sentencernews

Staffordshire & West Midlands Probation Trust - Summer 2011 www.SWMprobation.gov.uk

SWM Probation Trust’s Director of Operations meets all Bench Chairs Between 25th January and 28th March 2011, Director of Operations Dr Ged Bates met all Bench Chairs at courts within Staffordshire and the West Midlands (SWM).

The meetings addressed the following topics:

• SWM Probation Trust’s progress since its merger

• Budget cuts and resources

• Overall performance of the Trust, including

re-offending rates

• Effective Practice strategy, including recruitment of volunteer mentors

• Community Payback issues, including the competitive tender

Ms Ali Bell, SWM Probation Trust’s Head of PR and Communications, led a discussion on current liaison arrangements and how communication between probation and magistrates could be improved.

Topics included:

• Arrangements for feedback or ‘progress reports’ on individual cases

• Visits to probation facilities• Use of the SWM web site for magistrates training• Newsletters and electronic means of

communication.

Dr Bates said: “Most Bench Chairs went out of their way to make very positive comments about the Probation Trust in general, and local liaison staff in particular. Only one Bench Chair was noticeably less positive, but I welcome constructive criticism as an opportunity to put things right.”

The following issues emerged from the meetings:

(See table opposite)

IssueNumber of courts

concerned

Interventions / programmes – concern about delays in commencement

9

Positive about development of ‘on line’ training approach for JPs

9

Court budget cuts preventing visits by JPs to probation facilities

6

Community Payback – swift commencement

5

Feedback to magistrates on individual cases – progress reports

4

Community Payback – JPs need more information on local projects and outcomes

3

Community Payback – need for greater education / training provision as offenders work their hours

2

Community Payback – visibility to public

2

More general feedback to magistrates about what offenders do on supervision

2

More general emphasis on education / training for offenders within probation as a whole

1

Lack of mental health provision 1

Awareness of and positive view of SWM website

1

Interventions / programmes – more knowledge needed

1

Continued on Page 2

In the spring a number of probation offices held special briefing events and welcomed visiting magistrates.

Sandwell – MarchThe Sandwell Sentencers Training Event was hosted by Senior Probation Officer Jacky Thompson. It featured contributions by a range of local probation staff from programmes, Community Payback and also by the Head of Sandwell Probation, Simon Lomas.

David J Read JP said: “I wish to thank you and your colleagues on behalf of Probation & Sentencer Liaison Group (PSLG) and the Bench for yet another excellent presentation. These presentations are so worthwhile as we can actually see that a community sentence does bring results, reduces re-offending and ensures that the community benefits from Community Payback, but most importantly, can see justice being done. I do hope that we can continue to work together on these initiatives, ensuring that sentencers are made aware of the huge advancements made by Sandwell Probation.

“Again a huge thank you to you all and I should be grateful if you could pass these comments on to all of your colleagues who gave their time so willingly.”

Tracey Calleia, Deputy Justices’ Clerk, said: “Thank you very much for a really great presentation. Could you please pass on our thanks to all of the staff for giving up their evening. The feedback I have received has been very positive and the fact that people remained up to 45 minutes after the published finish time demonstrated to

me just how interested they were!

Birmingham – MarchMary Casey JP visited the probation office in Perry Barr, Birmingham. She said: “I had a most positive visit to Perry Barr probation office, so thank you for organising it. Senior Probation Officer Sandra Richards was very welcoming and informative and I was able to sit in on an interview with Rosie Ward, an excellent officer who managed to be both challenging and supportive in discussion with her client who was appreciative of her care.

“Sandra has invited me back at some stage to see the unpaid work programme and we both decided that the probation service has some excellent practice which perhaps needs to be more widely advertised.”

Staffordshire – MayOver 60 magistrates attended the ‘Why Probation Works’ event in Beaconside. Presentations included: Professor Hazel Kemshall – about ‘effective practice’ principles in probation work in relation to reducing re-offending. Jason Davies, NOMS – how re-offending rates are calculated.

Programmes Treatment Managers Andy Cooper, Emma Willis and Sally Cooper showcased offender programmes.

