Renfrewshire Council

Andrew Brisco (left) and Fraser McKinlay In their small team of two, colleagues Fraser McKinlay and Andrew Brisco are making a big impact putting our values into practice and demonstrating what it means to be fair at work.

They both support people with criminal convictions into employment, navigating the associated challenges and stigma of reintegration with empathy and fairness. Part of their outreach work includes regular visits to HMP Low Moss, a medium-security prison near Glasgow, where they help people develop the skills and confidence for a positive return to work in Renfrewshire.

After receiving some excellent feedback from the prison, our community justice lead officer, Jamie Gardyne, wanted to recognise the impact and importance of their role.

Jamie said, "Stable employment for people with criminal convictions is crucial for their successful reintegration journey, but there are massive challenges because of the associated stigma. It's a negative spiral because when people can't earn a living there is a much higher risk of reoffending.

"The excellent feedback from HMP Low Moss highlights Fraser and Andrew's efforts to build relationships, and how their involvement in prison events and regular face-to-face engagement has enhanced their reputation among the prison population through word of mouth. I'm delighted for them. They are such honest and down-to-earth guys, never judgemental, and they treat everyone with the kind of respect and consideration that fosters trust."

Fraser, an economic development officer, describes the key to achieving positive outcomes is to take a person-centred view on every individual case.

He said, "We focus on helping people overcome their conviction rather than focusing on the conviction itself. That means never making assumptions about a person's background or aspirations.

"It's important to get to know individuals and identify how best we can help them - whether that's drafting CVs and cover letters, accessing training opportunities or improving interview skills, we do everything we can to maximise their employability prospects. In doing so, I'd say fairness and inclusivity are the essence of this work, so it feels good to be recognised for that."

Employability advisor Andrew describes a recent case where he helped someone into employment following a conviction which caused them to lose their previous job.

Andrew said, "I took the time to get to know him and gain a full understanding of his circumstances. With our support, he learned how to approach employers and speak honestly about his situation. This gave him the confidence to attend an employer's open day and then successfully apply to join their training programme. He has gone from being fearful about his employment prospects to becoming a fully qualified, full-time employee in a short space of time, and it was all down to helping him to believe in himself."

Fraser and Andrew's line-manager, Melissa McGrogan, adds, "Fraser and Andrew are an integral part of the wider Invest in Renfrewshire team whose kind, patient and non-judgemental approach reflects the fair and open service we provide. They work hard to build trust and do all they can to ensure that no one is left behind in the journey to gaining meaningful employment."

Nominate a colleague for living our values

Have you noticed a colleague or team who really get what it means to be fair, helpful, collaborative and value learning? Why not let them know they're doing a great job by nominating them for living our values?

To nominate: simply complete this short form with some great examples of what they do (Survey123 website).

For more information on our values and behaviours, head over to the Living Our Values webpage (Renfrewshire.gov.uk).

Published Friday 23 August 2024