National Probation Service Merseyside

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National Probation Service - Merseyside

• Sarah Williams, Probation Officer - Community
  Rehabilitation
• Alex Griffiths, Probation Officer - Resettlement

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Background Sarah

• BSc(Hons) Applied Psychology (1998-2001)
• Victim Support Officer (2001)
• Trainee Probation Officer - Sept 2001
• Seconded to Crown Court as a report writer
• Seconded to Wirral CR
• Qualified Sept 2003
• Currently working in Wirral Community
  Rehabilitation Unit

3
Background - Alex

• BSc(Hons) Applied Psychology Human and Applied
  Biology (1996-1999)
• Started MSc Applied Psychology/temping Probation
  Service
• Trainee Probation Officer Sept 2001
• Seconded to South Liverpool CR
• Seconded to Wirral PPR
• Qualified Sept 2003
• Currently working in Wirral Resettlement
• MSc Applied Psychology (1999-2004)

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Probation Qualifications

• Two years consisting of
• - BA(Hons) Community Justice
• - NVQ Level IV Community Justice
• - work based assessment through placements
• Diploma in Probation Studies (DipPS)

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Structure of National Probation Service -
Merseyside

• Merseyside operates to a non generic model
• Community Offender Management Unit (COMU)
• Resettlement Offender Management Unit (ROMU)
• Community Punishment Unit (CP)
• Programmes (i.e.TF, ASRO, DIDS)
• Specialist Programmes (i.e.CDVP, NSOGP)
• DTTO
• Pilot/ long standing schemes (i.e PPO, Pier
  Project, LISM)

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Community Offender Management Unit (COMU)

• Previously known as Community Rehabilitation
• Merger with Court Services in October 2004 has
  led to dramatic changes in role
• Three main activities
• - Enforcement
• - Case Management
• - Report Writing

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COMU - Enforcement

• 6mths 3 years
• Straight Order or additional requirements
• Frequency of appointments
• Unacceptable / Acceptable Absences
• Breach proceedings
• Impact of CJA on Breach

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COMU Case Management

• Proportional management based on risk
• Initial Assessment (PSR and eOASys)
• Supervision Plan
• Appropriate 1-2-1 CB programmes (i.e., STAR,
  Stop, Think and Reconsider, Alcohol Choices and
  Change, Anger Management)
• Liaison with internal and external agencies

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COMU Pre Sentence Reports (PSR)

• Introduction
• Offence Analysis
• Offender Assessment
• Risk of re-offending and harm to public
• - general risk of harm / re-offending
• - public
• - children
• - staff
• - self
• - specific individuals
• Conclusion

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COMU - eOASys

• Designed as a risk screening tool
• Initial OASys completed in conjunction with PSR
• Informs supervision plan and risk management
  plans
• At various stages during sentence this is then
  reviewed by case manager
• PSR/OASys

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Resettlement Offender Management Unit (ROMU)

• Previously known as Pre Post Release
• Supervise offenders
• - All over 18 and been sentenced to a custodial
  sentence
• - YOI 18-21 minimum of 3 months statutory
  supervision
• - ACR 12mths - 4 years
• - DCR (Parole) 4 years plus
• - Life licence
• - Extended licence usually sex offenders
• Although this will change given the new Criminal
  Justice Act 2003 it is expected that the two
  Acts will run alongside each other for a number
  of years.

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ROMU Post Sentence

• Cases allocated once custodial sentence received
• Visit offender in prison and try to remain in
  touch
• Gather background information
• Liase with VIS for a violent or sexual offence
  over 12 months
• Liase with prison during sentence
• Attend prison for reviews, meetings, report
  preparation
• Convene any multi agency meetings
• Arrange any pre-release contacts / support from
  internal and external agencies
• Put in place risk management strategies
• Decide on appropriate licence conditions
• Offender released work starts!!

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ROMU What does a licence mean?

• Risk Assessment and Management
• Report weekly for at least the first month after
  discharge and then as determined by CM
• Home Visit Police Notification
• Supervision plan / OASys
• Work undertaken on licence has to balance HO
  licence objectives and criminogenic needs
• - rehabilitation of offender
• - protection of public from harm
• - reduce offending
• Recall formal, final then breach/recall

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ROMU Additional Licence Conditions

• Not to seek to approach or communicate with
  (name/victim) without the prior approval of your
  supervising officer
• Not to work or reside with a child under 18
  without the prior approval of your supervising
  officer
• Not to enter (named area) without the prior
  approval of your supervising officer attach map
• To comply with any requirements reasonably
  imposed by your supervising officer for the
  purposes of addressing your (alcohol/drug/offendin
  g behaviour) problems
• To attend all appointments with a named
  psychologist/psychiatrist/medical practitioner
• To attend the (programme)
• Other restrictions or enforcements may be used
  (HO approved)
• All above must be reasonable, necessary and
  proportional

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ROMU

• ROMU holds the largest proportion of dangerous
  / high risk offenders lot of work around risk
  assessment and management
• Parole Reports (PAR)
• Post Sentence Lifer Reports
• PSRs
• MAPPP/MALRAP
• ROTL/HDC assessments
• Case Management
• Rapid enforcement (emergency recalls)
• Close liaison internal and external agencies
  including Sex Offender Police, DV Police, Social
  Services, CJMHT, Hostels, specialised divisions

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ROMU Victim Charter / Victim Information Service

• Probation must contact all victims of a violent
  or sexual offence where the offender has received
  in excess of 12mths custody
• Victims will either have had little contact with
  the Criminal Justice Service or had a VLO
• Often first time they have had contact with CJS
  since sentence interviews can be very
  unpredictable
• We provide information regarding the offender and
  their sentence
• Offer support links to local Victim Support
  groups
• Remain in touch through course of sentence
• Victims may ask for restrictions to be placed
  into licences

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Any Questions?

• Sarah Williams
• - sarah.williams_at_merseyside.probation.gsx.gov.uk
• Alex Griffiths
• - alex.griffiths_at_merseyside.probation.gsx.gov.uk
  
• National Probation Service Wirral
• 40 Europa Boulevard
• Birkenhead
• Wirral
• CH41 4PE
• Tel [phone]