Civil Service Supporting prison leavers
Caragh Arthur works in the Ministry of Justice supporting prison leaver employment.
I work in the Ministry of Justice Reducing Reoffending Directorate as a Lived Experience Lead. My role involves building extraordinary relationships and connecting with people who have left prison and fought their way out of difficult situations. The unprecedented resilience and strength of character I witness is what makes me love my job so much.
I believe that it is important to recognise the skills and experience that prison leavers can bring to the Civil Service, irrespective of their background, life choice and/or circumstances.
"The past is a place of reference, not a place of residence; the past is a place of learning, not a place of living."
- Roy T. Bennett
I am committed to justice for all people. I want to afford those with lived experience of the criminal justice system, the same opportunities as everyone else.
As a member of the Ministry of Justice Lived Experience Network Group, I meet up monthly with other Group members, all of whom have personal and professional experience of the criminal justice system. Our collective experience means that we can really support new colleagues from similar backgrounds and provide them with a safe space to talk, should they wish to.
The Group is inclusive, it offers support to hiring managers, assists understanding of workplace behaviours, and manages conflict. The intention is to ensure that the Civil Service is a great place to work for all, including those with a criminal conviction.
I am also a mentor, which means I can meet and talk with people on a one-to-one basis, offering them any individual support they might need.
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