Community Payback Order: Programme

Interventions suitable for

Clients (males) who want to improve their general health/wellbeing and social interaction.

Programme title and provider

‘Steps to Health’: 4-week programme
Locally developed inhouse programme, facilitated by two Community Justice Assistants.

Details of all Specific national or local scheme/intervention(s) available

The ‘walking group’ is aimed at supporting the client’s social inclusion through the promotion of a healthy activity within a therapeutic environment that encourages reflective thinking and open discussion. The programme provides clients with knowledge of their local area and codes of the countryside. Referrals to services providing similar outdoor activities and/or GPs for block sessions at their local leisure center, is also promoted during their Community Payback Order as well as encouragement to continue these pursuits once their order is completed.

Possible Outcomes

The programme aims to improve the client’s overall wellbeing and outlook, with the opportunity to become a mentor or co-facilitator of the group.

Process for Assessment and/or inclusion in scheme/intervention

The Criminal Justice Social Work Report writer will interview the client at the pre-sentencing stage to assess whether they are suitable for the programme and in the report.

Interventions suitable for

Clients (males) who have been assessed by a Criminal Justice Social Work Report as requiring support with independent living and social integration within their community.

Programme title and provider

‘Moving On’: Rolling programme
Locally developed inhouse rolling programme run by members, supported by two Community Justice Assistants.

Details of all Specific national or local scheme/intervention(s) available

The group is a rolling programme set within a nurturing and safe environment aimed at promoting the client’s social awareness and encourage the development of social skills within a group setting and in the community. Encourage their participation in the group and take ownership of group tasks such as forward planning of group activities. Help the client recognise their existing skills and abilities through encouragement to build on these. Improve general health and wellbeing awareness, by promoting budgeting skills, menu planning, shopping and food preparation, and provide personal hygiene and health information. Support and promote non-judgmental group discussion and debate, ensuring equal opportunities for all.
The programme can also be viewed as a pre-requisite to attend other identified programmes (‘Steps to Change Programme’ – offence focused programme – see below) to test the client’s motivation and compliance to participate in a group.

Possible Outcomes

An improvement in the client’s independent skills, self-esteem/confidence and orientation to their local area, services and agencies. Referral to voluntary services is made during the group and prior to the end of their order. To identify avenues of support that will further promote/enhance skills learned in the group aimed at managing their daily life independently and socially integrating into their community.

Process for Assessment and/or inclusion in scheme/intervention

The Criminal Justice Social Work Report writer will interview the client at the pre-sentencing stage to assess whether they are suitable for the programme or during the court order by their supervising officer via a variation report to court.

Interventions suitable for

Clients (males) who have experiencing difficulties within their intimate, personal and/or professional relationships and would benefit from participation in the programme.

Programme title and provider

‘Understanding Relationships’: 8-week inhouse programme
This locally developed inhouse programme is delivered by two facilitators – Justice CJSW and Children & Families Social Worker.

Details of all Specific national or local scheme/intervention(s) available

The ‘Understanding Relationships’ programme supports the client to understand how their interactions with others can impact on their relationships and how they might use social media in unhealthy ways, (threats, control, sexual images, spreading gossip). The programme provides the client with a safe environment to share their own experiences on how they view a healthy and unhealthy/abusive relationship.
Clients are supported to look at stages of grief and how to cope with the loss of a relationship/intimate relationship, moving on from the relationship and what starting again. Several tools e.g., ‘window of tolerance’ to identify links with their ‘cycle of emotions’. The use of ACES to gain an understanding where these might fit in with their belief system around i.e., gender related sex and myths. The group also involves several written tasks and exploration of feelings and beliefs to help clients link issues that might trigger negative emotions and reactions.

Possible Outcomes

The main aims of the ‘Understanding Relationships’ programme are to provide an open and safe space that encourages the client to have an honest discussion to help them identify problematic relationship behaviours. Provide them with an increased understanding of the differences between a healthy, unhealthy/abusive relationship, so they can develop skills to improve their relationships with others through effective communication and management of their behaviour, thus reducing the risk of reoffending.
A range of material including case studies written by clients, ‘emotional wheel’, ‘cycle of change’, ‘window of tolerance’ and media clips are used by the members to generate discussion and learn through their peers.

