In delivering the Education, Training and Employment (ETE) programme on behalf of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), we’ve been able to celebrate some really significant achievements. Through the programme we have helped more than 7,900 people on probation in the West Midlands, North West, London, and Wales to achieve their ETE goals, including supporting over 1,800 into employment.
This has been vital work. The economic and social costs of reoffending are staggering – calculated by the MoJ to exceed £18 billion per year. Programmes such as ETE, which support people on probation to move towards employment, are a key intervention to reduce reoffending and support reintegration into the community.
In March the ETE programme came to an end. As part of our constant endeavour to improve the services we offer, we conducted an evaluation of our delivery of the programme, to understand its impact and to capture some of the important lessons we have learned since ETE began in 2021. We hope this will help guide the design and implementation of similar services and ensure they experience equal success.
The evaluation report published this week identified five key lessons which should be prioritised in shaping future provision:
- Access to specialist ETE support delivers real economic and social value. Taken together, the research literature makes a robust case for investment in programmes such as ETE, which provide critical and effective support with widespread economic and social impact. The results delivered by Maximus demonstrate what can be achieved in helping thousands of participants reach their goals. It must also be remembered that behind every one of these outcomes is a life, family, and community transformed for the better.
- A proactive approach to engagement is crucial. Successful delivery of ETE began with securing and maintaining participant engagement. This was a real challenge with a cohort which can be unreliable and demonstrate resistance to working on such programmes. A standard approach to engagement will not suffice. What is required is a real understanding of the justice system, within a multi-channel, coordinated, and sustained approach. A key driver of Maximus’ success was the development of an integrated system, with an in-house contact centre collaborating with ETE specialists to craft and refine effective engagement.
- Support must be tailored and personalised. ETE was fundamentally distinct from services provided by Jobcentre Plus or other employability programmes. Its effectiveness was based on providing the interventions that people on probation needed, reflecting their barriers and ambitions, and delivered in a way that worked for each individual. Future provision must likewise provide the same level of enhanced and tailored support.
- The role of the ETE Advisor (EA) demands specific knowledge, skills, and expertise. At the heart of any programme of this nature are those frontline EAs who worked directly with participants, supporting them to reach their goals. EAs had to deal with many challenges inherent to the cohort and persevere to help move participants forwards. Maximus’ success was built on recruitment and development of outstanding EAs, and their experience and expertise developed over the lifetime of the programme. Future provision must respect this is a specialised role, requiring particular knowledge, skills, and expertise.
- Collaboration to provide holistic, integrated support is key. ETE participants were a complex cohort who often faced multiple barriers to full reintegration into the community. A core element of our approach was a commitment to providing holistic and integrated support through partnership working. This included close collaboration with the Probation Service, alongside working with employers, community organisations, and education and training providers to address barriers and create opportunities for participants to achieve their goals. Research indicates that the most successful models for supporting ex-offenders into employment are those which involve cross-sector collaboration, and this approach is vital if we are to provide the overall support people on probation need.
ETE stands as a clear example of why community rehabilitation programmes are so important, and the real value they offer. Through the programme, Maximus is proud to have helped empower individuals to break away from the cycle of reoffending, leading to safer communities and brighter futures.
You can read more in our newly published report: Unlocking Potential: Evaluating delivery of the Education, Training and Employment programme.