Probation Officers Adele Montgomery and Edward Lambert talked about offender case studies from Burton and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Probation visits and events round-up

Other issues included:

• The amount of time offenders had to wait before they could start programmes. This is already being addressed in part by probation report authors trying to give likely start dates in their pre-sentence report.

• There was a similar concern with regard to the need to start Community Payback as quickly as possible, though the extent of the concern was much lower than for programmes.

• Bench Chairs were clearly concerned about the impact of budget cuts both to HM Courts Service and SWM Probation Trust. Some felt however that magistrates would continue to make visits to probation sites irrespective of budget restrictions, while all were positive about trying to develop more electronic means of sharing information and ‘on line’ training.

• The idea of probation providing progress reports on individual cases received a mixed response. Some Chairs thought this was a good idea, some clearly didn’t – in any event most were concerned about potential information overload.

• An increase in the provision and profile of Education, Training and Employment services.

Dr Bates added: “I’m grateful to receive both praise and feedback, which will be discussed and acted upon by Court Senior Probation Officers at our monthly Sentencer Confidence group.”

Continued from Page 1

The Structured Intervention to Address Domestic Abuse (SIADA) workbook is just over 3 years old. In that time, it has become a foundation of SWM Probation Trust’s intervention work with low to medium risk offenders and higher-risk offenders who are not suitable for the more intensive Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme (IDAP).

In Stourbridge, Probation Offi cers Jayne Jerrison, Liz Garratt and Sharnjit Jhali use the SIADA workbook to guide weekly group sessions, which are around an hour long.

Jayne says: “Before starting SIADA, we do preparatory work with the offenders to ensure that they are ready to start. Each session counts as contact time towards the supervision requirement of their community order. Therefore SIADA supplements one to one supervision and frees up resources as a result.”

SIADA is less intensive than IDAP, but the Stourbridge team feel that this makes it a more versatile intervention.

Jayne explains: “SIADA’s fl exibility helps us to tailor it to offenders’ needs. For example, a group environment may not be suitable for an offender whose fi rst language is not English, so SIADA can be delivered to them on a one-to-one basis instead.

“Also, as SIADA’s format is not as prescriptive as IDAP’s, we fi nd that broader discussions have time to develop and grow.”

SIADA’s versatility means that it can also be used with any offender who has not been convicted of domestic abuse but who poses a risk of this type of offending.

Liz says: “This is particularly useful when an offender is on supervision and there is information to suggest that they are domestic abuse perpetrators, but they have no domestic abuse-related convictions. However, they must accept some responsibility for their actions and demonstrate an awareness of the possibility to change.”

As technology has evolved, so has domestic abuse. According to the POs, it is now common for offenders to send abusive text messages and to ‘stalk’ their victims via social media channels such as facebook.

Liz explains: “Mobile phones and the internet have made it easier for some offenders to abuse their victims. It offers another way that they can try to exert power and control over them, and reinforces the importance of strong victim liaison.”

Highlighting the impact of domestic abuse is a key part of the team’s work, which is supported by a Women’s Safety Worker (WSW). WSW Becky Green works with victims of the domestic abuse and holds a monthly clinic for Stourbridge staff, when she follows up any concerns they may have.

WSWs provide victims with information about the offender’s progress on probation, including:

• Providing victims with information about the offender’s attendance on the programme;

• Contributing to promoting victim safety by providing information about safety planning;

• Helping victims to access local services for support, advice and assistance;

• Informing victims of any current or emerging risks posed by the offender.

Sharnjit says: “We do some work with the offender before they start the group. It explains what is expected of them, the involvement of the Women’s Safety Worker and the expectation that they will inform us, and also talk openly about, any new relationships they may have developed.”

While dealing with a challenging type of offence and offenders, it is clear that the team enjoy their work, and are proud of their achievements.

Adds Jayne: “I enjoy delivering SIADA as part of a team, as you not only fi nd out more about the offenders but also about your colleagues. It’s an ideal opportunity for all of our perceptions to be challenged, regardless of our background.”

SIADA — Tackling Domestic Abuse

The SIADA workbook is mainly used for the following two categories of offenders:

1. High or very high risk of harm offenders who have been assessed as unsuitable for the Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme because they require an interpreter, have unusual working hours (shift work), or their period of supervision is shorter than the time it would take to complete the programme and therefore have, under the auspices of an activity requirement or a licence requirement, been directed to complete SIADA.