Process for Assessment and/or inclusion in scheme/intervention

The client is assessed by the writer at the Criminal Justice Social Work Report interview stage for suitability on the ‘Understanding Relationship’ Group or by their supervising officer during their court order. In the absence of a Community Payback Order programme requirement, it is also possible to attend the programme through ‘Other Activity’ if the client is open to CJS on a stand-alone Community Payback Order Unpaid Work order.

Interventions suitable for

Clients (males) who have been assessed as suitable to attend the ‘Steps to Change’ programme to gain victim awareness, cease offending and become a positive and productive citizen within their community.

Programme title and provider

The ‘Steps to Change’: 8-week programme
This locally developed inhouse is delivered by two CJSW facilitators.

Details of all Specific national or local scheme/intervention(s) available

The ‘Steps to Change’ programme is aimed at promoting social awareness, encourage participation and ownership in setting of tasks and group activities. Build on their skills and recognise the impact their offending behaviour has had on themselves and their victims.

Possible Outcomes

Group members are encouraged to input to the sessions and take ownership of their learning. Sessions consist of looking at their own offending behaviour, introduction of the ‘cycle of change’ and discussion around the concept of change in relation to factors associated with their offending i.e., substance use, attitudes, and lifestyle choices. The group are helped to gain self-awareness around what citizenship means to them, what roles, rights and responsibilities are expected as a citizen and what they need to change to become a productive part of their community and not reoffend.
The group are supported to look for links in their physical and mental health, family, friends, exercise, diet, lifestyle they can use to drive their motivation to stop offending and build an offence-free lifestyle. The use of the ‘ladder of seriousness’, where the group is divided into teams, where ‘cards’ are used to prompt the groups to list offences in order of their perceived seriousness, then to come together to discuss reasons for their choices and compare with others.
They look at ‘what is a victim’ and what do they think creates a victim e.g., sex offences, shop lifting, drugs, different levels of violence and domestic abuse. Members are also encouraged to explore their own personal experiences of being a victim and how this affected them. They are introduced to the ‘ripple effect’ of offending to increase awareness of the impact their offending has had on others regardless of how small they believe the offence is. A representative from Victim Support attends one of the sessions to provide information on what the agency offers, along with a talk from an elderly female who was a victim of financial fraud, how the offence affected her emotionally and the subsequent ‘ripple effect’.
Members are encouraged to write their own personal therapeutic letter to a victim of their offending. This is NOT to be sent to the victim, merely used as way to demonstrate they understand the impact their offending has had on their victim. The final session will revisit the ‘cycle of change’ to track any changes in their thinking and attitude towards their offending and desire to stop offending in the future.

Process for Assessment and/or inclusion in scheme/intervention

The client can be assessed as suitable for the ‘Steps to Change’ programme at the Criminal Justice Social Work Report interview stage by the writer or during the court order by their supervising officer via a variation report to court.

Interventions suitable for

Moving Forward Making Changes is a Scottish government-accredited offence focused programme, delivered jointly by the Tay Project and the client’s supervision officer. It is an intensive treatment programme for medium to very high-risk clients over the age of 18, who have been convicted of a sexually motivated offence/offences or offences with a sexual element.

Programme title and provider

Moving Forward Making Changes (MFMC): The Tay Project
Moving Forward Making Changes is a Scottish government accredited offence focused programme, delivered jointly by the Tay Project and the client’s supervision officer. It is an intensive treatment programme for medium to very high-risk clients over the age of 18, who have been convicted of a sexually motivated offence/offences or offences with a sexual element.

Details of all Specific national or local scheme/intervention(s) available

When the client has been assessed as requiring to undertake the Moving Forward Making Changes treatment programme. A recommendation will also be noted within the Criminal Justice Social Work Report to impose the Community Payback Order for a minimum period of 36 months to provide sufficient time for the programme to be completed.

