#rehabilitation vocational

[healthyboom]

A Comprehensive Guide to Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation encompasses a diverse spectrum of services and programs aimed at restoring physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It involves adult rehabilitation centers and physical rehabilitation networks that offer comprehensive care to individuals recovering from injuries or ailments. Community rehabilitation companies and centers near you provide vital support, ensuring a smoother transition towards a healthier life. From drug rehabilitation to vocal therapy, rehabilitation services address a multitude of needs, including substance abuse and mental health. Wildlife and animal rehabilitation centers nurture injured creatures. Additionally, vocational rehabilitation empowers individuals to re-enter the workforce. Overall, rehabilitation is a lifeline, guiding recovery and renewal in various forms, from physical therapy to addiction treatment.

#rehabilitation #adult rehabilitation center #physical rehabilitation network #community rehabilitation companies #rehabilitation center near me #wild animal rehabilitation near me #social and rehabilitation services #rehabilitation center #drug rehabilitation near me #vocal rehabilitation #community rehabilitation program #rehabilitation centres #pelvic floor rehabilitation therapy #rehabilitation vocational #ivy rehabilitation

[cleverclovers]

Here are resources for if you're like me, living below the poverty line, with or without disabilities

Everyone is allowed to exist, to take up space, to have and eat food, to have housing and warmth and medical care. the USA does NOT make this easy. It should, but it prioritizes companies and the wealthy over it's citizens.

There are resources you can use if you're making less than 30% of the median income in your area in most places. You can find out what it is via google, by looking up your county's social services website. Not social security, social services.

If you're relying exclusively on SSA programs like Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you ARE below that income level.

If you have a disability that keeps you from working, like severe anxiety, depression, a severe mental impairment or a light sensitive/stress sensitive medical condition like a seizure disorder or a heart issue, or most kinds of movement issues that bar you from meeting requirements like being able to lift over 50 pounds, you can talk to your doctor, get documentation, and apply for that assistance. There is no shame in applying. Just remember you should think about what you can do on your *worst* days, not on a good day. Exclusively think about your worst days when you're asking your doctor or applying for assistance, because those worst days are what are keeping you from working, or losing employment opportunities.

You can apply for SSA online, but be prepared for an in person interview, and assessment by a doctor of their choosing. If you're denied, get a lawyer. They can help you appeal and they get paid only when you get approved, so they're highly motivated to get you approved.

Things that are available to you if you're under that median income, regardless of whether you're on an SSA:

Department of (vocational) Rehabilitation-- It might go by another name in your state, but they can help you get testing for neuro divergent conditions like ADHD or Autism, address physical limitations, and help you find education, therapies to allow you to work around your issues, and help you find employment that meets your needs. This is available to you if you've been out of the workforce for a long time, as well, for whatever reason. Whether you were a home maker, or you were serving time.

Ticket to Work--A program available through social security. You can apply for this if you've been on social security for a while, and you feel like you're ready to reenter the work force. You will be given a list of companies that work with social security, and you're likely to work fewer hours or under the minimum wage. Your social security may be lowered based on your income with the program, so that's something to keep in mind.

Unemployment (through your social services branch), available if you've lost your job via firing, generally not if you've quit, to my knowledge. You have to prove you're actively seeking employment, and check in a few times a week or a few times a month based on your situation and location. Be prepared with printed out proof of your applications being turned in. Put it in a binder with plastic sleeves, use dividers to mark batch dates. The more professional you make it look the better.

Disability leave income-- This is dependent on your employer, in a lot of places, but it could be available to you. You can, and should, seek medical assistance if you're injured on or off the job to the point where it's severely impairing your work. If it's to a point where you're unable to work with accommodations, but it's recoverable, apply for disability. If it's not recoverable, apply for social security

Section 8 housing-- Available through HUD (Housing and urban development), usually a lottery or a waitlist. You have to make sure you pay attention to when applications open, and have proof of income available. Have your proof of income ready, wherever your income comes from.

