Domestic Violence

Interventions News Special

September 2007

Contents
Introduction
01: Development of Domestic Violence Programmes
in NPS
02: Domestic Abuse Conference, York, 25-26 September
03: Domestic Abuse Policy and Strategy
04: Domestic Violence Assessment Centres
05: Domestic Violence: Video Monitoring
06: Evaluation of Domestic Violence Programmes
in the Probation Service
07: The Role of the EPTM as National Training
Roll-Out Leads
08: Women Safety Work
09: Fundamental Skills Training
10: Relapse Prevention Provision Within Community
Sex Offender Treatment Programmes
11: Post Programme Reports for SOTP’S
INTRODUCTION
Following the national implementation of an
accredited Domestic Violence programme in
every Probation Area it has become evident that
there is a very high demand for this form of
intervention and during the last year Probation
Areas and the Attitude Thinking and Behaviour
Team (ATB) of NOMS Interventions and
Substance Abuse Unit has examined the current
position and is devising measures to deal with the
excessive demand.
Areas have reported various methods of
managing the demand, such as level of risk,
length of individual Community Rehabilitation
Orders, offenders’ readiness to start the
Programme element and completion of
preparatory work with the Offender Manager. The
ATB Team has produced a range of evaluation
measures that will, over time, advise upon areas
of improvement in terms of targeting and other
implementation issues. Additionally, limited
central funding has been made available to
enable Areas to experiment with the current
Programmes and to explore options for
improvement.
Further developments include the distribution of
both revised CDVP and IDAP manuals, the
accreditation of IDAP for delivery within a
custodial setting and the creation of a national
post of Practice Development Advisor. The post
holder will work closely with all DV Programme
providers to ensure the continuing development of
accredited Programmes, but also to review
Programmes that may be suitable as specified
activities.
2
As the Regional Offender Managers have set the
Domestic Violence programme targets for this
current financial year it is apparent that they will
want to see these achieved. Discussions are
ongoing with ROMs’ offices who appreciate the
complexities of delivering Domestic Violence
programmes within an integrated process but are
keen to have evidence as soon as possible to
ensure they are in a position to select the most
effective domestic abuse programme that offers
the best value for money. The evaluation plan has
been circulated to ROMs’ offices for their
information.
The commissioning agenda is going to bring
challenges for the major providers of Domestic
Violence interventions. However the level of
expertise, knowledge and enthusiasm evident
should stand Probation Areas in good stead.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Phil Mackin, Interventions &
Substance Abuse Unit
Email: Paul.Mackin3@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7217 8044
Mobile: 07768 803241
01: DEVELOPMENT OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE PROGRAMMES IN NPS
When the NPD was created in 2001 one of its
aims was to introduce a national core curriculum
of accredited offending behaviour programmes.
Earlier pathfinder studies had identified general
offending programmes, sex offender treatment
programmes, violence programmes and
substance misuse programmes which were
piloted and taken through the accreditation
process. A domestic violence programme was not
included at this stage despite the fact that many
probation areas were delivering a variety of group
work interventions for domestic violence
perpetrators. The reason for this was that the
evidence base for DV programmes was fairly
limited. There was little research on the
criminogenic needs of perpetrators and how they
differed from those of other offenders. Many of
the Probation interventions in use were based on
the Deluth model imported from the US, but there
was no specific theory manual and no
standardisation in facilitator training, session
structures, targeting or monitoring which would
have enabled any version of the programme to
be accredited.
The Offending Behaviour Programmes Team at
NPD was tasked with setting up a project to
develop Domestic Violence interventions which
could be accreditable. This involved several
strands of work. The first was to establish the
criminogenic needs of domestic violence
perpetrators. To do this a research study was
commissioned through the Home Office Research
and Development Unit. This study examined the
criminogenic needs and demographic background
of male domestic violence perpetrators and found
that although there was a great deal of
commonality between the needs associated
with general offenders and domestic violence
perpetrators there were enough additional factors.
3
Next a theoretical framework was needed to
explain how domestic violence became an
established pattern of behaviour in perpetrators,
the factors both internal (attitudes and beliefs)
and external (environmental factors), and to
provide a model of change, which describes how
an intervention might reduce the likelihood of the