Possible Outcomes

The programme incorporates the ‘theory of change approach’ and involves the client completing a case management pack with their supervising officer. Undertaking various modules supported by their supervising officer and some jointly with a specialised worker from the Tay Project. Suitability for the Unpaid Work stage will also be assessed during this period.
The behavioural treatment programme is designed to increase the client’s opportunities and ability to lead a satisfying pro-social life by meeting their needs in a non-offending manner and reducing their level of risk. Reflect on their behaviour to help them understand the causes associated with their sexually motivated offending and the risk they posed to others because of their actions.
Recognise and challenge the triggers to their distortive thinking and impulsive harmful behaviour, to help them develop self-regulation and self-management skills to manage these negative feelings and build positive relationships for the future.
In addition to the programme, the client may also have appointments with other professionals such as psychiatrist, psychologist, mental health, or addiction services.

Process for Assessment and/or inclusion in scheme/intervention

Referrals are made to the Tay Project when a client has been convicted of a sexually motivated offence/offences or offences with a sexual element or the:

• Court requests a Tay Project assessment before imposing a sentence
• Criminal Justice Social Work Report writer recommends a referral to the Tay Project for an assessment prior to sentencing
• Client is convicted of a sexual/sexually motivated offence and the Criminal Justice Social Work Report writer makes a referral to the Tay Project prior to sentencing
• Sexual offending behaviour work is being considered as part of the risk management plan upon release from custody
• Client is convicted of a sexual/sexually motivated offence and subject to supervision, but has not as yet had an assessment undertaken in relation to the suitability for interventions i.e., transfer in cases.

The suitability of treatment needs is identified by using the SAO7 risk assessment tool completed jointly by the Criminal Justice Social Work Report writer and Tay Project Worker. As well as the Criminal Justice Social Work Report, a separate Tay Project Report will be provided to the Court detailing the recommendation and appropriateness of the MFMC programme.

Interventions suitable for

The Fergus Programme is suitable for men who have been convicted of domestically abusive related offences within a heterosexual relationship.  The Criminal Justice Social Work Report writer will assess the client’s suitability for the Fergus Programme and highlight any issues that may potentially hinder the completion of the programme e.g., employment issues.

Programme title and provider

‘Fergus Programme’: local in-house 28-week group programme
A locally developed inhouse offence focused programme, delivered by two experienced criminal justice social work facilitators, with some sessions jointly facilitated with experienced Child and Family Social Workers. The client’s supervising officer is also kept up to date with the client’s progress and of any issues arising that are impacting on the client’s learning.

Details of all Specific national or local scheme/intervention(s) available

The Fergus Programme is in two parts, starting with pre-programme work, undertaken on a 2:1 basis with their supervising officer and CJA. The pre-programme involves an initial assessment of the client’s ‘Readiness for change’ via an evaluation to identify their level of understanding of their abusive behaviour and associated needs. The evaluation is completed again at the end of the pre-programme sessions to assess the work undertaken and evaluate any changes in their attitude and beliefs to determine their suitability and motivation for the Fergus Programme either:

• FP1 – Situational Couple Violence – 10-week programme
• FP2 – Intimate Terrorism programme which is a longer 20+ week programme

The aims of the programme are to reduce the risk of further domestically abusive offending through adopting a positive role-modelling and peer-learning approach, with an emphasis on motivating and enabling the client to gain an understanding of their own behaviour and the impact this has on their victims.

A voluntary service is also available to:

• Current victims of clients domestically abusive behaviour
• Previous partners and children who are experiencing and/or have experienced, witnessed or are living/have lived within an environment of the client’s abusive and/or controlling behaviour

Upon completion of the Fergus Programme the client will attend monthly maintenance meetings until completion of their CPO, along with the opportunity to attend voluntary aftercare meetings once their CPO is completed.

Possible Outcomes

The pre-programme sessions consist of written tasks/exercises within the session and homework the client will go over with his workers. Sessions involve different topics pertaining to their domestically abusive behaviour e.g., focus on self-management and self-regulation via a ‘Life Goals’ approach, ‘Window of Tolerance’ – to assess his mood in different situations that might drive their abusive behaviour. Identify characteristics they would change to stop their cycle of abuse. Help unearth and gain an understanding of how their beliefs have shaped and influenced their decision making that created a pattern of abuse. Recognise how their values have influenced their views of the world and how this affects others. Support the client to identify their abusive behavior, how this links with their pattern of abuse and how he might use minimisation, denial and blame to justify this behaviour. Help the client challenge negative talk and unhelpful thinking contributing to their harmful behaviour and appreciate the impact this has on their family relationships and support networks. Assist the client to devise ‘personal safety’ and ‘time out’ plans to use when any negative emotions start to arise and encourage him to identify those around them that they can rely on to promote emotional regulation to ensure their family’s safety and needs are respected.

