This is an evaluation of Barnardo's Community Support for Offenders' Families (CSOF) service.
The evaluation looks at the pilot stage of three CSOF services, based in Bristol, the Isle of Wight and South Wales. The services worked with local agencies in each area, to raise awareness of the needs of families affected by parental imprisonment and offending and develop practice and a strategic response. In addition the services also provided direct support to families. The evaluation uses data from all three CSOF services, and seeks to determine if CSOF contributed to improved outcomes for offenders' families, influenced the local service response towards offenders' families and increased professional awareness of the support needs of offenders' families in each locality. The evaluation concluded: 1. The community-based model of family support and service development was effective 2. The combination of a child and family focused project worker and offender manager within each service was an important factor in reaching and supporting families 3. Awareness raising, training and wider service development were essential elements of the service 4. Identification of children of offenders continues to be ad hoc and further work is required at a national and local level to build a comprehensive picture of need.
See the evaluation of CSOF (various documents including full report, summary and information to support offender management practice) below:
