Working in prisons: Working Wales's delivery in the secure estate
Join Laura Griffiths and Annmarie Willis for an insight into Working Wales's work supporting clients in the Welsh secure estate.
Fee for CDI members
-
Date
08 Jul 2026 -
Time
04:00 PM -
Duration
1 hour(s) -
Venue
Zoom -
Contact
This webinar provides an overview of how Working Wales delivers career guidance and employability support within prisons across Wales. It explores how career guidance can help people in custody build confidence, raise aspirations and prepare for employment by reducing barriers and supporting progression.
The session also highlights how this support contributes to rehabilitation, reintegration and reduced reoffending, while emphasising the importance of working safely, building trust and adapting support to individual needs. It also outlines the service model, including impartial advice, coaching, employability support and multi-agency partnership working, demonstrating how careers support in custody can be a valuable and effective part of rehabilitation.
Learning outcomess:
• Understand the model — how the career guidance and employability support can be adapted to work effectively inside prisons.
• Connect career guidance to rehabilitation — why employment-focused support matters for reintegration and reducing reoffending.
• Recognise the barriers — why prison leavers often need tailored support around confidence, skills, mental health, and progression planning.
• See the value of partnership — how collaboration across education, employability, the justice service and employer networks strengthen outcomes.
• Apply the practical lessons — how person-centred, non-judgmental guidance and clear post-release planning can translate into real job outcomes.
Speakers
Laura Griffiths is a qualified careers adviser and Working Wales team manager link on prison-related work. She previously worked as a prison-based adviser for 18 months and now collaborates across Wales with Working Wales prison advisers, prison employment leads and approved premises.
Annarie Willis RCDP started her career with Careers Wales in 2000 in customer service and went on to qualify as a careers adviser, supporting people to make positive changes in their lives. Since 2020 she has worked in a prison setting, where she has built strong experience in a role that is both challenging and rewarding. In 2024 she was proud to receive the CDI Public Sector Career Development Professional of the Year Award. What Annmarie values most is seeing people grow in confidence and move forward, knowing that even small steps can make a real difference.
This session supports the following CPD competencies:
• Career Development Practice
• Networking and Partnerships
The session also highlights how this support contributes to rehabilitation, reintegration and reduced reoffending, while emphasising the importance of working safely, building trust and adapting support to individual needs. It also outlines the service model, including impartial advice, coaching, employability support and multi-agency partnership working, demonstrating how careers support in custody can be a valuable and effective part of rehabilitation.
Learning outcomess:
• Understand the model — how the career guidance and employability support can be adapted to work effectively inside prisons.
• Connect career guidance to rehabilitation — why employment-focused support matters for reintegration and reducing reoffending.
• Recognise the barriers — why prison leavers often need tailored support around confidence, skills, mental health, and progression planning.
• See the value of partnership — how collaboration across education, employability, the justice service and employer networks strengthen outcomes.
• Apply the practical lessons — how person-centred, non-judgmental guidance and clear post-release planning can translate into real job outcomes.
Speakers
Laura Griffiths is a qualified careers adviser and Working Wales team manager link on prison-related work. She previously worked as a prison-based adviser for 18 months and now collaborates across Wales with Working Wales prison advisers, prison employment leads and approved premises.
Annarie Willis RCDP started her career with Careers Wales in 2000 in customer service and went on to qualify as a careers adviser, supporting people to make positive changes in their lives. Since 2020 she has worked in a prison setting, where she has built strong experience in a role that is both challenging and rewarding. In 2024 she was proud to receive the CDI Public Sector Career Development Professional of the Year Award. What Annmarie values most is seeing people grow in confidence and move forward, knowing that even small steps can make a real difference.
This session supports the following CPD competencies:
• Career Development Practice
• Networking and Partnerships