behaviours in the future. After a great deal of
consultation with experts in the field a model was
developed based on Dutton’s nested ecological
theory (1995). This proposes that domestic
violence has many precursors which contribute to
its development at different levels of societal and
personal experience. Dutton (1995) illustrates
how the nested ecological model can be used to
frame a profile of risk for a given individual, so
that, for example: “wife assault would be viewed
as likely when a male has strong needs to
dominate women, has exaggerated anxiety about
intimate relationships, has had violent role
models, has poorly developed conflict resolution
skills (all personal factors), is currently
experiencing job stress or unemployment, is
isolated from support groups, is experiencing
relationship stress in terms of communication
difficulties and power struggles (immediate
environmental factors), and exists in a culture in
which maleness is defined by one’s ability to
respond aggressively to conflict (societal factors).”
(see IDAP theory manual)
The final issue to be resolved was how to create
an intervention which would meet with the
accreditation criteria, but also deal with some of
the unique aspects of domestic violence,
including the fact that perpetrators were often still
in a relationship and living in close proximity to
those they had committed offences against. The
resolution of this was to persuade the
Correctional Services Accreditation Panel to
create a new category of accreditation. Instead of
accrediting a standalone groupwork intervention,
the Panel was asked to accredit a integrated
system which include support for women partners
of perpetrators and establishing close working
relationships with the police to ensure close
monitoring and prioritisation of response to further
incidents.
The outcome of this work was the eventual
accreditation of two domestic violence
programmes within the structure of an integrated
system: IDAP based on the Deluth model and
CDVP which is a cognitive behavioural
programme from Canada which is also used by
the Prison Service.
Great progress has be made in the
implementation of both these programmes and
it is worth mentioning that the target of 1200
programme completions in 2006-7 was surpassed
by nearly 50%. However, some issues still
remain. For example, although the programmes
are based on the best available evidence and
have been accredited on the basis that they will
reduce the likelihood of reconviction, the evidence
to confirm this has still to be generated. This is
why NOMS Interventions and Substance Abuse
Unit has organised a project to fully evaluate the
programmes. Another issue is the great and
increasing demand for the programmes at all
levels. Demand for domestic violence programmes
is currently greater than supply and it is unlikely
that resources will be available to allow expansion
to meet all needs. This means that work needs to
done on improving targeting to ensure those
attending are likely to reap most benefit and
thought must be given to what alternatives might
be appropriate for some perpetrators.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Danny Clark, NOMS Interventions &
Substance Abuse Unit
Emails: Danny.Clark@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7217 0675
4
02: DOMESTIC ABUSE CONFERENCE,
YORK, 25-26 SEPTEMBER
Just to let you know that the Domestic Abuse
Conference is being held on Tuesday 25 and
Wednesday 26 September 2007 at:
The Park Inn York Hotel
North Street
York YO1 6JF.
Tel: 01904 459988
Registration on day 1 is between 9.00-11.45am
(there will be space available to store luggage)
and the conference will commence at 12.00 and
finish around 15.30 on day 2. Dinner and the
overnight stay will also be at the Park Inn Hotel.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
(including a copy of the agenda)
Ruth Taylor, NOMS Interventions &
Substance Abuse Unit
Email: Ruth.Taylor@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7217 1779
03: DOMESTIC ABUSE POLICY
AND STRATEGY
In July 2005, the Public Protection Unit issued the
NPS Interim Domestic Abuse Policy and Strategy
(PC54/2005). This set out an interim domestic
abuse policy for the NPS and a strategic
framework to implement it. The Policy is
underpinned by a set of principles and practice
aims which reinforce the importance for offender
management of a fully integrated and coordinated
approach, encompassing the assessment and
management of risk, access to interventions and
inter-agency working. One of the key principles is
that:
“As a public protection organisation, the NPS
will make the enhancement of victim safety a
high priority and ensure that arrangements
 are in place to identify perpetrators and
those at risk of domestic abuse for whom it
has statutory or public safety responsibilities
and to address and limit the offending
behaviour of perpetrators.”
The strategic framework identified changes that
were required to improve the Service’s approach
to tackling domestic abuse. It reflected many of
the recommendations made in the HMIP thematic
inspection report Reducing Domestic Violence.
Over the next couple of months, PPU will be in