The main objectives of the Fergus Programme are:

• To provide clients with a relaxed, informal and welcoming group setting
  within a safe space where they can share their own learning needs
• Support clients to reflect on their domestic abusive behaviour
• Take ownership of their learning and identify what they need to change to
  achieve healthy relationships and stop their cycle of abuse
• Ensure public protection, reduction of custody and social inclusion of the
  rehabilitated client.

The sessions include group discussions, along with written tasks/exercises within the sessions and homework that will be discussed with the facilitators. Some sessions elaborate on the topics discussed within the pre-programme, along with other sessions i.e., ‘life trap’ aimed at helping the client gain greater insight into his own childhood experiences and how these have impacted on his life. Explore their attachments, both in early years and adulthood and think about how any of their negative and/or positive experiences have affected their relationships with others. Support them to recognise how their body language, verbal and non-verbal behaviour can feel intimidating to others and the importance of maintaining boundaries. Help them to understand what domestic abuse, coercive control and sex means to him and how they use language and harmful behaviour to control others. Supported to develop problem solving skills to challenge their negative self-talk, attitudes and beliefs that lead to their impulsiveness and/or planned reactions harmful to their victim/victims. Encouraged to reflect on their mood and reasoning for their behaviour around the time of the offence. Recognise situations that could increase the risk of reoffending and help develop strategies to avoid these happening and stop the ‘cycle of abuse’. The client will be supported to interact in group discussions to consider the benefits of being assertive and considerate in achieving their goals rather than being passive/aggressive or aggressive within their relationships. The ‘Fathering’ session supports the client to explore his parenting style and discuss how their domestically abusive behaviour impacts on his child’s(rens) wellbeing and development. With focus on what kind of father he would like to be and how he can achieve this.

The exercises are regularly followed up in supervision where the client will be expected to provide evidence of their learning and identify any patterns/new patterns of abuse they had not previously recognised that fit with a pattern of domestically abusive behaviour.

Process for Assessment and/or inclusion in scheme/intervention

The client can be assessed as suitable for the ‘Fergus Programme’ at the Criminal Justice Social Work Report interview stage by the writer or during the court order by their supervising officer if a pattern of abusive behaviour emerges, by way of a variation report to the Court. The Criminal Justice Social Work Report is also specifically informed by the SARA-V3 risk tool that assesses their suitability and readiness to engage with the programme.

Interventions suitable for

The Glen Isla Project is suitable for women only who have been assessed by the Criminal Justice Social Work Report as benefiting from the project due to their offending behaviour.

Programme title and provider

Glen Isla Project
A locally developed inhouse offence focused project delivered by experienced social workers and Community Justice Assistants within a therapeutic and TIA environment.

Details of all Specific national or local scheme/intervention(s) available

Glen Isla was developed following the 2012 Women’s Commission Report (the Angiolini Commission) to provide an intensive suite of intervention support tailored especially for women who have offended.
Women who become subject to the requirement, are expected to work alongside their supervising officer to address their offending behaviour and the issues associated with their offending.

Possible Outcomes

The aims of the project are to reduce the risk of reoffending, support the women to develop positive coping strategies in a more positive way with their family and community.
Interventions are delivered on both a 1:1 and group basis to support the women build confidence, self-esteem and self-worth, by learning new skills i.e., DIY, playing musical instruments, sewing/dressmaking and drama workshops.
The women are helped to develop the necessary skills to address the issues impacting on their lives and causing them to offend e.g., substance use, accommodation issues, vulnerability, financial hardship and/or any physical/mental health issues impacting on their wellbeing. They are also supported to consider the impact their offending has had on their victim and promote avenues for education, mentoring and employment.

Process for Assessment and/or inclusion in scheme/intervention

The women are assessed as suitable for the Project at the Criminal Justice Social Work Report interview stage by the writer in consultation with other professionals the women are currently involved with.