Department of Social Work
Criminal Justice Service Plan 2008-11
INTRODUCTION
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Criminal Justice Service provides services, such as, Supervision of offenders in terms of, for example, Probation Orders and Community Service, the compilation of Reports to the Courts to assist with sentencing decisions, participation in preventative strategies with partner agencies to reduce offending, and support for victims of crime.
LEGISLATIVE & POLICY CONTEXT
Legislation
The legislative context for the Criminal Justice Service Plan 2008-11 centres primarily on the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and the Management of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.
Other relevant legislation includes:
- Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003
- Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004
- Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004
- Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004
- Police, Public Order & Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006
- Custodial Sentences & Weapons (Scotland) Act 2007
- Legal Profession & Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007
- Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007
- Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007
- Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 – reformed the law governing decision making for adults who cannot make financial, personal or medical decisions for themselves
- Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 – introduced national care standards and arrangements for the registration and inspection of services through the Care Commission
- Local Government (Scotland) Act 2003
- Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 – required new models of care and investment in mental health services and also advocacy
- Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 – once fully enacted, this Act will give new powers and statutory responsibilities to Local Authorities to investigate any risk of harm, or abuse to, adults in the community or care homes
- Community Care & Health (Scotland) Act 2002
- Disability Discrimination Act 2005
- Equality Act 2006
National Policy
- National Objectives for Social Work Services in the Criminal Justice System 2004
- Guidance on Antisocial Behaviour Orders 2004
- ASBO on Conviction, Guidance 2005
- Guidance on the Development of Data Sharing Protocols 2005
- Protection of Children & Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005, Guidance 2006
- Social Enquiry Reports – Drug Misusing Offenders – Child Protection Issues, Guidance 2007
- Special Measures for Vulnerable Adults & Child Witnesses, Guidance 2007
- Integrated Case Management (ICM) Joint Practice Manual 2007
- Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), Guidance 2007
- National Strategy for the Management of Offenders
- Changing Lives – 21st Century Social Work Review
- SWIA Performance Inspection of Criminal Justice Social Work Services, Report on Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 2006
- Local Government Concordat
Local Policy
- Northern Community Justice Authority Area Plan 2008-11 (draft)
- Western Isles Youth Justice Strategy 2006-08
- ‘Protecting Vulnerable Adults in the Western Isles’
- Advocacy Plan
- ADAT Corporate Action Plan
- Housing Strategy
- Health Improvement Plan
- Community Plan
- The Western Isles Sexual Health Strategy
- Social Work Department (Criminal Justice) Business Plan
Corporate Strategy: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
The Corporate Strategy 2007-11 outlines the mission statement of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar as:
“To provide excellent public services throughout the Outer Hebrides”
The Social Work Inspection Agency carried out an inspection of the Criminal Justice services provided by the Social Work Department in 2006 and made 10 recommendations directed towards:
- Improving staff skills in assessment and intervention with particular reference to work with high-risk offenders and offenders with alcohol-related problems
- Implementing a development plan for community service
- Introducing formal arrangements for staff supervision and staff development
- Improving case recording
- Evaluating service performance
The Criminal Justice Social Work service has been implementing changes, such as formal staff supervision and development arrangements, in order to meet these recommendations and fulfil the Corporate Strategy’s mission statement of the Comhairle.
PARTNERSHIP WORKING
The Criminal Justice service of the Social Work Department is engaged in partnership working, such as, with the Community Safety Partnership, ADAT, and other Departments of the Comhairle. It is recognised that partnership working is an area that it would be beneficial to the service to develop further.
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
Priority is being given to promoting a performance culture and to identifying and achieving key performance indicators and targets.
The IT system, OLM, which is currently being implemented throughout the Social Work Department will allow for improved statistical data on Criminal Justice services.
The performance system entitled ‘Balanced Scorecard’ is currently in the initial stages of being implemented throughout the Social Work Department.
The Northern Community Justice Authority Area Plan 2008-11 (draft) states:
“The Management of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 provides the legislative framework for Community Justice Authorities in Scotland. Against this background the Northern CJA is committed to ensuring the protection of our communities, reducing re-offending through effective offender management and through the provision of strategic direction” (p18).
The plan also states as a key objective:
“to establish performance framework and quality assurance systems” (p19)
The Northern Criminal Justice Authority provides direction in terms of the aims and objectives to be met to ensure the improvement of the quality and effectiveness of services in the period 2008-11.
BEST VALUE & CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
The initial report from the Chief Executive regarding the Social Work Department review suggests a new post of Business Manager. It is envisaged that this post will be instrumental in ensuring that systems to implement and monitor Performance Management, Best Value reviews and Continuous Improvement within Criminal Justice services are fully established.
RISK MANAGEMENT
There are risk factors associated with each service activity. The identification and management of risk is at the core of Criminal Justice services. The work carried out to complete each Social Enquiry Report, for example, involves the identification and management of risk in terms of re-offending and harm.
Another example is the assessment and management of risk in relation to Criminal Justice staff carrying out lone-working.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICE PRIORITIES
The priorities for the Criminal Justice Service are based on the legislative and policy framework, and also local need, and are stated within the Social Work Department Business Plan 2007 (copy on the CnES website Chief Executive’s Office page).
Under “Known Service Gaps and Pressures” are included:
- “Coping with a significant increase in referrals and cases at operational level”
- “Having to meet new legislative requirements and Scottish Executive initiatives, such as, MAPPA and VISOR”
- “Additional work activity associated with the Northern Community Justice Authority partnership”
Links to Plans:
- CnES Social Work Department Business Plan 2007
- CnES Corporate Strategy 2007-11
For copies of these plans, contact Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Social Work Department on 01851 703773.
Contacts for this document:
Dr. R. McKinlay
Principal Officer (Planning & Development)
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Social Work Department
Grianan Centre
Westview Terrace
Stornoway
01851 709909
Mrs M. MacLeod
Criminal Justice Team Leader
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Social Work Department
Council Offices
Sandwick Road
Stornoway
01851 709341
