Working With Offenders
Somerset Probation Service: Community Punishment Pathfinder
Somerset is piloting a scheme for skills training and accreditation, the use of Pro Social Modelling, and evaluating aspects of placement quality.
The pilot started in April 2000 and covers the whole of the former Somerset Area, but not Avon part of what is now Avon & Somerset Area. The evaluation includes all Community Punishment cases in the Area. The target intake sample of 450 cases was achieved by April 2001 with orders to be completed by November 2001.
The Area has a single SPO responsible for all Community Punishment staff, including eight CSOs who are located in four local probation offices from which CP orders are managed. Nearly 90% of placements are provided in groups supervised by the Service since a high level of employment means offenders are only available at weekends when most agency single placements are unavailable.
Skills training and accreditation is targeted at those cases with employment related needs identified in an initial assessment undertaken at the start of all Community Punishment orders. Offenders work towards a pre NVQ “Profile of Achievement” Award, awarded by City & Guilds through a local Further Education college. Training takes the form of guided learning while performing CP work and does not form part of the 10% allowance within an order for non work activity. Assessment is done by CP supervisors, with two supervisors taking a lead and undertaking internal verification supported by the college. The college is responsible for external moderation of assessments. The training offers up to eight modules which are portable into further training undertaken with a college after the CP order. A minimum order of 80 hours is required.
Pro Social Modelling is based on the work of Trotter in Australia which suggested that the supervisory relationship could be used as an opportunity for staff to model and reinforce desired pro social attitudes and behaviours in offenders. The intention is that this will lead to an increase in compliance and a reduction in future offending. It involves areas of practice such as challenging antisocial attitudes and behaviours, ensuring a transparent fairness in the allocation of work and application of rules, explaining both the task in hand and any decisions taken during the work, having a positive attitude to the purpose and work of CP, and respectful attitude to the offenders. Implementation involved all CP staff being trained in PSM through a two day programme, with additional top up sessions to refresh workers and include staff appointed subsequently.
Placements are also rated against a checklist to assess the degree to which they have qualities likely to enhance offender compliance and promote pro social attitudes and behaviour and a reduction in future offending. This builds on earlier research done by McIvor in Scotland which indicated beneficial outcomes from placements involving positive contact with beneficiaries, where the offender perceives the work as useful and making use of their aptitudes, and where opportunities are provided to enhance existing or acquire new skills.
An interim report on the initial findings of the projects has now been published. Copies of the Executive Summary are available from the NPD e-mail address below. A full evaluation report will be published in March 2002 to report on the findings of all the Community Punishment Pathfinder Projects; with a reconviction analysis following in 2003. Given its initial success the Area will continue to operate Community Punishment on the project model until it is incorporated into a new national framework for CP in the future.
Further information
Kath Bristow, Senior Probation Officer Somerset |
01749 683662 |
Steve Woodgate, Pathfinder Development Manager, National Probation Directorate |
020 7217 0684 |
Last update: 16/09/03