Understanding Prison Service Phrases.
This section aims to explain some of the common terms used throughout this site in more depth.

Definitions are available for the following terms:

• NOMS - The National Offender Management Service
• ESF - The European Social Fund
• CATS - Case Assessment and Tracking SystemCIP - Community Integration Plan
• IAG - Information, Advice and Guidance
• ETE - Education, Training and Employment

NOMS - National Offender Management Service.
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) came into existence on 1st June 2004.

This service will replace the previous system, in which the Prison Service was responsible for the provision and supervision of custody, and the National Probation Service for the provision and supervision of community punishments and interventions.

NOMS will establish an integrated service responsible for the management and supervision of offenders, whether in custody or the community, with the objectives of punishing offenders and reducing re-offending.

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ESF - European Social Fund.
The European Social Fund (ESF) is one of four Structural Funds designed to strengthen economic and social cohesion in the European Union.

The current programmes run from 2000 to 2006. ESF will provide about £4.5 billion in Great Britain (£3.5 billion in England) in this period.

ESF’s main purpose is to support the annual UK Employment Action Plan, which sets out how UK policies and initiatives take account of the Employment Guidelines established within the European Employment Strategy.

The European Social Fund aims to:

• help unemployed and inactive people enter work
• provide opportunities for people at a disadvantage in the labour market
• promote lifelong learning
• develop the skills of employed people
• improve women’s participation in the labour market

PS Plus 2 is funded under the European Social Fund Objective 3. This is a non-regional Objective, available in the whole of Great Britain except in Objective 1 areas.

ESF Objective 3, and hence PS Plus 2, aims to improve people’s skills and employment prospects by:

• tackling long-term unemployment
• helping young people and those at risk from not being able to find work
• improving training, education and counselling for lifelong learning
• encouraging entrepreneurship and adaptability in the workplace
• promoting equal opportunities and improving the role of women in the workplace

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CATS - Case Assessment and Tracking System.
All case management and tracking of beneficiaries on the project is performed by a bespoke computer database, the Case Assessment and Tracking System (CATS), developed by PS Plus.

The CATS system allows the user to perform an assessment, compile a Community Integration Plan (CIP) and then monitor the beneficiaries’ progress

The beneficiary’s activity is recorded using timesheet information, records of courses, training events and other activities attended while on the project.

Once the beneficiary has left the project all outcomes, both hard and soft are recorded.

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CIP - Community Integration Plan.
The Community Integration Plan (CIP) is a document that is used for recording all referrals and support/advice given to the beneficiary whilst participating in the PS Plus 2 project.

The CIP is managed by the Case Manager and will be linked to the beneficiary through their time in the criminal justice system.

On their release the CIP will, if required, be transferred to Probation so that the Link Worker can record any actions taken with the beneficiary in the community. It offers a valuable outline of all the work that has already been performed with the beneficiary.

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IAG - Information, Advice and Guidance.
Careers Information, Advice and Guidance is a range of services provided by professionally trained guidance advisors, designed to enable beneficiaries to make informed choices and transitions related to their personal, educational and career development.

Services and activities would include; delivering information, advice and guidance on education, careers, decision making regarding activities to enhance employability, job opportunities, letter writing and interview techniques.

Service provided should be to the national Matrix standard approved by the Guidance Council.

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ETE - Education, Training and Employment.
Assistance provided with employment, training and education to improve employability and improve access to the labour market.

This can be done by; assessing current skills and achievements, providing information of local opportunities in training, further education and gaining employment, motivating and increasing confidence and supporting choices.

Services and activities would include; liaising with employers to secure sustainable employment, exploring all avenues of employment (including non-traditional occupations), broker and secure relevant further educational and vocational training courses.

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