Impact Newsletter - September 2022

That was the verdict of the judges when selecting the Ingeus Case Manager to receive a prestigious Ruth Cranfield Award this week.

The awards, organised by Nepacs (the North East Prison After Care Society), recognise exceptional people working in rehabilitation within the region’s criminal justice system.

And for Caitie, who works directly with offenders to help them towards social inclusion and employment, the accolade is, she says: “Totally unexpected!”

She explains: “I work with practitioners every day and we all have a part in helping people move on. I could think of 100 other colleagues who would have deserved this award.

“However, it was a lovely surprise and I feel humbled that I was even considered. It’s a real honour!

“The work Nepacs does across the region is amazing and I’m proud to be associated with the charity.”

What’s inside...

In their citation for Caitie’s award the judges stated: “She brings enormous empathy, positivity and energy to the job. A thorough professional, she is highly supportive to team members, creating a happy and enthusiastic working atmosphere. She will always go way above what is expected, often in her own time, working to help people see the goodness in themselves and achieve goals they never thought were possible. Her positive, can-do attitude is infectious.”

Caitie, who works as part of the Ingeus CF03 Community Hubs in the North East, says the job is: “An absolute pleasure to do – working to help people get back on their feet is my favourite part.

“Seeing people work hard and achieving their goals is always great. Even if only one in 10 people take your help, because they’re not ready to change quite yet, it’s still a positive thing as before you know it you’ve spoken to a 1000 people and you’ve helped 100 to achieve something important for their future.

“Sometimes the smallest steps, like helping someone to obtain ID, can lead to people getting back into work, and being a part of their journey is so rewarding.”

At the awards ceremony, held at the Durham Cricket Club ground in

Chester-le-Street, County Durham, Katy Andrewartha, Ingeus Performance and Service Delivery Lead, told the audience why she had nominated Caitie. She said:

“Caitie leaves a positive imprint on every life she touches. I knew from the moment she started with us in 2018 she would bring bundles of positivity, motivation, and enthusiasm to the team.

“She thoroughly deserves this award and I’m absolutely delighted she has received this recognition from others working within the sector.”

The awards are named after Nepacs Patron Ruth Cranfield who organised the beginnings of the charity in its present-day form and continues to work tirelessly for it. Nepacs has its roots in the Durham Discharged Prisoners Aid Society formed in 1882.

Caitie’s award highlights the role of those in the criminal justice system doing difficult, demanding and sometimes dangerous jobs on behalf of the people in their care and the public.

“Every team would benefit from having someone like Caitie Watson on it.”

Ingeus pays tribute to Hidden Heroes

Thursday 29th September marked the annual Butler Trust Hidden Heroes Day – a day to pay tribute to those working in justice services, UK prisons, Immigration Removal Centres, and probation.

So, we’re taking the opportunity to say an extra special thank you to all the hidden heroes within our teams and many partners organisations, including employers, who work incredibly hard to make a difference and better the lives of others. Thank you!

Our own Simon Bland spoke to Jahzeal, Emma, David, and Adam to find out who their hidden heroes are – shining a light on some of our peer mentors working on our Commissioned Rehabilitative Services across the UK.

Head to our social media channels to watch the video Please note the video contains sensitive content around mental health issues!

Tushar tells how Ingeus has supported him through his disability

I can honestly say Ingeus is one of the first places I’ve worked where I feel accepted. For anybody, like me, who has a disability I would recommend it in a heartbeat. I’d shout about it from the rooftops.”

The praise comes from Tushar (Tush) Sinha, three years on from being hired as a Key Worker for the Ingeus Work and Health Programme in the North West. Tush is autistic, has dyslexia, Type 2 diabetes and a chronic back problem –disabilities that were declared on his job application form.

He says: “But at the interview stage they just wanted to assess if I had the right abilities for the job, which was refreshing. And from the moment I made it clear what I needed after getting the job, I was supported by my managers and colleagues.

“I had to have an ergonomic chair and a stool due to my back conditions, and for my dyslexia and learning difficulties I needed special read and write software on my laptop as well as a digital recorder for meetings. I got these through my Access to Work application with my manager Frances Corrigan giving me full support.

“I’m given quiet time at the start of the day to plan my workload as I work in a very processed way and can struggle if I’m interrupted and lose my train of thought. Of course, every job has its stresses – curve balls get thrown in, spanners in the works – so at times I must step away, take a break and start again.

“My colleagues respect that and can

also tell when I need a quick chat over a Pepsi Max. They know the way in which I process and sometimes take the mickey – just to give me a reminder that I am only human!”

A fresh challenge occurred last year when Tush was diagnosed with a serious heart condition that required four months off work. He says: “I was allowed to work from home for as long as I felt I could before the operation, and then given a phased return until I felt able to come back full time. Frances called me every week to check on my workload and how I was feeling. I don’t think I would have got that level of oneto-one support from a manager in any of my previous jobs.

“During this period Frances moved and was replaced by Harriet Fitzgerald so my autism meant I was anxious about returning with such a big change. Frances made sure that I met Harriet a few times before I came back and left a comprehensive handover about me and my conditions. And I can say honestly Harriet has offered me the same level of support.”

