Inspiring choices, creating positive futures
Employing ex-service users at St Giles Trust
Wendy Akoue-Rowley & Sarah-Jane Ellen
Tuesday 1st April 2008
Our work
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Founded in 1962
From day centre to training and signposting
Vulnerable adults in both the community and prisons
Client services cover:
– Training: NVQs, Skills for Life, Dyslexia support
– Case work: Housing, Education, Training &
Employment
– Employment support
• Internal services
– Fundraising & communications
– Central Services Team: Administration, Finance, HR, IT, Reception &
Security
Our inspiration?
We believe passionately that given the right support, people
can move from crime, disadvantage and exclusion to
productive individuals making a positive contribution
• Peer led work since April 2002
• Awarded for the work we do!
Current roles
• Current Service Users
– Peer Advisor role whilst in prison
– Opportunity to undertake paid or voluntary role
whilst on ROTL
• Ex-Service Users
– Specific roles/projects (Equal Engage/S2W)
– Regular roles (BIS, CST, PA to
SMT, Training assistant)
– Voluntary roles (BIS, CST,
Training)
The road to employment
• NVQ Advice and Guidance (Prison or
community-based)
• Voluntary placement at St Giles
• Fixed term paid employment/trainee role
• Paid employment/Longer term opportunity
Staff breakdown
Volunteers
6%
Peer advisors
51%
Paid staff
43%
Data correct as at February 2008
Our focus
Individual
Other organisations
Society
Other staff
Organisation
Yes it does work!
• Personal benefits of working at St Giles
• What I have achieved
• What needs to change
Next steps
• Embedding St Giles Partnership Scheme
• Design & implementation of a development
programme specifically aimed at the ex-service
user staff group
• Clarification of the trainee role, related
development opportunities & its place in the
organisation’s structure