2. Medium risk of harm offenders who have, under the auspices of an activity requirement or a licence requirement, been directed to complete SIADA.

It is also a valuable resource for use with:

3. Offenders on supervision, where there is information to suggest that they are domestic abuse perpetrators, although they have no domestic abuse-related convictions. However, they accept some responsibility for their actions and demonstrate an awareness of the possibility to change.

Birmingham Crown Court and Sutton Coldfi eld Magistrates CourtPhilip Hughes 0121 248 0099Crown Court Admin: Carole Smyth

Birmingham Magistrates Court Naheed Aziz & Emily Campbell 0121 248 6140 Admin: Shelagh Jennings ext 6080

Chase Court Team John Mountford 01543 501034

Coventry Crown & Magistrates Courts Winston Muhammad 02476 837 556 Admin: Karen Budd & Julie Powers 02476 837 557

Halesowen & Dudley Magistrates Courts Joanne Goldie 01384 862 424Admin: Vanessa Griffi ths 0121 550 1496

Stoke-on-Trent Crown CourtMick Gough 01782 286831Admin: Debbie Edwards

North Staffordshire Magistrates Court Mick Gough 01782 286169Admin: Debbie Edwards

Solihull Magistrates Court Margaret Ditchburn 0121 248 6856 Admin: Marie Lamb ext 6851

Stafford Crown Court Mick Gough 01785 223433 Admin: Debbie Edwards

Stafford Magistrates Court Alison Heath 01785 223415

Trent Magistrates Court Diana Lawrence 01283 564988

Walsall Magistrates Court Dolores Burnham 01922 618516Admin: Diane Pemberton 01922 618581

Wolverhampton Crown & Magistrates CourtsStephen Walker 01902 481 104 / 07960 916 573Admin: Dean Jones 01902 576 000

West Bromwich & Warley Magistrates CourtsIan Gould 0121 533 4527 Admin: Lisa Broadbent 0121 533 4608

Contact details for Staffordshire & West Midlands Courts

1 BirminghamHead of Probation: Pat Royal 5th Floor, King Edward House, 135a New Street, Birmingham B2 4QJT: 0121 248 2680 E: pat.royal@swm.probation.gsi.gov.uk

2 CoventryHead of Probation: Sarah ChandSheriff’s Court, 12 Greyfriars Road, Coventry CV1 3RYT: 024 7683 8300 E: sarah.chand@swm.probation.gsi.gov.uk

3 DudleyHead of Probation: Bronwen ElphickSuite 5, Trafalgar House, 47-49 King Street, Dudley DY2 8PST: 01384 326020 E: bronwen.elphick@swm.probation.gsi.gov.uk

4 SandwellHead of Probation: Simon LomasUnity House, 14-16 New Street, West Bromwich B70 7PNT: 0121 533 4659 E: Simon Lomas@swm.probation.gsi.gov.uk

5 SolihullHead of Probation: Jane ConnellyCentenary House, 252 Mackadown Lane, Kitts Green, Birmingham B33 0LQT: 0121 248 3568 E: jane.connelly@swm.probation.gsi.gov.uk

6 StaffordshireHead of Probation: Heather Sutton Probation Offi ce, University Court, Staffordshire Technology Park, Beaconside, Stafford ST18 0GET: 01785 231749 E: heather.sutton@swm.probation.gsi.gov.uk

7 Stoke-on-TrentHead of Probation: Barbara JonesMelbourne House, Etruria Offi ce Village, Forge Lane, Festival Park, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 5RQT: 01782 202863 E: barbara.jones@swm.probation.gsi.gov.uk

8 WalsallHead of Probation: Kobina HallWalsall Probation Complex, Midland Rd, Walsall WS1 3QET:T:T 01922 721 341 E: kobina.hall@swm.probation.gsi.gov.uk

9 WolverhamptonHead of Probation: Neil ApplebyPrue Earle House, Union Street, Wolverhampton WV1 3JST: 01902 576009 E: neil.appleby@swm.probation.gsi.gov.uk

The Local Delivery Unit structure

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