JUSTICE SERVICE

1. JUSTICE SERVICE • Presentation to • Lanarkshire Community Justice Authority • 3rd December 2010

2. SWIA inspection of prison based social work services in Scotland 2010Local Report on social work services at HMP Shotts 15 Local Reports – published 30 September 2010 National Report – by end of 2010

3. Purpose of Inspection • Accountability • Improve quality of services • Identify areas for development as well as strengths • Seeks to understand not to catch out • Draws from evidence – objective • Continuous improvement

4. Six Key Questions • What difference did PBSW make prison-based social work services make to meeting prisoners’ needs and reducing the risks they presented to others? • What did prisoners and key stakeholders think about PBSW • How efficiently and effectively did PBSW operate? • What systems were in place for monitoring the performance of PBSW services and for improving the quality of these services? • How well supported were PBSW staff to carry out the work required of them? • How good was the leadership of PBSW by the senior managers and elected members responsible for these services?

5. Methodology • Pre-fieldwork • Received SEQs • Surveys of PBSW staff • Surveys of community based social work staff supervising prisoners on release • Interviewed prisoners • Fieldwork • Fieldwork at Shotts

6. What SWIA said about prison based social work services in Scotland • Performance was mixed • Characteristics of good performance: • Local services had clear up-to-date remit for their work • Competent, well established, well managed staff group • Characteristics of services that do not perform well • Unclear about remit • Recruitment and/or retention difficulties • Comparatively weaker leadership and oversight from senior managers

7. Fieldwork at HMP Shotts • Sampled files • Prisoner focus groups • Family member • Duty • ICMs • Segregation case conference • PIAC

8. Fieldwork at HMP Shotts • PBSW staff • Social work managers • Chief Social Work Officer • Head of Offender Outcomes • Addiction staff • Psychological services • SPS staff

9. Making a difference • Introduced outcome-focussed action plans • Prisoner feedback questionnaire • Good attendance at ICMs • Good links with Parole Board • Meeting agreed priorities or taking appropriate action • Yet to define and measure general outcomes • The council should build on the establishment of outcome-focused assessment and planning practice by defining common outcomes for prison-based social work and identifying the means by which these could be measured.

10. What prisoners and other stakeholders thought Prisoners • Valued social work service • Social work delivered what they promised Other providers • Saw social work = motivated, confident, able • Valued social work contribution to ICM process • Psychological services access to social work files • In collaboration with SPS psychological services, should further clarify the arrangements for accessing social work case records.

11. How efficiently and effectively did PBSW operate? • Information about PBSW was accessible • PBSW work with SPS to reduce inappropriate referrals • Prisoners able to check assessment before submission • Prisoners able to challenge risk assessments • Referral process - straightforward – high satisfaction levels • PBSW integral to robustness of ICM approach • Individualised interventions focus on outcomes • PBSW promote child protection in prison and community • Local adult protection strategy • The council and prison managers should develop a local adult protection strategy and related guidance for staff.

12. What systems were in place for monitoring the performance of prison-based social work services and improving the quality of these services? • Review all activities • SMART improvement plan • Team had ownership of plan • Management commended on planning • Quality assurance approach evident • File sampling • Audit of risk assessment • No Area for Improvement

13. How well supported were prison-based social work staff to carry out their work? • Participation in staff road shows • CSWO report • All users’ emails • Regular supervision • Access to line manager • Ownership of NLC vision and objectives • Committed to continuous improvement • Familiar with National Standards and ICM guidance • Kept informed about SLA • Potential restriction of social work role in SLA • PBSW not able to access council intranet • No Area for Improvement

14. How good was the leadership of PBSW services by senior managers and elected members responsible for these services? • NLC social work developing as learning organisation • Clear strategic vision and objectives • New justice structure • Links between PBSW and community • Links between social work management and SPS • Elected members on CJA, prison visiting committee • Chief Executive, council leader, CSWO visit to PBSW • PBSW issues understood by senior managers • No Area for Improvement

15. Areas for Improvement in Local Reports • Dumfries = 11 areas for improvement • Glenochil, Inverness, Aberdeen = 9 areas • Barlinnie, Cornton Vale, Open Estate = 8 areas • Addiewell, Kilmarnock = 7 areas • Edinburgh, Perth = 6 areas • Peterhead, Polmont = 5 areas • Greenock = 4 areas • Shotts = 3 areas

16. Social Work Team at HMP Shotts • The Best Prison Based Social Work Team in the World • Probably • Maybe • Perhaps