- Are you up to date with the laws around disclosing criminal records?
- Do you feel confident in advising your clients on whether they need to disclose, and if they do, how to do so?
- Giving accurate and good quality advice to people with convictions will help increase their chances of finding and keeping a job
We offer training courses for frontline practitioners and professionals whose clients have criminal records. You can join one of our open courses, or if you need to train a number of your staff, we can arrange to deliver a course in-house for your organisation. For more information about in-house courses or any other queries, please enquire via this form.
You can view and book all of our open courses on our Training and Events page.
Who the training is for
- People who are providing information, advice and support to people with convictions – past attendees have included prison resettlement teams, probation officers, CAB advisors and charities that provide support in the community
- Services that are providing employment-focused support to people with convictions – past attendees have included careers advisors, JobCentre Plus workers, Work Programme providers and Probation-based employment projects
If you’re an employer, you can find out about how we support employers.
“Excellent training session – one of the most useful I’ve done in my 25 year career. Everyone who helps and gives advice to people with criminal records should do this – it should be mandatory”
Jobcentre Plus adviser
Types of training available
Advising with Conviction: one-day workshop
Cost: £180 – £200
What is it?
‘Advising with Conviction’ is a full-day workshop (usually running 9.30am to 5.00pm) designed to provide front-line practitioners and advisors with a well-rounded knowledge of how to support individuals with their criminal records and disclosing them to others.
This workshop is endorsed by the Probation Institute and endorsed by the Institute of Employability Professionals.
Who is it for?
Supporting practitioners who are either advising or supporting people with convictions into employment, volunteering and education.
What does it cover?
It provides an overview of the following areas (these can be tailored when delivered in-house)
- About Unlock / Why is this important?
- Types of criminal record checks and what they disclose
- Understanding criminal records
– How clients can find out about their criminal record
– Establishing what’s ‘spent’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
– Establishing what’s ‘filtered’ from standard and enhanced DBS checks - Legally, need to disclose?
- To disclose or not to disclose?
- When & how to disclose?
- The role of self-disclosure statements
Understanding the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA): webinar
Cost: £85.50 – £95.00
What is it?
By the end of the webinar you will feel more confident in understanding how the criminal records disclosure system works. You will go away with knowledge, understanding and resources that you will be able to use time and time again in your work.
Who is it for?
The webinar is aimed at anyone who deals with criminal records. You might be working with people with convictions who are applying for jobs, or you might be working in recruitment/HR and making hiring decisions or carrying on DBS checks.
What does it cover?
- The levels of DBS criminal record check and what they disclose
- How individuals can find out about their criminal record
- The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and spent convictions
- The filtering rules and protected cautions/convictions
- Good practice in asking about criminal records for employment and volunteering
Why choose Unlock?
We are the leading charity in England & Wales on understanding criminal record checking processes and their impact on people with criminal convictions. We work closely with the Ministry of Justice, Home Office, Disclosure & Barring Service and Disclosure Scotland.
We are the go-to place for advice from charities, resettlement service providers, probation staff and others who are looking for advice on behalf of their clients.
Find out more and why and how we support practitioners.
Our training courses are endorsed by the Probation Institute.
Our full-day ‘Advising with Conviction’ workshop is endorsed by the Institute of Employability Professionals.
