Help and advice
If your business is committed to raising aspirations for excluded groups and providing pathways to work for new talents, the following information will provide practical help and advice on employing ex-offenders, including resources and publications.
Home OfficeA third of adult males will have a criminal conviction by their thirties (excluding minor motoring offences)
Navigating the recruitment process through ex-offender programmes does not need to be lonely journey.
Assessing suitable applicants for prospective employers is managed primarily by statutory and voluntary organisations. Employers are informed about each individual’s former convictions, and most importantly, about their training and education undertaken since actively seeking employment.
People applying through ex-offender programmes will often receive additional mentoring support for up to 12 months after any employment appointment is made. This extra support will ensure these individuals continue to develop, become valuable assets to their employers, and will provide employers with additional support in the event of challenges.
Helplines for further advice
Managed by Nacro, the Resettlement Plus helpline can be contacted on 0800 0181 259 or contacted by email.
Advisers are available to provide information and guidance to ex-offenders on a wide range of issues, including disclosures, employment and housing, and other matters relating to criminal records such as travelling abroad and insurance. Employers with questions about recruiting ex-offenders can also call the helpline.
Operated by Apex Trust, the Job Check helpline can be contacted on 0870 608 4567, 10am–5pm, Monday–Friday. The helpline offers advice for ex-offenders and employers on a range of employment issues, including guidance on when a conviction becomes spent, the criminal record checks, disclosure techniques and best practices for employing ex-offenders.
Publications, links and resources
- What's the Risk? Employing young adults with convictions full report (BITC/Barrow Cadbury Trust 2010) - employer-led research on seeking to manage risk as you employ people with criminal convictions. You can also download the business brief.
- Getting out to work (Business in the Community/Barrow Cadbury Trust, 2007) - outlines why and how employers can employ ex offenders.
- Employing people with criminal records(CIPD, revised April 2009) - a basic fact sheet providing guidance.
- Ex-offenders: A good practice framework for their employment (CIPD, January 2005) - helps assess an organisation's position on ex-offenders. It outlines the business case for employing ex-offenders and provides guidance for engaging colleagues beyond the HR department.
- Working Links: Prejudged - Tagged for Life (Working Links, 2010) - employer impressions of ex-offenders
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