contact with all areas to see how areas have
responded to the strategy framework.
To support the National Policy and Strategy, PPU
has drawn up guidance, in conjunction with the
NPS Domestic Abuse Reference Group. The
guidance is available on EPIC and covers:
• Behaviour and offences linked to domestic
abuse.
• Legislation and other developments in
tackling domestic abuse.
• Putting domestic abuse into context.
• Specialist Domestic Violence court
programme.
• Working with victims.
• Assessing and managing risk of harm and
the use of interventions.
The guidance on assessing and managing risk of
harm and the use of interventions consists of a
prompt sheet of key issues when working with
domestic abuse perpetrators followed by more
detailed guidance. Each underlined heading on
the prompt sheet is linked to the relevant sections
of the detailed guidance for easy access.
The guidance can be found on the public
protection page under Service Delivery.
Comments and feedback on the guidance is
5
welcomed and should be sent to:
Angela.Colyer@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
NPS Domestic Abuse Reference Group
The NPS Domestic Abuse Reference Group acts
as a consultative body for NOMS on domestic
abuse issues of relevance to the NPS. It assisted
in the drawing up of the national domestic abuse
policy and strategy and the supporting guidance.
It provides a forum to raise issues and to share
best practice, relevant information and learning to
inform domestic abuse policy and strategy in the
NPS. The Group is chaired by PPU and each
probation region is represented together with
HMIP and Improvement and Development
Managers.
Risk of Harm Guidance and
Training Resource Pack
Version 2 of the Risk of Harm Guidance and
Training Resource Pack has now been issued.
The changes made to the Pack for Version 2 are
mainly in terms of improving its presentation,
accessibility and navigation. These include an A-Z
index, an enhanced user guide, the facility to
enlarge images, display selection buttons on
every page and improvement to the way sections
of the pack print to avoid breaks across pages.
The section on domestic abuse has been moved
from module 5 to module 3 (together with the
sections on mental health and arson) and a new
section on Public Protection and Human Rights
has been included in module 4.
The Pack is now available on EPIC and the
Prison Service intranet. This will enable staff to
access the pack from their desks and for us to
update it without having to re-issue CD-ROMs.
Currently only staff on the OMNI network can
access the Pack on EPIC. Staff on the GSI
network will have access shortly.
Work has started on Version 3 of the Pack which
should be ready by January 2008. Version 3 will
include more substantial changes to the contents
of the Pack.
Domestic Violence, Crime and
Victims Act 2004
Section 1 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and
Victims Act 2004 was implemented on 1 July
2007. This made breach of a non-molestation
order a criminal offence punishable by up to five
years’ imprisonment. Prior to this, breach of a non-
molestation order has been punishable only as a
civil contempt of court. Section 1 applies to orders
made from 1 July 2007: it cannot be applied
retrospectively to orders made before this date.
No date has yet been set for the implementation
of section 12 of the 2004 Act, which enables
courts to impose restraining orders when
sentencing for any offence and on acquittal.
PC 31/2007 sets out details of both sections of
the 2004 Act and highlights issues for court staff,
report writers and offender managers.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Angela Colyer, Domestic Abuse & Risk of Harm
Improvement. NOMS Public Protection Unit
Email: Angela.Colyer@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7217 0702
04: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSESSMENT
CENTRES
Facilitators and trainers for IDAP, CDVP and
Healthy Relationships programmes currently
undertake an assessment process which tests
practice knowledge, underpinning knowledge and
values regarding work in the area of Domestic
Violence. This process has grown separately
within the prison and probation setting and
comments from practitioners and managers has
led to an urgent review.
6
This review has been undertaken jointly between
both organisations and will be suitable across
both organisations and all Domestic Violence
programmes. The new assessment centre is
currently being piloted in a prison and probation
setting and following any amendments should be
ready by the autumn.
FURTHER INFORMATIOM:
Penny Rickman, Effective Practice Regional
Training Manager, East of England Region
Email: Penny.Rickman@
essex.probation.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 07903 747545
Phil Mackin, NOMS Interventions &
Substance Abuse Unit
Email: Philip.Mackin@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7217 8044
05: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: VIDEO
MONITORING
At the end of July, a number of treatment
managers volunteered to take part in an exercise
to film IDAP/CDVP treatment sessions for use in
the future video monitoring training of new
treatment managers.
