How we work – with prisoners

Prisoners on the KeepOut team share their personal experiences with the young people who attend the workshops. This helps the prisoners to reflect on their own previous offending behaviour and reinforces the lessons they have learnt. It focuses them on the negative choices they have made and enables them to give something back to the community. Since the scheme started in 1996, over 480 prisoners have benefited from the KeepOut experience.

The rehabilitation journey
Working for KeepOut is a positive step for many prisoners on their rehabilitation journey. In partnership with HMP Coldingley, HMP Send, HMP Lewes and the Surrey Youth Justice Service, KeepOut recruits and selects the most suitable prisoners.

KeepOut provides a full-time work base location in each prison for to up to seven prisoners at any one time. The scheme also enables other prisoners to work as volunteers on the one-day intervention events.

We support the prisons’ goal to provide a framework that helps prisoners to achieve realistic resettlement goals. For male prisoners, our work contributes to meeting Pathways Two (Education, Training and Employment) and Seven (Attitudes, Thinking and Behaviour) set out in the Home Office Reducing re-offending: National Action Plan 2004. For female prisoners, we contribute to achieving Pathways Two, Seven, Eight (Domestic Violence) and Nine (Prostitution).

Training for the world of work
Prisoners who work hard and accept responsibility for achieving these goals find being part of the KeepOut team both challenging and rewarding. KeepOut

sessions for the prisoners, out of which individual aspirations are identified. KeepOut has developed this planned systematic process for supporting the prisoners as part of their rehabilitation. It starts the moment they are appointed and continues during their resettlement.

Release and resettlement
The KeepOut management team makes available a number of opportunities that ex-prisoners can access after release. These include telephone and email helpline services, for them to maintain contact with KeepOut and give us feedback on their progress. This method of communication also enables the scheme to share any relevant new opportunities with ex-prisoners -– including access to a developing database of workplace contacts and known community support.

Since leaving KeepOut, many graduates have used the skills and competencies learnt with our scheme to successfully gain employment in environments that provide services for young people and the community. We are proud to be able to say that the majority have not re-offended.

replicates the realities of applying for a post in the world of work. They complete an application form and, after being risk assessed by the prison, they attend a formal KeepOut interview. The interview panel is chaired by the KeepOut Operations Manager and has representatives from the prison and the Youth Justice Service.

Managed by the KeepOut Operations Manager, the prisoners complete a probationary period. This includes a comprehensive induction programme. Ongoing support is provided, enabling the prisoners to understand the values, vision and ethos of the scheme.

They also complete a mandatory training package. It covers the following core areas and enables them to develop the necessary skills and competences to work with very challenging young people in a safe and professional manner:



In addition, they are actively encouraged to improve their basic skills and to enrol in courses that provide recognised accredited qualifications that have currency in the world of work.

There are promotional opportunities within the prisoner team. As part of their personal development, prisoners are encouraged to take on additional roles and responsibilities to reflect both their abilities and aspirations. In liaison with staff, the prisoner Lead Co-ordinator is responsible for the delivery of the programme and for leading the prisoner team.

The KeepOut staff facilitate regular pre-briefs, team meetings, one-to-one supervisions and debrief