Low income housing--Available in a case by case basis, first come first serve, and they generally prioritize disabled people, elderly, and families, especially families with young children or single incomes. The HUD.gov website has an interactive map that will show you it's locations, and the locations of housing that is taxpayer funded, or other forms of low income assisted programs. You apply for these on an individual building basis, and waitlists can be months to years long depending on your chosen location's population density (In san francisco, for instance, a waitlist for a low income place can be eight or more years long) You'll also need to have proof of income ready.

Charities for low income people are available to help you with deposits and first months rent, or rent for a month when you're in a pinch (One month per each 12 month period) in most urban locations. 211 can help you find these resources

Medicaid--Apply through your social services office, or social security if you're receiving it. Social services will require yearly renewal, social security will keep it up to date for you.

SNAP benefits-- You apply through social services, and you need to have all your documents ready. Proof of income, your rent information, formal or informal (either through a formal landlord or an agreement between you and your roommate or parents) as well as proof of bills and residency. If you have social security this is now available to you in most places. Use it

Cash aid--Not available to people who have social security, but it IS available to people on unemployment, disability leave, or who are generally under employed. You apply for this through social services when you're applying for SNAP.

Reduced public transit fare, or gas cards--Available in limited locations, usually urban. You should look up whether it's available in your area, and whether you have to apply through your medical insurance provider, through the transit authority office, or through your social services case worker. It's different everywhere. If you struggle with transportation, it's vital you apply.

Utility assistance--Either through the provider, or through your city. You should be prepared to offer your proof of income, whether it's social security, or SNAP, or sometimes even proof of public medical, as well as proof of residency (your lease and or official government mail, like the DMV, or financial mail like a bank statement or a utility bill)

Phone or internet assistance--Via the Federal Communications Act. Applications are only available until February 7, 2024, but your internet provider may put the cut off for turning in proof of acceptance as today (February 6, 2024), and this program will likely only be available until April. You can receive either internet assistance (up to 30 dollars), or a free cell phone with data up to one gig. You cannot get both.

Food banks. So many food banks. You have to google where they are in your area, and they may not have a lot of the things you would normally eat. A lot of it is the food people think is 'ugly' or is bordering on stale or about to hit it's expiration date, but food is food, and food close to it's expiration date can still be eaten up to two weeks after the date in a lot of cases. It's best to look up what can be eaten past it's expiration, but it's possible in a lot of situations. You just have to get really creative with what they give you. You can use these once a month, and be prepared to be honest about how many people you're feeding. If there are multiple unrelated adults in a household, you have to go separately. (I don't personally use them because I have allergies and cross contamination can be a real problem with this option. They may not have kosher or halal food, especially if it's through a christian church, and they're not likely to have meat) Some food banks will deliver if you have mobility or transportation issues.

Pet food banks--The ASPCA has these listed on their website. You can use them once monthly for pet food, clean up supplies, or pet toys. It's based on what they have available, it's not always going to be a lot, and they recommend you try other sources first, or have a back up plan. But if you need to cover a gap, it's an option. Some places have delivery as an option.

If there's a program I don't have listed, it's likely I don't know about it, and I encourage you to add it to the list. Enlighten me. Maybe there's something you know about that I don't, and it's something I can use.

Disclaimer: I don't know anything about programs or resources for unhoused people. I have been unhoused, but in that period I did not know to look for resources, and that was more than twelve years ago, now.

#poverty #poverty resources #social support #social security #social services #food insecurity #housing insecurity #section 8 #low income #unemployment #underemployed #disabled #vocational rehabilitation

[zebulontheplanet]

I don’t know how active I’ll be here for the next two weeks or so. I’m currently getting ready to go to the college program here on the 26th so this Sunday. I’ll be gone for two weeks and be back in early December.

I have so much to do in so little time and it’s pretty overwhelming. As well as disruptive to the little routine I have.

I will try and keep people updated on the process of the college program as I think it’s a really cool thing and people will be interested, however that’ll take time and I’ll probably be busy.

Thanks for everyone’s support on my account!

#zebrambles #autism #vocational rehabilitation #tech college

[ivygorgon]

👮 Orange is the New Red, White, and Blue: Prison Reform NOW!

AN OPEN LETTER to THE PRESIDENT & U.S. CONGRESS; STATE GOVERNORS & LEGISLATURES

1 so far! Help us get to 5 signers!