The sessions will be used during the “day two”
section of the training where trainees are asked
to formally assess video/DVD footage of live
sessions from programmes that are familiar to
them.
Thanks to all those who gave up their time to
take part.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Karl Williams, NOMS Interventions &
Substance Abuse Unit
Email: Karl.Williams45@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7217 8991
06: EVALUATION OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE PROGRAMMES IN THE
PROBATION SERVICE
Introduction
The purpose of this article is to provide a current
context to evaluation work of domestic violence
programmes in the National Probation Service.
This includes a brief summary of work that is
being undertaken, an outline of the evaluation
activities planned for the 2007/2008 business
year and finally some tips on how to ensure that
the collection of data for DV programmes is of as
good a quality as possible.
National evaluation plans for DV Programmes
Within the next six months a strategy for NPS
Evaluation of Accredited Offending Behaviour
Programmes will be published. This provides the
background to the evaluation approach and notes
the key strategic and 2007 to 2008 business year
evaluation priorities for all accredited offending
behaviour programmes delivered in the National
Probation Service.
A key priority over the next five years will be a
range of short and long term projects to evaluate
Domestic Violence programmes now that they
have been fully rolled out across England and
Wales.
As you may already be aware, there is a lack
of research evidence on the effectiveness of
Domestic Violence programmes both
internationally and in the UK. We cannot say with
confidence yet that they do or do not ‘work’ with
regard to reducing re-offending at this point in
time. This is partly because this is an incredibly
difficult and complex area within which to
undertake evaluation. That said we are presented
with a major and exciting opportunity to be at the
forefront of developing the evidence base for
Domestic Violence programmes in the UK. How’s
that for a challenge!
7
Current evaluation work
The assessment and evaluation manuals for
IDAP and CDVP outline the evaluation activities
and overarching evaluation plan for these
programmes. These are currently being revised
(along with all the other offending behaviour
programme evaluation manuals) so that they are
more user-friendly and contain up to date and
accurate information. The aim is for this work to
be completed by the autumn of this year.
A project has been conducted that explored the
likelihood of finding a suitable comparison group
for a robustly designed, future outcomes study to
assess the impact of the Domestic Violence
programmes on participants. The key findings
were that programme starters and non-starters
were matched on variables of age and motivation
but not on risk since those considered a higher
risk were being prioritised to commence treatment.
Many offenders who might have been included in
the study were left out because of the absence of
matched psychometric data from areas. This
report will be disseminated shortly.
A survey of local areas’ practice in relation to
implementation has been completed and the
initial findings indicated that there is a high
demand for DV programmes. It noted that areas
are struggling to meet these high demands within
current resources. This is leading to large “waiting
lists” for programmes nationally (please see the
report for full details). A second survey has been
undertaken in order to incorporate findings from a
greater number of probation areas and a report
will be available in the autumn.
The evaluation measures psychometric feedback
reports have been completed for IDAP and CDVP
and sent to Chief Officers as an e-mail
attachment. The reports can also be found on
EPIC in the programmes section. Nationally, it
was found that offenders’ reports on the
psychometrics tests were moving in the desired
direction on all the treatment targets of the
programmes which is a promising indicator in
terms of the performance of programmes.
Work is currently being undertaken to look at the
reliability and the validity of the psychometric tests
used in IDAP and CDVP to enable a reduction of
the number of tests currently used in the future to
include only those that are the most relevant and
promising as measures of attitude and
behavioural change.
IDAP and CDVP psychometric tests (except the
victim checklists and the PDS scale which still
need to be sent to the NOMS ATB Team) can now
be entered onto IAPS. A guidance note on how to
manage this change have been sent to IAPS
contacts in probation areas (with a request to
forward to relevant programme staff) and can also
be found on EPIC.
Plan for this business year for evaluating
Domestic Violence programmes
Below is a table that outlines in more detail the
specific evaluation activities planned for 2007 to
2008. Included are the projects, their aims, the
report deadline, who is leading that piece of work
and if it is to be completed within resources or
contracted out. As you can see, a rather busy
year for the evaluation of Domestic Violence
programmes!

