Working in partnership with the West Yorkshire Probation Trust, Touchstone is improving the employability of offenders with mental health issues through the Step Change project.
Mental health has been identified as a barrier into employment, education and training among ex-offenders. People are often marginalised and can fall through the net. In addition to employability-building, a large part of our work is to identify ex-offenders’ mental health support needs and refer them to the appropriate specialist services. This dual purpose is a holistic approach to mental health and employability and supports recovery. Touchstone’s two part-time Mental Health Employment Outreach Workers are based within four Approved Premises Bail Hostels in order to provide continuity of care from prison to mainstream society.