His current role helping jobseekers brings Tush huge satisfaction. He says: “I work with real people, with real problems and I love helping them break down their barriers. When you’re living with disabilities you can perceive them as obstacles, or you can adapt and develop mechanisms to get what you want. That’s what I’ve done, and I freely share my story with participants to encourage them to do the same.

“It’s work I really enjoy and I feel is worthwhile. I’ve become accustomed to the environment here. I like the fact that I’m not micro-managed – I’m trusted to do things my way.

“The support network is unbelievable and the camaraderie and banter is great. I made friends in a short space of time. They are there whenever I need to vent face-to-face or on the phone, or simply to go for a drink after work on a Friday.”

Four years of mental health support in the workplace

When the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service started in August 2018, we knew it was going to be a hugely important opportunity to make an impact on how mental health is understood in the workplace. Launched by the Department for Work and Pensions in response to data that showed that people with mental health conditions have among the lowest employment rates of all disadvantaged groups, the service was designed by the government to offer personalised advice and guidance to individuals who were experiencing issues that affected them at work and put them at risk of falling out of work.

Able Futures was created by Ingeus to deliver this service across England, Scotland and Wales as a strategic partnership, with Case UK supporting participants in Wales and South West England, H2E working in the Midlands, and Salus and The Better Health Generation supporting people in Scotland.

I’ve been lucky enough to work for Able Futures since it started, and it was immediately evident how many people needed the advice and guidance our mental health experts could provide.

Since the Covid pandemic we’ve been busier than ever as more people than ever find they need to reach out for support when they are experiencing issues such as stress, anxiety, and low moods. It makes me incredibly proud that the Able Futures team has supported more than 13,000 participants since we started, 10,000 of those since March 2020 when the pandemic changed how we all live and work.

Able futures recently ran a webinar on supporting mental health at work.

Mark De Fusco, Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant, led the session on how people can learn new ways to look after themselves so that they can feel more resilient and better equipped to cope with work-related situations.

It was a great success with 311 attendees. There was also lots of interaction and engagement from the audience during this session, with more than 600 questions and comments.

Mark commented: “Managing mental health at work is extremely important both for individuals and employers. We spend so much of our life at work, so if an issue is affecting you in your job, it’s likely to have a profound impact on your mental health day-to-day.

Poor mental health at work leads to increase sickness, higher staff turnover, reduced engagement and high presenteeism, but when staff have good mental health, they are far more productive. Therefore, it’s crucial that organisations ensure that their staff are happy and comfortable in their jobs.”

Francis Stanton, Operations Manager, reflects on the successes of the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service.

Over 300 people join Able Futures webinar for mental health support at work

Ingeus named as a finalist at Menopause Friendly Employer Awards

Organised by Menopause Friendly and supported by the CIPD, the inaugural Menopause Friendly Employer Awards, powered by HSBC UK, first direct and M&S Bank, attracted over 85 entries across 10 categories. Ingeus was proud to be shortlisted in two categories:

Most Open Workplace – for the organisation that has created a series of initiatives to allow for open conversations around menopause, including support from senior leadership through awareness and education.

Best Engagement Campaign – for the organisation that has created a campaign that has ignited changing perceptions of menopause in the workplace through creativity, making it a normal conversation.

Juliet Mortiss, People & Culture Director, commented: “Being Menopause Friendly is a key part in our commitment to being a inclusive workplace. With 64% of our employees women, I’m delighted our work encouraging people to share and support experiences in the workplace has been recognised in this way.”

“The standard of work and level of activity demonstrated by entrants to our first-ever Menopause Friendly Employer Awards has been really high, says Deborah Garlick, CEO of Henpicked: Menopause in The Workplace.

“Engagement and honest conversations are crucial in order to change the lived experience of menopause in the workplace and I’m pleased to see recognition of Ingeus’ hard work in these areas.

“It was an absolute pleasure to join the independent judging panel as they reviewed each application and to see the passion, dedication and commitment of these inspirational businesses and people to change the lived experience of menopause in their workplace. Not long ago, menopause was so clearly a taboo in the workplace: now we’re preparing to host a prestigious Awards event to celebrate the achievements and progress being made in this area: it’s wonderful!”

The winners were announced at the Awards ceremony on 22nd September at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, St Paul’s. The event was hosted by broadcaster Louise Minchin with 100s more joining via live link from across the country. While Ingeus missed out on the night, we were extremely proud to be part of such an important event, as Melisa Cuningham, Employee Relations Lead, sums up: “The way our teams have come together to support each other be Menopause Friendly is inspiring, thank you to all the teams who have shared their experiences so that we can enable positive experiences in the workplace. This is just the beginning!”.

The other finalists alongside Ingeus are:

Most Open Workplace

Ingeus

BAE Systems

Santander UK

WW

Thames Valley Police

HSBC UK including first direct and M&S Bank

Best Engagement Campaign

Ingeus

Boots UK & Ireland, Boots Opticians and No 7 Beauty Company

Thames Valley Police

QVC UK

Enabling better lives across our communities

All Ingeus employees are entitled to time off to give-back to local communities and we’re very proud to see teams across the UK jumping at the opportunity to enable better lives. Here’s just two examples of our teams getting out, to help out!

