Scottish Government

Appendix A

Roles and Responsibilities

SPS

• dealing with prisoners movements within the prison system
• addressing the prisoner's needs and risks
• facilitating ICM case conferences (this includes involving the local authority housing services where there are accommodation needs)
• requesting Home Leave Reports HLR1 from CJSW
• at the three month stage requesting an update ( HLR1 appendix 2) from CJSW and full review reports at 6 months ( HLR2)
• discussing prisoners' situations with the relevant agencies, including housing services where appropriate
• deciding on whether the prisoner should be granted temporary leave
• providing the prisoner with a financial sum to cover the cost of temporary leave
• writing to families or friends who are supporting the home leave scheme to confirm the acceptance of that address
• funding any specific supported accommodation options that might be required
• dealing with breaches and recalls
• requesting information on the pre-agreed contact any other agency may have had with the prisoner during the period of leave
• informing relevant sex offender prisoners, who may be released on extended home leave, of their obligations under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 ( i.e. the notification and provision of information requirements)
• providing the Police with appropriate information in relation to any sex offender prisoner who is due to be released for an extended period of home leave
• following the procedures set out in Circular No. SEJD 18/2003, Protecting Children: Guidance on the Imprisonment and Preparation for Release of Schedule 1 Prisoners, where appropriate all TC/ CP notifications to be sent at point a prisoner leaves secure conditions for less secure conditions. Also to be sent for granting of any form of temporary release including work placements and or community education.
• To consult with agencies in making any significant changes to the progression or home leave scheme that impacts upon the prisoner and throughcare provision.

CJSW

• discussing prisoners' situations with the relevant agencies, including housing services where appropriate
• providing Home Leave Reports HLR1 for temporary leave
• providing updates at the three month stage ( HLR1 appendix 2) where appropriate and full review of circumstances at the 6 months stage ( HLR2)
• providing support to the prisoner and family during periods of temporary leave, if this has been agreed as part of the assessment and action plan
• alerting SPS to any potential/actual difficulties that are likely to/have arisen during the temporary leave
• reiterating to relevant sex offender prisoners, out on extended home leave, their obligations under the Sexual Offences Act 2003
• following the procedures set out in Circular No. SEJD 18/2003, Protecting Children: Guidance on the Imprisonment and Preparation for Release of Schedule 1 Prisoners, where appropriate
• providing feedback to SPS when they have had contact with the prisoner or their family during the home leave period

Police

• discussing prisoners' situations with the relevant agencies, including housing services where appropriate
• alerting SPS and CJSW to any potential/actual difficulties that are likely to/have arisen during the temporary leave
• apprehending prisoners who are unlawfully at large, having failed to return to custody when required to do so, or are recalled to custody by SPS
• following the National Standard Operating Procedures: Relative to the Management of Registered Sex Offenders, as applicable, to those sex offender prisoners who have been released on extended home leave

Housing Providers (when involved)

• providing housing advice and assistance to help prisoners consider and identify potentially suitable housing options
• attending ICM case conferences when appropriate to point in sentence
• providing information to CJSW on community/victims' issues in relation to home leave

Voluntary Organisations (when involved)

• attending ICM case conferences when appropriate
• providing any agreed support to the prisoner during the home leave period
• providing any feedback on any issues/progress arising during the home leave period

Prisoner

• their own behaviour
• adhering to the conditions of their licence generally, and more specifically to any obligations they may have under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 ( i.e. the notification and provision of information requirements)
• travelling from the prison to the agreed release address and back within the prescribed timescale
• not becoming involved in any anti-social behaviour or offending

Family

• In terms of the effective implementation of the policy, the family potentially has a role in relation to providing support to the prisoner in the resettlement process. Through developing good working relationships with prisoners' families, professional agencies should encourage families to seek assistance where necessary and participate in the planning process wherever possible. The family can only be expected to assume these roles where it is primarily in their own interests as well as the prisoners.