ACCLAIM

Acclaim is a partnership between West Mercia Probation Area and Youth Support Services. It refers to a dedicated team of staff who co-ordinate, sequence and deliver a range of intensive interventions to those designated as prolific and priority offenders (PPO). All of ACCLAIM’s work is carried out under the direction of an existing Offender Manager who has overall responsibility for the case and ACCLAIM staff share information with them and other agencies (such as police) regularly.

This method of working is required due to the complexity and intensity of sentence plans developed for those requiring intensive interventions. ACCLAIM aims to offer a premium service that is dedicated to ensure compliance and engagement by the offender with the process and to stabilise them in their local community.
For further information about ACCLAIM please contact Jane Williams, email:-

jane@yss.org.uk

PS Plus 3

West Mercia Probation Trust has secured funding to deliver ETE (Education, Training and Employment) activities in the community. This work focuses on developing offenders’ skills to enable them to secure sustainable employment. It complements provision for delivering a continuous learning journey from custody to the community.

Offenders are referred to Community Link Workers who provide a holistic assessment and tailor an individual action plan. The Community Link Workers continually review and regularly inform Offender Managers of an offender’s progress.

The project provides a range of provision to develop employability skills including working towards vocational qualifications, assistance with job searching and careers advice. There is also support to overcome barriers in gaining employment such as disclosure of convictions, money, debt, benefit and housing advice. Mentors are available to support offenders accessing services in the community. In addition the project can negotiate work placements for offenders to gain valuable work experience.

For further information about PS Plus 3 please contact Sally Edwards, email:-

Sally.edwards@west-mercia.probation.gsi.gov.uk