I am writing to urge immediate action towards transforming our corrections system from one focused on punishment and control, to a model centered on human dignity and rehabilitation. The current punitive approach perpetuates cycles of incarceration, abuse, and societal disintegration, ultimately failing to rehabilitate individuals and reintegrate them into our communities.

Recent analyses of European prison systems, such as Norway's Halden Prison, demonstrate the effectiveness of a human dignity approach. At Halden, private rooms, communal living spaces, vocational training, and family contact are prioritized, resulting in lower rates of violence and recidivism. This approach not only fosters humane treatment but also proves to be cost-effective in the long term.

We must shift away from a system that dehumanizes individuals and perpetuates a cycle of incarceration and abuse. Instead, we must embrace a model that prioritizes rehabilitation, second chances, and societal reintegration. Comprehensive prison reform that centers on human dignity is not only morally imperative but also a crucial step towards creating a more just and equitable society.

It is time to end modern slave labor within the for-profit prison industrial complex and invest in rehabilitation-focused treatment. We have a responsibility to nurture emotionally intelligent individuals and provide real opportunities for those who have been failed by the system.

I urge you to support and advocate for legislation that embodies the principles of human dignity and rehabilitation. Let us work together to ensure that every individual receives a genuine second chance and the opportunity to rebuild their lives.

Justice for the American people! Together we can say NO to Modern Slave Labor in the USA! Let's make their second chance count! Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.

Source:

📱 Text SIGN PNWJIS to 50409

🤯 Liked it? Text FOLLOW IVYPETITIONS to 50409

#IVYPETITIONS #PNWJIS #resistbot #Prison Reform #Human Dignity #European Prisons #Justice System #Criminal Justice #Rehabilitation #Recidivism #Violence Reduction #Community Integration #Incarceration #Norway #Halden Prison #Mass Incarceration #Rehabilitation Programs #Dignified Treatment #Second Chances #Prisoners Rights #Vocational Training #Family Contact #Cost Effective Solutions #Human Rights #Criminal Justice Reform #Fair Punishment #Incarceration System #Social Justice #Public Safety #End Mass Incarceration

[spaceshipsandpurpledrank]

#talkin #tik tok #disability #dvr #division of vocational rehabilitation

[bleakbeauty]

I've been working with a vocational rehabilitation counselor as well as a job services provider to find a better job. I'm miserable at my current job.

Working with these counselors has availed me almost nothing. These agencies are poorly funded and inadequately staffed. Adding to the situation is that I'm intelligent and articulate; that makes people assume that I'm more capable than I am.

Right now, I'm on the waiting list for a new VR agent and a new job coach. Meanwhile, I'm stuck in a bad job. Sometimes I fantasize about the people who've failed me feeling terrible about not being able to help more. There are so many people who can't get competent help.

#autism #vocational rehabilitation #job services #disability #work

[nilporg]

Vocational rehabilitation services: how can they help you?

Every state has a state vocational rehabilitation agency. While these vocational rehabilitation agencies do not adequately provide such services to high school students, many private agencies provide vocational rehabilitation starting from high school. Now, one might ask what vocational rehabilitation is. The answer to that is vocational rehabilitation is a combination of various services helping people with disabilities to gain employment or live independently. Vocational rehabilitation should start as early as possible, which could mean high school. Suppose the students with disabilities receive vocational rehabilitation services as early as high school; it could help them transcend towards their desired field but could also help them stand on their own feet at a very early stage.

How could Vocational Rehabilitation help you?

As we said earlier in this article, vocational rehabilitation is a combination of various services to help people with disabilities gain or keep employment or to encourage independent living. Some services which could be particularly helpful to you are:

Assessment of disability

This particular service locates the root cause of your disability, assesses your skills, analyzes your problems, and following which provides you with a tailor-made report about the same. This helps you recognize your strengths and weaknesses to use or work on them accordingly. Also, after a successful assessment of your skills, you’re provided with a list of fields that could be the best for you so that now you’re aware of everything you need to know regarding your limitations and strengths.

