Description of the programme
This study evaluates three separate programmes:
- Programme one. Training for correctional staff to support offenders in prison and in the community in their financial capability needs. The training was delivered by the crime reduction charity, Nacro, centrally at the Prison Service College, to staff from a range of prison, probation and voluntary sector occupations.
- Programme two. Prison setting financial capability guidance for offenders and staff delivered by the Vale of Glamorgan Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) in conjunction with National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Cymru. This training was delivered in two prisons in South Wales, directly to offenders through one to one ‘surgery’ sessions and group workshops, and also to staff and peer information advisors to raise awareness of the programme and encourage them to refer offenders.
- Programme three. Probation setting training delivered by the Portsmouth Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) in conjunction with Hampshire Probation. This was offered directly to offenders through CAB ‘Gateway’ financial capability assessments, in the community or via workshops in Approved Premises. Training was also given to Offender Managers to promote the programme and encourage referrals.
The study
This study reports on the independent assessment of the three programmes by research company Ipsos Mori. In programmes two and three, the delivery teams had conducted an initial assessment, and these results are incorporated in this study.
The assessment methodologies were as follows:
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Programme one: The staff training element was assessed using three quantitative questionnaires – pre- workshop, immediately post-workshop (N = 177) and follow up four months later (N=50). Outcomes for offenders were assessed through five discussion groups with those (14 prisoners from a female prison) who had benefited from guidance from the staff who had attended training.
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Programme two: An initial assessment had been carried out by NOMS Cymru/CAB. This took the form of an in-depth interview with the project manager and 34 further interviews with staff, peer information advisors and offenders. There were also pre- (N=254) and post- workshop (N=225) quantitative questionnaires, initiated by NOMS Cymru/CAB and handed over to Ipsos Mori and nine further qualitative interviews by Ipsos Mori, with offenders.
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Programme three: Ipsos Mori picked up an initial assessment by research company Wells Associates that collected data from Offender Managers (OM) at the time of their training, and extended this research with a small further follow up survey of OMs (N=47), analysis of a pre- and post- training questionnaire completed by offenders (N=29 or fewer per workshop) and qualitative interviews with offenders (N=47).
What are the outcomes?
Outcomes for offenders: Are there any changes in knowledge and confidence amongst offenders and is there any evidence of positive actions or intentions to act?
Key findings
Key findings from each of the programmes include:
Programme one:
- The programme reached 245 staff, which exceeded targets
- Most staff (76%) went on to use their learning to assist offenders
- By the end of the training over four out of five staff felt knowledgeable about financial matters facing offenders and confident in their abilities to provide financial information
- Four months after the training, 70% had used their knowledge to help offenders on a one to one basis, and 62% had shared information with colleagues
Programme two:
- The programme reached 553 offenders through workshops, which exceeded the target, and a further 266 through CAB sessions (exceeding the target)
- Only six staff were fully trained and only 45 offenders were trained to become peer advisors – both of which fell short of targets. There were difficulties in recruiting staff to become information advisers and although offenders were keen to participate, turnover meant that few of them remained in prison
- Topics covered in the offender workshops were rated as extremely or very useful by between 80 and 89% of attendees
- Over half of offenders left the workshops feeling confident about financial capability issues such as their ability to create a budget, choose a bank account and find money advice and help
Programme three:
- The target for conducting Gateway assessments was met (180 were completed in two years)
- Targets were not met for reaching Offender Managers (94 out of 200 target) and reaching offenders through one on one training or workshops (150 out of target of 225 over two years). Engaging offenders in the community was more difficult.
- Over 80% of questionnaires completed at the end of either one on one or workshop training rated the pitch of the training as about right
- The reported outcomes for offenders show some improvements in knowledge and confidence but these are from a small sample
- Training for OMs also improved their confidence in talking to offenders about financial issues.
Points to consider
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Methodological limitations: Programme one does not measure outcomes for offenders, programme two shows increases in confidence and positive intentions, but does not record actual improvements for participants. Programme three was hampered by problems with reaching sufficient numbers of intended beneficiaries.
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Relevance: The issue of improving financial capability is topical and important and this is an insight into a group that is particularly vulnerable to the impact of low capability.
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Generalisability/ transferability: The research does draw some conclusions that apply to interventions for offenders as a whole, not just those who benefitted from the programmes listed. The research took part in England and Wales but would no doubt also be transferrable to offender populations in other developed nations.
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Applicability: The study would be applicable to anyone with an interest in financial capability in vulnerable adults, or with an interest in improving outcomes for offenders more generally.
Full report
Improving financial capability among offenders - full report