April 1996

Directors of Social Work

Sheriff Principals

Sheriff Clerks

All Recipients of National Standards

Holders of SWSG Guidance Package

Dear Sir/Madam

NATIONAL OBJECTIVES AND STANDARDS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SOCIAL WORK SERVICES

Summary

1. This circular advises local authorities of the re-issue, under separate cover, of National Objectives and Standards in respect of General Issues (including Finance), Social Enquiry Reports and Associated Court Services, Probation and Community Service. These Standards have been revised and updated to take account of local government reorganisation and recent legislative changes.

2. The National Standards for Throughcare are currently the subject of a consultation exercise, revised standards for Throughcare will therefore be issued in the near future.

Information for Incoming Authorities

3. Attached to this circular is a list of information/publications which criminal justice service managers may find useful as background information.

Contact Point

4. Any enquiries about this circular should be addressed to Mrs Susan Malcolm, Room 16A, James Craig Walk, Edinburgh EH1 3BA (Tel: 0131 244 3514). [ To holders of the SWSG Circulars and Guidance Package: This circular should be placed in Section G3 of the volume containing "Criminal Justice" circulars.]

Yours faithfully

JIM KIRBY

MATERIAL WHICH MAY BE OF INTEREST TO INCOMING AUTHORITIES

National Objectives and Standards for Social Work Services in the Criminal Justice System. [ The National Standards for Throughcare are currently the subject of a consultation exercise, revised Standards for Throughcare will therefore be issued in the near future. ]

Inspection Reports - CSO Report

- Prison-based Social Work Services

- Management and Organisation Report

- Information and Advice to Sentencers

Statistical Bulletins - Community Service Bulletin ) All for the latest - Criminal Proceedings in Scottish Courts ) year available - Prison Statistics Scotland ) - Recorded Crime in Scotland )

SWSG/SWSI Guidance

Package

The Dunscore Package

Research Reports - "Making it Out" - Gill McIver

HO Report ‘Managing What Works’

Underwood - ‘Effectiveness and Supervision’

"Child Sex Abusers" - Dobash/Carnie/Waterhouse

CRU abstract on Dobash/Carnie/Waterhouse

research into Child Sex Abusers

"Probation in Scotland - Policy and Practice"

Ross Ford, Jason Ditton and Ann Layburn

The Probation Alternative - Case Studies in the

Establishment of Alternative to Custody Schemes

in Scotland - Ann Creamer, Linda Hartley and

Bryan Williams

The Probation Alternative - A Study of the Impact of

Four Enhanced Probation Schemes on Sentencing -

Ann Creamer, Linda Hartley and Bryan Williams

Pre-trial Bail Services in Scotland: An Evaluation of

Two Pilot Bail Information and Accommodation

Schemes - Sue Warner and Gill McIvor

Understanding Bail in Britain - edited by Fiona Paterson

What Works: Reducing Re-offending - edited by

James McGuire

NCDS Review Report

Relevant Annual Planning Statement

Current National Planning Statement

SWSG/SWSI Contact List

Legislation - Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968

- Criminal Justice Act 1991 (for cross-border transfers)

- Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993

- Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995

- Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1995

- Children (Scotland) Act 1995

HDD Circulars 24/93 Prisoner and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993

Commencement of Part I (release of prisoners etc)

26/93 Sections 205 and 206 cases

Other Items - Letter from SOHHD IIC, dated 24/3/94 covering ‘Appendix A’

(Guidance to Governors re actions to be taken in respect of

Supervised Release Orders)

- Interim Guidance on Supervised Release Orders [ This interim guidance has been converted into National Standards and will form part of the revised National Standards for Throughcare which will be issued in the near future.] issued by SWSG, Part 1 dated 23 September 1993

Part 2 dated 5 May 1994

- Workloads Measures, attached as an annex to this list is a paper giving the background to and the outcomes from a workload measure exercise initiated in 1991.

Annex

WORKLOAD MEASURES

A workload measures exercise was initiated in 1991 in an attempt to identify the average time spent in the provision of those criminal justice social work services funded through 100% funding. It was overseen by a joint COSLA/SWSG working group as a sub group of the COSLA/SWSG Finance Group.

Participating local authorities completed a diary exercise in respect of social enquiry reports, probation supervision, community service, home background reports and parole. The outcomes of this exercise were considered by the group and workload measures in respect of each of these activities were provided to the COSLA/SWSG Finance Group. The Finance Group decided that an independent consultant should examine the methodology and advise on whether the information obtained could be considered sufficiently reliable to inform service planning, grant levels and the PES cycle. The workload measures group agreed that the Institute of Management be engaged to undertake a review of the data collection method and the interpretation applied and to report. This exercise has been completed and has confirmed that the methodology can be accepted as broadly sound.

In the light of local government reorganisation, the working group determined that it would be inappropriate to continue with any further examination involving diary exercises and that the issue should be placed on hold pending the emergence of the new authorities. The COSLA/SWSG Finance Group decided that a workload measures group will be re-established early in 1997 to commence work on an early agreed outline programme for reviewing earlier measurement and extending coverage.

In the meantime, it has been agreed that the output of the existing workload measures exercises should be made available to incoming authorities and these are listed below:-

These measures include elements of direct client contact, indirect client related work and travel time and reflect only the actual time taken. This material, along with other analysis and input, may nevertheless be helpful to authorities in planning and developing services.

Copies of the Institute of Management’s report may be obtained on request from:

Miss L Marshall

Social Work Services Group

Room 13

James Craig Walk

EDINBURGH

EH1 3BA

Tel: 0131 244 3532