Vocational Counselling

This is a vital part of vocational rehabilitation, the part from which you begin to gain confidence, and your growth process starts. Vocational counseling generally happens after a successful assessment of disability. In this section, various guidance counselors and therapists talk to you about your skills and difficulties and begin to guide you toward the direction you wish to head towards. They guide you and refer you to help you gain employment. Moreover, if you’re having difficulties keeping up with your job, they guide you and help you overcome those issues over time.

Physical and mental rehabilitation services

This is where your recovery begins; in this section of vocational rehabilitation services, they help you overcome your disabilities. They provide physical rehabilitation services for people with physical disabilities. To do this, they provide physical rehabilitation services such as physiotherapy, etc. Similarly, in the case of people with mental disabilities. They provide counseling sessions, psychiatric sessions, anonymous meetings, etc., to help that person. This helps in encouraging people to attain independent living successfully.

Other services

There are many other services, such as interpreter services for deaf people, speech therapy for people having vocal disabilities, reader services for blind people, job assistance services to train people for particular occupational fields and help them gain employment, etc.

Conclusion

Vocational rehabilitation is beneficial for a vast array of disabilities, and if you’re facing any disability-related issue, then there surely is some way included in vocational rehabilitation to make your life easier. It encourages people to attain independent living and gain employment, help them assess their strength and weakness, and help them overcome their disabilities.

Original Content Published At NILP.

#Vocational rehabilitation #disabilityawareness

[underleveledjosh]

Voc rehab says that there has been several unsuccessful attempts to contact me. They have not attempted to contact me, or perhaps they somehow got my phone number wrong? "In an effort to provide continued services, we have made several unsuccessful attempts to contact you. If we don not hear from you within ten working days the assumption will be made you are no longer interested in services and your cases will be closed."

Bitch what the fuck you completely fail to contact ME within ten business days without sending me a letter and you are putting it on ME? How about get your shit together. If I don't hear from them today, I won't be continuing services with them from now on.

I have come to the conclusion that Vocational Rehabilitation is a ploy for cheap labor. You get paid, but only minimum wage. I haven't learned much job skills at all. It's a scam.

#voc rehab #vocational rehabilitation #disability services #disability

[nobody-cared-then-either]

Hi Dr. S.,

I have been communicating with R. and she gave me your contact information and referred me to you. I am disabled, and I believe I have a legally complex situation that I need more specialized help with. However, I don't really know the limits of what I'll need.

I have also been working with B. and I am trying to follow up on her recommendation to consult with a civil plaintiff attorney for my situation as far as that involves my injury and abuse I suffered because of it since I was a child. I am a Facial Disfigurement survivor since 2006, when I was 17. This resulted from a drunk driving accident in which I was the passenger in a vehicle with no airbag. I have CPTSD due to this injury, and had already been diagnosed as a child with autism. My medical recovery has been long and difficult, and I have experienced a great deal of discrimination, neglect, and abuse over my lifetime since 2006. The driver was charged with a felony for SIBV but was never convicted. I was never named as a plaintiff in his hearing. He was 18 at the time of the incident, and has a juvenile record for sexual assault that I had only recently found out about, in secret, from his victim before the incident. His sexual assault victim was his 12 year old sister.

My case is complicated. I was abused by this individual and his family after he caused my facial disfigurement while my parents neglected me until I finished highschool. I ended contact with him roughly around the end of 2008 due to his continued abuse of me as his disabled victim. I never had any legal representation of any kind in any kind of lawsuit or criminal case against him. I did not know my rights and barely escaped from his circle of influence, as a teenager, alive.

I'm living with my abusive parents, who victim blamed me, and I'm trying to get them involved with me in my therapy with B. to address the ways I feel deprived of my rights and neglected by them when this happened, bc I need their cooperation to do anything legally about any of it today, and because I am too emotionally and financially dependent on them to overcome their neglect of me since this happened.

I am also trying to go back to college to become a grad student. I graduated in 2014, and I have been the victim of some very damaging and permanent forms of discrimination where it comes to my career, and education, and I feel like I have never had access to the support and accommodations I should have had earlier in my life. I am trying to protect myself from more discrimination, today, and I think I need help establishing that I'm the victim of defamation from my previous experiences with being a grad student at GSU in 2014. I don't know how I am going to get funding if I can even get into another grad school because the abuse I experienced in my first semester of Grad school in 2014 led to me dropping out of the program and checking into a hospital because I was suicidal. I did not get a medical withdrawal, and it ruined my graduate GPA. I have had my application rejected because of the damage that did to my graduate GPA at one school and I am afraid it will prevent me from acquiring the funding I need to go out of state, now, 10 years later.