Evaluation Project Aims of the Project Report Who is

Deadline leading and
in-house or
contract out

Write up of feasibility study Reports on the work completed to assess the 30 July 07 Karl Williams
for of comparison group for a likely numbers available for a comparison NOMS ATB
future DV outcome evaluation group for an outcome study for IDAP and Team
project. CDVP. (In-house)

Evaluation Measures Aims to provide management information on 30 June 07 Sinead

feedback reports for IDAP data quality and whether the evaluation Bloomfield
and CDVP. measures nationally, regionally and at area (In-house
level are going in the desired direction from project)
pre to post programme.

DV Programmes Process This study will aim to assess whether 30 Aug 08 Jo Day and
Evaluation. programmes are being delivered as intended Karl Williams
by all areas & prison sites, assess whether (contract out)
data is being collated and to what quality,
make an assessment of readiness for a
full-scale outcome evaluation, provide
recommendations for operational and design
improvements to the DV programmes.

DV Programme evaluation of The study will aim to provide some in-depth 30 Mar 08 Jo Day and
desistance of participants explanatory information on how DV Victoria
from offending after 2 years programmes assisted a small number of DV Dawson-
in the community. offenders to desist from crime since Wheeler
completing their order. (in-house)

8
Evaluation Project Aims of the Project Report Who is
Deadline leading and
in-house or
contract out
Conduct a reliability and Aims to provide information on the usefulness 30 Apr 08 Sinead
validity study of DV of the current psychometric measures and Bloomfield
evaluation measures. checklists and use to inform any reduction of (in-house)
by removing measures that are not valid or
reliable.

Survey of Areas Aims to provide a brief summary of current To be Phil Mackin

Implementation. implementation issues by areas delivering agreed and Sinead
IDAP and CDVP Bloomfield
(in-house)

SARA evaluation. The aim is to assess: To be Phil Mackin

a) How areas are implementing the SARA tool. agreed and Jo Day
b) Assess the inter rater reliability of the tool. (contract out)
c) Consider electronic option for the tool.

Development and continuation To identify the best way forward in terms of Yet to Danny Clark
of DV programmes in the choice of DV programmes in the community be agreed
Community. and development o further programmes.

Liaise with other To be aware of all the relevant research and Ongoing Jo Day,
organisations/individuals that evaluations on DV and ensure not replicating Karl Williams
are conducting DV research and able to inform other evaluations. and Sinead
to ensure not replicating Bloomfield
evaluations and ensure up to (in-house)
date with all the relevant
studies.

Evaluation of Wiltshire
Probation Area concentrated
delivery of DV programme.
To provide an insight into the impact of the March 2008 Phil Mackin
changes on the design and theory (contract out)
underpinning of the programme and produce
recommendations on use of this approach to
delivery in the future.

Ensure got up to date risk To ensure have up to date information and 30 Aug 07 Jo Day and
and needs data/studies/ awareness of the risk and needs profiles of ODEAT
reports relating to men, DV offenders as measured by OASys. (in-house)
women and same sex DV
offenders and re-offending
baselines.

