CFO3

Conversation with CFO

HMPPS CFO3 focuses on those offenders who have difficulty accessing mainstream services currently available. It offers a through the gate service with focus on preparing for employment and release in custody, followed by training and employment. 


CFO3 is currently in over 80 prisons in England and co-located in Probation Offices across England. View the CFO Delivery Map to find CFO services or scroll to the bottom of this page to see who is delivering CFO service in each region.

CFO3 Participants

The focus of CFO3 is to help offenders move towards mainstream provision or into employment by addressing their barriers to work through facilitating access to comprehensive support mechanisms appropriate to their individual circumstance and accessed need.

Our service includes, but are not limited to:

  • Core activities – support with ID, CV and Disclosure statements
  • Life skills – including financial, organisational, coping and communication skills
  • Labour market supportive measures – interview skills, mentoring, self-employment and advice
  • Support tailored to each individual

Our participants can typically face the following barriers:

  • Unskilled
  • Unqualified
  • De-motivated
  • Drug and/or alcohol issues
  • Behavioural issues
  • Debt problems
  • Accommodation problems

Eligibility for CFO3

  • People on Probation
  • Those serving a custodial sentence (within 3 years of earliest release date)
  • Emphasis is placed on females, ethnic minorities, 50+ and those with a disability
  • Not already in paid employment, with a right to work in England and Ireland
  • Additional special provision for females, ethnic minorities, 50+ and those with a disability

CFO Evolution

The CFO Evolution programme will commence delivery on 1 August 2024. For current CFO delivery please contact your CFO3 providers below.

The CFO Evolution programme will build on the CFO3 and CFO Activity Hubs successes and the CFO’s work over the last two decades with hard-to-reach offenders. The CFO Evolution programme will be delivered in 90+ custody sites and over 25 community sites.

The overall focus of HMPPS Creating Future Opportunities is to help offenders move towards mainstream provision or activity which reinforces the value of leading law-abiding lives, such as entering employment, education, training and interacting positively with their family and local community. This is achieved through facilitating access to comprehensive support mechanisms appropriate to their individual circumstance and assessed need, and as such is a key delivery vehicle for MoJ Strategic Outcome 2: Reduce Reoffending. CFO Evolution is not a standalone programme. It is designed to complement and support core HMPPS provision, increasing value for money from other projects and better preparing those socially excluded to make a positive contribution to society.

Without your support I would not have the confidence to have been able to apply for a job. Before engaging with you my offence gave me severe anxiety and the thought of disclosing to a potential employer terrified me. With your help I have been able to disclose to two different employers and have been able to land myself a well-paid job with a reputable company.

CFO3 Participant

Contact CFO3

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