I wanted to talk to a CRC specifically about how I can get into grad school and get the funding I need for that...and that is how I came by R., who then referred me to you. The experience I am having with this recently just makes me think I need to address how bad grades in 2014 for 3 grad level classes I should have gotten medically withdrawn from is ruining my transcript and making it look like I'm a bad student.

I applied to 2 universities this year, and I am seeking help figuring out my funding for and, in one case, appealing the decision they made on one of those applications. I am not sure how to proceed.

As for everything else that is going on, I really don't know how to escape from my current situation and can't afford to on my own, so I am pretty sure I need lawyers to help. I feel trapped and ignored by my family and it has been going on like this for 10 years, and another 8 years before that. I've spent the better part of my life being tortured and I don't know how to defend myself.

Please let me know if you have any advice.

Thanks for your attention to my email.

-Zach Reynolds

#complex ptsd #discrimination #trauma #facial disfigurement #disability #academics #career #vocational rehabilitation

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"Inmates comparing prison work with work outside had very similar views to those of staff. Of ninety-eight workers asked, only one third saw any resemblances between inside and outside jobs. Differences most frequently mentioned were the pay, the compulsion and lack of choice, and the close supervision and lack of responsibility. Other items covered almost the same range as those cited by staff. R572 described the lack of motivation in the following way:

Nobody wants to do it. Most of it is ‘Well, sod ’em, I’m not doing their work, I’m not, you know, I’ll do it just to get them off my back and I’ll just do enough.’ A lot of the excuse is the measly wages, and the other thing is ‘Why should I work in prison, they’re punishing me, why should I do anything for them?’ …It’s not set up the same. People haven’t got the attitude towards work. Working in the outside, people go to work because it’s their job, they go and do their job hopefully to the best they can, they take their wages at the end of the week and they try to sort out their bills with what they’ve got. In prison if you don’t work you still get much the same, you’re going to live much the same life in prison whether you work or whether you don’t. There’s no matter of like, ‘well, if I work hard I’m going to do better’. There’s no incentive in prison.

Thus both staff and inmates largely agreed that prison work and outside work were very different. In the last two quotations (R078 and R572) we see again the theme of inmates’ lack of responsibility and the state of dependence that prison life, including prison work, induces. Those interviews took place before the introduction in 1995–6 of the national framework of incentive schemes whose official aims were, among other things, to encourage prisoners to behave responsibly, work hard, take part in other constructive activity, and progress through the prison system (p.23). Our research did not include any evaluation of the new schemes, which at the time of our updating visits had just begun in four of the six prisons. It seemed likely, from what we were told, that the prospect of promotion and demotion between the ‘differential regimes’ might well encourage inmates to behave acceptably as prisoners and to avail themselves of activities that were offered. But one of the ‘key earnable privileges’, eligibility to work for enhanced wages, was as yet open to only a small minority and even most of them were unlikely to earn enough to pay their way. It seemed doubtful whether the incentive schemes would radically change the overall pattern of differences between prison work and outside work that has been depicted in the last two pages, or transform the way in which prisoners looked towards their futures. And one of the most imaginative schemes, that at Maidstone, was said quite frankly by a senior manager to have the basic purpose of control within the prison.

- Frances H. Simon, Prisoners’ Work and Vocational Training. Routledge: London and New York, 1999. p. 121-122

#uk prisons #penal labour #prison industries #rehabilitation #vocational training #penology #prison officers #probation #workplace relations #academic quote #frances h. simon #life inside #released from prison #reading 2023 #conditions of work #prisoner pay

[thingsishouldtell-my-therapist]

Cutting again thanks to the "vocational rehabilitation" process.

That whole profession is a joke, at least when it comes to serving mentally ill clients.

#self harm #actually mentally ill #vocational rehabilitation #careers for crazy people #i'm a mess #brain like a garbage bin

[zebulontheplanet]

Congrats on getting a call from the college program! Are you planning to go into a particular area of study?

