Breaking into the world of employment: the vocational experience of South African male ex-offenders.

OBJECTIVE

The study is aimed at exploring, describing and understanding the experiences and perceptions of male ex-offenders with regards to their participation in skills development and/or training programmes.

METHODS

The research methodology utilised the qualitative research paradigm, specifically using the tradition of phenomenology. To gather data from the participants, focus groups and face to face interviews were conducted, consisting of broad questions followed by probes to gain an in-depth description of participants' experiences and perceptions.

PARTICIPANTS

Five males who were classified as being ex-offenders and one female (key informant) participated in the study.

RESULTS

Three themes emerged that reflected the vocational experience of ex offenders: 1) A sense of distrust, 2) A sense of support: Giving back to the community through learning and doing, 3) Working towards change through capacity building.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the study suggest that occupational therapy practitioners as well as correctional service personnel should identify and eliminate the barriers that impacts on return to work intervention programmes. Professionals working with offenders and ex-offenders should incorporate the enablers identified in this study when designing return to work programmes.