?
CIAG offers impartial and independent services to help prisoners make informed choices about education and work during their time in prison and upon release. Our teams engage in individual conversations to raise aspirations, explore skills and abilities, identify areas for improvement, and agree on a Personal Learning Plan tailored to each person’s needs. For those nearing release, we explore suitable employability routes and provide support with job searches and CV creation.
CIAG is crucial in prisons, setting individuals on a path to success. As James Timpson MP noted in his speech to the Prison Governors Association, “training that opens doors – that gives prisoners pride and real skills that today’s employers want: getting prison leavers into work doesn’t just cut crime; it boosts our economy too. That’s a win-win we can’t ignore.”
Our Approach
- Effective relationships
Our CIAG advisors use the Wheel of Change to build effective working relationships, giving hope and aspiration to prisoners. Many of our staff have received ‘Dream Team’ awards for their exceptional support.
- Career resources
We provide up-to-date labour market information to inform choices upon release and show how to access these resources post-release.
- Peer support
In some prisons, we train CIAG peers to support engagement, offer holistic support, and serve as role models.
- Utilising Forward’s wider capabilities
We leverage our expertise in housing, substance misuse, mental health, and family support services to enhance our CIAG work. Our Enterprise Service offers masterclasses and workshops, maintaining contact with individuals who wish to start their own businesses post-release.
- Collaboration
We work closely with Prison Education partners, the New Futures Network, employers, and apprenticeship providers for career awareness sessions, and collaborate with Learning and Skills Managers and Heads of Education, Skills, and Work.
- Quality focus
We apply the same quality framework to our CIAG work as we do for our Ofsted-inspected community work, including audits, observations, focus groups, and quality meetings with trustee scrutiny. Ofsted mentioned at their recent inspection of Hollesley Bay prison: “prison-wide information, advice, and guidance supported prisoners well to determine the most appropriate choice of purposeful activities.”
- Innovations
We introduced new initiatives like the Prison Apprenticeship Pathway, funded by Porticus UK, which offered apprenticeship opportunities in the hospitality sector, focusing on sustainable employment and the Real Living Wage.
Success Stories from Our CIAG Advisors
The above approaches have led to many success stories, including this one about Jake, where his educational outcomes were improved after CIAG intervention.
“Jake has gone from strength to strength and has recently achieved his Level 2 in English (of which he advised me he would fail even before sitting the exam!). A bit of cheerleading from our CIAG team and daily encouragement has really helped. I have also observed him in the IT class helping other prisoners by guiding them on how to complete their work. At our CIAG review meeting, I encouraged him to sign up for the Mentoring programme. He is now completing this and, from what his tutor tells me, he is really enjoying it. His ambition currently is to continue to the Learning Support course and then to progress onto the Gym Instructor course.”
Another client success story involves James, who moved into sustainable employment after his time working with the CIAG team whilst in prison.
“At the first appointment, where we created a Personal Learning Plan, James explained that he was interested in Hospitality work. At the next meeting, we helped him to create a CV and review career resources on different front of house roles in the hospitality industry. We also worked with Prison ID teams to secure him a replacement driving licence. Working closely with him and our colleagues, full time employment was found with Greene King and James has continued to sustain employment with them upon release.”
Has this blog resonated with you or someone you know?
The Forward Trust offers a range of services to support individuals in overcoming barriers to employment. This includes our CIAG services, commissioned and funded by the Ministry of Justice. Our Prison Apprenticeship Pathway was funded by Porticus UK. Find out more about these services here.