Thanks for reading my question and have a nice day! :)

Hello! Thank you!

I’m actually not 100% sure. I’m actually going to a more of a tech school program. It’s through vocational rehabilitation. It’s a school specifically for disabled people and has several different programs within the program that you can choose.

So far I know of automotive, CNA, culinary, and a few more that are inside the program. I’ve heard a rumor that pharmacy tech is in it, and if it is then that’s the program I will be picking! However, I’m not 100% sure that they have that so I’m just kinda playing it by ear and seeing what they have.

I’ve worked in a pharmacy before and found pharmacy very cool so that’s the area I want to go in. But if they don’t have it then that’s ok and I’ll find something else. It’s free school so I’m taking it!

Thank you for the question! I hope this answers what you were wondering. Have a lovely day!

#zebrambles #autism #vocational rehabilitation

[darkhorsevirtue]

VA Careers and Employment: Opportunities for Veterans and Their Families

VA Careers and Employment: Supporting Veterans and Their Families The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is committed to helping veterans and their families succeed in their professional lives by offering a range of career and employment opportunities. These resources and support services aim to empower veterans and their families as they transition to civilian careers or seek new job…

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#Department of Veterans Affairs #Education #employment #transition assistance #VA Careers #veterans #vocational rehabilitation

[bleakbeauty]

A month ago, I got a new vocational rehabilitation agent. We've talked on the phone twice, but we've been communicating mostly via text. Last time we talked on the phone, she told me that I should contact her if my new job services provider hadn't called me in two weeks. Today, it's been two weeks, and I haven't heard from the new provider, so I texted my VR agent. She quickly sent this reply:

Good Afternoon ,

"Please let me know your name and will [sic] gladly look into your case. It is impossible for me to know each client by phone number."

I found this very terse. I also found it very confusing, as it implied that she hadn't saved my contact info in her phone and that she hadn't thought to scroll up in our text chain, which would've taken no effort. After this, I lost all faith in her. Admittedly, the bar was already low. Working with VR, I've encountered nothing but incompetence.

#vocational rehabilitation #voc rehab #autism #disability #texting

[ctbraininjurysupportservice-blog]

Overcoming Employment Challenges for Brain Injury Survivors: Pathways to Success

Are you ready to learn more about empowering brain injury survivors in their pursuit of meaningful employment? Don't miss this inspiring article that explores challenges, job opportunities, and success strategies. Join us in creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce:

Post image brain injury survivors, employment, job opportunities, inclusive workforce, diverse workforce, vocational rehabilitation, reasonable accommodations, self-advocacy, networking, skill development, TBI, ABI, career counseling, cognitive limitations, physical limitations

ABI Resources is a reputable organization that provides exceptional support to individuals and families in collaboration with various government agencies and community service providers, including the Connecticut Department of Social Services DSS, COU Community Options, the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services DMHAS, Connecticut Community Care CCC CCCI Southwestern Connecticut Area on Aging SWCAA, Western Connecticut Area on Aging WCAAA, Allied Community Resources ACR, Access Health, and United Services. ABI Resources collaborates care with renowned institutions such as UCONN, Yale, and Hartford. As a community care and supported living provider, ABI Resources is dedicated to offering high-quality and personalized care to enhance the lives of those it serves. Medicaid MFP Money Follows the person program / ABI Waiver Program / PCA waiver.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/abi-resources-llc/

#Overcoming Employment Challenges for Brain Injury Survivors: Pathways to Success #https://www.ctbraininjury.com/post/overcoming-employment-challenges-for-brain-injury-survivors-to-success #Are you ready to learn more about empowering brain injury survivors in their pursuit of meaningful employment? Don't miss this inspiring ar #job opportunities #and success strategies. Join us in creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce: #Post image #brain injury survivors #employment #inclusive workforce #diverse workforce #vocational rehabilitation #reasonable accommodations #self-advocacy #networking #skill development #TBI #ABI #career counseling #cognitive limitations #physical limitations #ABI Resources is a reputable organization that provides exceptional support to individuals and families in collaboration with various gover #including the Connecticut Department of Social Services DSS #COU Community Options #the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services DMHAS #Connecticut Community Care CCC CCCI Southwestern Connecticut Area on Aging SWCAA #Western Connecticut Area on Aging WCAAA #Allied Community Resources ACR #Access Health #and United Services. ABI Resources collaborates care with renowned institutions such as UCONN #Yale

