CFE has produced an evaluation report on the Offenders in Custody Apprenticeship pilot. The evaluation was commissioned by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and undertaken by CFE and our associate Simon Bysshe between February and May 2010.
The overall aim of the project was to evaluate the Apprenticeship pilot to date, to highlight good practice and lessons learned, to inform an initial model which could be developed and piloted further in the Yorkshire and Humber region.
The success of the pilot is currently unknown as only one apprentice has been through the scheme to date. It is however clear that the high levels of motivation, and indeed passion, of the key individuals involved in this pilot have been vital to its set-up and delivery and has contributed to it being deemed successful by key partners.
The offenders that take part in the pilot have to undergo the same assessment and recruitment procedures as any apprentice wanting to undertake an Apprenticeship. The only extra support the offender receives is in relation to any personal problems or difficulties they face on release.
The coordination of Offender Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) provision, within prison, and the Apprenticeship training ensured the apprentice receives additional training which is relevant to the employer.
A range of support has been provided to the offender in the pilot that, however, this is unlikely to be available to all and a need was identified for a ‘through the gate’ support worker.
The pilot involved initial delivery of the Apprenticeship in prison, so it is currently funded through Programme-Led Apprenticeship funding. This funding will not be available from 2011, so for delivery to continue within the prison an exception would need to be granted under the new Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act or an alternative model would need to be adopted.
A model for the future rollout of the pilot is included in the final chapter of the report.
The full report can be accessed here.
July 2010