• Our Justice team dug out their wellies and rolled up their green sleeves to help bring some life back into Nottingham’s canals.

Volunteering with My Nottingham and Canal & River Trust the team spent their morning helping to install a series of floating wetlands. The natural ecosystems float on the water’s surface creating wildlife havens while improving the water quality and beautifying urban shorelines.The team had a great day supporting the local community and wildlife, and anyone visiting Nottingham One Probation Contact Centre will be able to see the new additions right on the doorstep!

• Our Job Entry Targeted Support (JETS) team in Greater Manchester have been volunteering at Richard Bentley Smalley Memorial Hall, giving it some well-deserved TLC. The Hall is used for a variety of events, so everyone rose to the challenge, with paintbrushes in hand, to decorate the stage area

and spend some time weeding the grounds to transform it ready to host its next occasion. This was a great opportunity to build team relationships and spend time together whilst giving back to a worthy cause.

• Sunita Chand, Business Manager for Restart Scheme, and her team have raised £800 for Macmillan through various fundraising activities! They hosted a coffee morning at their Ealing centre with lots of cakes and sweet treats on offer. They also held an auction, a quiz night and played lots of fun games.

• Alex Looney, Head of Learning Development for Employment Services, is running the London Marathon to raise money for Alzheimer’s society. So far, Alex has raised £1,376!

National Inclusion Week

Employers daily actions that bring this year’s theme to life.

The last week of September marked National Inclusion Week, a week dedicated to celebrating and taking action to create inclusive workplaces.

This year’s theme was ‘Time to Act: The power of Now’.

Inclusion and diversity underpins everything we do at Ingeus to enable better lives. We held various virtual events in line with the Inclusive

Our event topics included:

• ‘The Power of Identity’, where we were joined by a representative from Mermaids;

• ’The power of connecting with others’;

• ’The power of expanding your network’;

• ‘The power of knowledge’ and raising awareness for people who are deaf and have hearing difficulties, with Ingeus colleagues, Michael Hewson and Olivia Lamon.

We also shared a podcast series where Michael Hewson, Health

Educator for Working Well Work and Health Programme shared insight on topics such as neurodiversity and living with a hearing impairment.

More than 440 people joined our events, with some fantastic feedback including how informative, educational thought-provoking the sessions were.

Darryl Child, Integration Co-ordinator for Work and Health Programme, commented on ‘The Power of Identity’ session which Mermaids: “This was a really interesting presentation. It’s great that Ingeus is getting organisations Like Mermaids in to educate others and help staff to be more inclusive.”

Future You helps people #GetStarted in September

presence – these webinars had everything to get people started!

September saw us team up with some of the best in the industry for a series of masterclasses to help people learn new skills and fast-track their ambitions!

Whether it’s starting a business, mastering a CV, becoming a confident speaker, or growing a social media

• Ben Powell, founder of Pillar, hosted ‘Business for beginners’ where he shared his top tips for planning and starting your own business.

• Channel 4’s Calvin Eden hosted ‘Speaking with confidence’, sharing expertise on speaking confidently in all situations.

• Ben Hamlin, TikTok Star with 1.3 million followers and TV Magician hosted ‘Social media 101’ where he shared his first-class tips on the trade to help businesses get the ball rolling on social.

• Finally, Guarav Ashisha delivered ‘How to master your CV’ – a masterclass on writing CVs and how to wow employers in interviews.

One person who attended the ‘speaking with confidence’ webinar said: “I loved the webinar and learning all about how to speak more confidently in public. Thank you.”

It’s never to late to get started! For 18-24 year olds in Greater Manchester looking for support of any of these topics, get in touch with the FutureYou team today at startfutureyou.co.uk.

Getting to know you...

This month, we’re putting Lisa Dobinson, Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant for Able Futures, our Access to Work (Mental Health Support Service) in the spotlight.

“I support participants to manage their mental health within the workplace. I offer tips, techniques, psychoeducation, and signposting which aim to empower the participant.

I like to set homework between appointments to allow the participants to set personal goals and try techniques out.

I love my role – it’s been life changing for me as well as my participants. It’s a real pleasure to work with people and hear their progress each month. The team I work with are also so supportive with a good mix of humour.

For people to share their story with me is a real privilege. It can be challenging; however, this role makes me want to learn more and I have so far completed five awareness diplomas to enhance my knowledge as well as reading numerous books. This enables me to recommend reading to participants who want a deeper insight into their traits.

Summer or Winter?

Winter Chocolate or sweets?

Sweets Night or morning? Morning City or countryside?

Seaside Cats or dogs?

Dogs

Dressed up or casual?

Depends on the occasion, probably dressed up but not all the time

Phone calls or emails?

Text Books or films?

Books Night out or night in? Night out

Holidays or home comforts? Holidays!

Find out more about Able Futures at able-futures.co.uk.

We asked Lisa some of life’s essential questions:

Lisa Dobinson, Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant for Able Futures