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

Looking to the outside world and prisoners’ future The great majority of work instructors interviewed (twenty-seven out of thirty) had trade qualifications and had worked in the same industry outside prison, though not all of them recently. We asked them whether they tried to help their inmate workers by advising them about employment and job hunting, or by contacting potential employers or giving references for any who were interested. Half said they did chat with their workers about the outside world and their future prospects, and would give advice if asked. But very few instructors would contact possible employers or give references. (Out of seventeen asked, only three said they ever did so.)

There seemed to be two main explanations for this reluctance to offer specific help. The first was that many of the instructors we interviewed felt largely out of touch with their industries outside prison; they read trade journals, but only a few thought they were adequately informed about current developments. Out of thirty instructors eight were satisfied with official provision for enabling them to keep up to date; sixteen were not and wanted more; and the other six supplemented what they were given by making private contacts. Several said that HQ was reluctant to pay for attendance at industrial exhibitions, and that the former practice of allowing instructors a ‘refresher’ week with an outside firm every five years or so had lapsed, though the Service ran internal courses. One prison manager said that nowadays the Service placed less emphasis than before on expert trade knowledge and more on instructors’ ability to manage large numbers of prisoners. Two groups of instructors seemed better placed than others for making outside contacts: farm staff, who met other farmers at shows where the prison exhibited its prize animals; and instructors in light assembly shops, who would visit an outside employer when negotiating a prison contract. Ironically, the latter type of work was one offering prisoners least in the way of skills training or future job prospects.

The second factor was a belief that prison staff were not permitted to give references or to keep in contact with ex-inmates. Several instructors specifically mentioned this, some with regret. They would have liked to help former workers if occasion arose and they would have liked feedback about their progress in the outside world. R023 felt there was not enough ‘shared working’ on throughcare. He would have liked to accompany a released inmate to see a prospective employer and give information on the spot, but he could not. ‘The Probation Service have it all wrong.’ Only four out of sixteen instructors said they had ever been in touch with ex-inmates after release.

This question of instructors, and indeed other staff, being allowed to help in prisoners’ plans for release and then keep in touch with them after they left was discussed with several senior managers in the Service. The general feeling was that transition to release was the business of the Probation Service, and that contact between prison staff and ex-prisoners was to be discouraged, if not actually forbidden. In practice, it was said, there might sometimes be informal contact with potential employers by telephone, and staff might occasionally hear of ex-prisoners’ progress. Opinion was divided on whether this was desirable. Some staff felt they would have liked feedback, like R054, a prison manager who said:

If we are able to spend that amount of time and effort on Jones, and here we are three months down the road, and Jones is in employment and has not actually re-offended, then that is job satisfaction. But if you don’t know you have achieved any result it is a bit like walking down a dark street.

Others felt that the boundary between prison and the outside world was proper and should not be crossed. A principal officer involved in assigning inmates to prison jobs expressed it thus:

‘Ours is a people business. People in prison are our product. Once the product has left the factory, that’s our job done.’

Some work instructors shared the latter view, feeling that their job was simply to get the work done with prisoners’ labour, and that what happened to the prisoners later was not their concern. But other instructors would have liked to help more than they felt they were allowed to. Altogether it seemed that to a large extent prison isolated not only prisoners but also work instructors from the world outside, and that instructors’ interest in inmates and potential for preparing them for employment was not being fully used. Instructors often knew ‘their’ prisoners better than officers on the wings: they watched their progress at work and took a personal interest in their welfare. They ought to have been invited to participate in sentence planning for their charges and in arrangements for helping them into employment outside. But that very rarely happened.

- Frances H. Simon, Prisoners’ Work and Vocational Training. Routledge: London and New York, 1999. p. 116-117

#uk prisons #penal labour #prison industries #rehabilitation #vocational training #penology #prison officers #probation #workplace relations #academic quote #frances h. simon #life inside #prison farm #released from prison #reading 2023