Custody
Delivery

CFO Evolution is a 7 stage programme including through-the-gate elements. Stages 1-4 take place in custody, whilst stages 5-7 occur in the community.

Participants can join the CFO Evolution programme at different stages.

CFO Evolution

CFO Evolution is a 7 stage programme including through-the-gate elements. Stages 1-4 take place in custody, whilst stages 5-7 occur in the community.

Participants can join the CFO Evolution programme at different stages.

About CFO Custody Delivery

CFO custodial delivery is available in over 90 custodial locations. This includes dedicated CFO Wings, feeder prisons and outlier prisons.

The CFO Evolution programme is designed to ensure maintained motivation and confidence throughout, regardless of where participants engage, whilst preparing for community resettlement. Engagements include peer mentoring training, classroom learning, community contribution and much more. Specific participant needs are taken into account throughout.

CFO Wings in particular are welcoming spaces where individuals feel supported, understood, cared for and valued whilst working towards release. These wings are available in 14 custodial locations across England.

CFO delivery in custody can take place at a CFO Wing or through wider custodial delivery. This may include (but not exhaustive):

Addressing wider barriers to accessing mainstream opportunities (addictions, low levels of literacy/numeracy, motivation and confidence levels, preparation for parole etc.) 

Overcoming practical obstacles (obtaining ID, registration with GP/dentist, support to retain or secure a tenancy) 

Through the gate support to ensure newly released individuals can continue accessing CFO services in one of the CFO Activity Hubs, or within the wider community

Practical courses (vocational, basic skills, financial literacy etc.) 

Improving likelihood of securing employment (disclosure, CV creation, interview techniques, job applications, communication skills etc.) 

Preparation for re-entering the community (awareness/use of social media, appropriate peer groups, building networks etc.) 

Additional skills (healthy living, money management, safeguarding, wellbeing etc.) 

Securing employment, training and education opportunities for release 

Specific issues facing certain cohorts (care leavers, veterans, lifers/ISPs, PCOSOs etc.) 

What CFO services are available in my area?

Visit the CFO Custody Delivery Map to find out

Custody Delivery Map

Delivery Stages

CFO Evolution is a 7 stage programme including through-the-gate elements.

Stages 1-4 take place in custody, whilst stages 5-7 occur in the community at CFO Activity Hubs or in further community outreach locations.

For more information about the community stages, please click below.

Community Delivery
Stage 2: Preparation for Entering into Core CFO Programme

Participants can enter this stage through general population or via recall.

CFO Evolution Support Workers review and identify ‘quick wins’ for participants, ensuring that motivation and confidence are upheld and appropriate support takes place. This can include literacy, mentoring training, substance misuse support or be achieved through direct work or an appropriate referral.

Stage 4: Pre-Release Support

Towards the end of the custody journey there will be a shift away from individual attribute/skills-based support towards resettlement activity focusing on immediate practical issues such as accommodation, employment and training on release.

Links with support networks including key relationships, religious, cultural and community groups will be established for each participant alongside referrals to organisations able to offer specialist support (e.g. substance misuse). This will be drawn up with each participant and includes linking in with Departure Lounges and similar, where possible.

Stage 1: Reception and Assessment

CFO Evolution Support Workers promote and explain the CFO programme to potential participants, assessing their needs and developing an action plan relevant to each of the stages of the CFO Evolution programme.

Stage 3: CFO Wing Residence and wider custodial support

The CFO Wings consist of:
a) A fixed, provider-led programme
b) Bespoke elements relevant to each participants’ resettlement needs
c) Integration into an establishment’s core resettlement offer
d) A living and working environment
e) A shared culture across all participants and both provider and uniformed staff

The above five components collectively provide a basis for more positive and sustained engagement with resettlement services and the achieving of personal goals. CFO Wings are welcoming spaces where individuals feel supported, understood, cared for and valued.

For participants engaging with wider custodial support, there is a vast array of support available tackling key barriers including (but not limited to): preparation for re-entering the community (awareness/use of social media, appropriate peer groups, building networks etc.), securing employment, training and education opportunities for release and through the gate support to ensure newly released individuals can continue accessing CFO services within the wider community.

Delivery Stages

CFO Evolution is a 7 stage programme including through-the-gate elements.

Stages 1-4 take place in custody, whilst stages 5-7 occur in the community at CFO Activity Hubs or in further community outreach locations.

For more information about the community stages, please click below.

Community Delivery
Stage 2: Preparation for Entering into Core CFO Programme

Participants can enter this stage through general population or via recall.

CFO Evolution Support Workers review and identify ‘quick wins’ for participants, ensuring that motivation and confidence are upheld and appropriate support takes place. This can include literacy, mentoring training, substance misuse support or be achieved through direct work or an appropriate referral.

Stage 4: Pre-Release Support

Towards the end of the custody journey there will be a shift away from individual attribute/skills-based support towards resettlement activity focusing on immediate practical issues such as accommodation, employment and training on release.

Links with support networks including key relationships, religious, cultural and community groups will be established for each participant alongside referrals to organisations able to offer specialist support (e.g. substance misuse). This will be drawn up with each participant and includes linking in with Departure Lounges and similar, where possible.

Stage 1: Reception and Assessment

CFO Evolution Support Workers promote and explain the CFO programme to potential participants, assessing their needs and developing an action plan relevant to each of the stages of the CFO Evolution programme.

Stage 3: CFO Wing Residence

The CFO Wings consist of:
a) A fixed, provider-led programme
b) Bespoke elements relevant to each participants’ resettlement needs
c) Integration into an establishment’s core resettlement offer
d) A living and working environment
e) A shared culture across all participants and both provider and uniformed staff

The above five components collectively provide a basis for more positive and sustained engagement with resettlement services and the achieving of personal goals. CFO Wings are welcoming spaces where individuals feel supported, understood, cared for and valued.

Activities Available

These are just some of the many activities available to participants engaging with CFO in custody, all of which support the participant to reduce reoffending.

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Gardening and Ecology

Group
Activities

Arts and Crafts

Media

Benefitting
Custodial
Community

Upskilling and Employability

Cohort-specific Activities

Stakeholder
Engagement
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