9
Future evaluation plans
Depending on the result of the process study, the
aim is to continue the preparation and planning
work for a methodologically robust outcome study
of Domestic Violence programmes. We also have
to look at what other programme or intervention
provision is required/needs to be developed to
meet the needs of domestically violent
offenders.
Ensuring Good Quality Data for Evaluations
One of the key issues in undertaking any
evaluation is ensuring that there is a good level of
quality of data and information from a programme.
This is everyone’s responsibility and all programme
staff (local, regional and national) have a role to
play in ensuring that there is good quality data and
information. Yet we know it can seem mundane
and pointless when studies are unlikely to be
finished until three to four years time. But it is
essential and critical nonetheless because
otherwise nothing will be published even then
because the data is not of good enough quality!
With regard to the psychometric tests, at a
national level we try to ensure that the most
promising psychometrics measures available are
used and that they are reliable and valid.
Data obtained from IAPS and from psychometric
booklets sent in by areas is checked and
databases are set up and cleaned to ensure only
good quality information is included. It is this data
that is then used in any evaluation project or in
responding to queries from areas or ministers.
Tips for Ensuring Quality
Below are some tips for helping to achieve good
quality psychometric data in your local probation
area which will be included in the revised
evaluation manuals:
• Psychometric booklets need to be checked
at the end of the session to ensure that all
questions have been answered, there are no
blank pages and any issues within the session
10
have been documented on the booklet.
• It is advisable that the administrator who
enters the psychometric booklets onto IAPS
is familiar with the purpose of them, the
importance of data quality, as well as having
IAPS training.
• The psychometric data needs to be input
onto IAPS. It is advisable that this is done in
separate sessions to avoid the risk of data
being incorrectly entered onto the system
(ie spend no longer than 1 hour inputting
psychometric data at any one time; after
1 hour of inputting have a break from IAPS
and come back later and input the rest of the
booklets).
• Any comments that have been documented
on the booklet (either by the administrator
themselves or by the offender) are added to
the any other information section option in the
IAPS when inputting the data to ensure that
any issues that arose during the session are
available to the evaluator (this information is
very important as it determines how to
interpret the data).
• It is very important that the details entered
into IAPS are correct. The date that is written
on the booklet should be the date entered
onto IAPS (not the date that the booklet is
being entered unless this is the same day).
It is also very important that whether the
psychometrics are pre or post-programme
have been entered correctly. Entering a post
programme booklet as a pre programme
booklet and vice versa can be detrimental to
the evaluation process.
• There should be some quality assurance
measures put in place to ensure that the data
is entered onto IAPS within a reasonable
time frame from the testing session and that
the data is entered correctly. This would
involve periodic checks of what data is on
IAPS and cross checking this. For example,
 looking up the number of commencements The EPTM leads liaise with the National Project
and completions there are for a given Managers at NOMS to ensure that the seamless
programme and cross checking this with the and effective training of staff takes place, that
number of pre and post evaluation measures there are sufficient staff trained to meet Area
that have been input onto the system. needs, that competent trainers are selected and
It can then be determined whether the trained and that the training is subject to a
psychometrics are being input and if there rigorous quality assurance process.
is a vast discrepancy procedures can be
carried out to determine why this is the case CDVP is also delivered as a prison programme
and improve practice. known as Healthy Relationships. The training of
staff has taken place involving a mix or prison and
• It is useful to set up systems tailored to the
probation staff and delivered jointly by prison and
local area such as checklists and guides as to
probation trainers. This has resulted in a greater
who is responsible for what parts of the
understanding of how Domestic Abuse
process and for tracking data collection so
programmes are delivered within prison and
that gaps can be identified and addressed.
probation and also greater collaboration between
the two with meetings occurring between
FURTHER INFORMATION
probation and prison leads.
Jo Day, NOMS Interventions &
Substance Abuse Unit
Recently the EPTM network has taken on the role
Email: Jo.Day@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
of conduits of the change control process linking
Tel: 020 7217 8999
more closely than ever with treatment managers
and programme managers from the Regions. The
re-launch of change control via Regional events
07: THE ROLE OF THE EPTM AS NATIONAL that took place throughout July have assisted with
TRAINING ROLL- OUT LEADS the responsive delivery of the CDVP/IDAP
programmes whilst adhering to both programme
The Effective Practice Training Managers are a
and treatment integrity.
well established group of experienced managers
with a host of expertise in staff development and
FURTHER INFORMATION
accredited programmes, who each have
Mary Smith, Regional Effective Practice Training
responsibility for leading the roll-out of accredited
Manager, North East Consortium
programmes training.
Email: Mary.Smith@
northumbria.probation.gsi.gov.uk
They have been in post since 2000 following the
Tel: 0191 491 1693
first roll-out of an accredited programme in the
community (Think First). Each EPTM has a lead
role for a specific programme and are part of the
Regional Training Consortia.

The lead EPTM for IDAP is Penny Rickman from

the East of England Training Consortium and for
CDVP it is Mary Smith from the North East
Consortium and Jon Lear from the North West
Consortium.

11
08: WOMEN SAFETY WORK
Women Safety Work is a highly skilled and
professional role and is central to the design of
IDAP and CDVP in contributing to the overall
effect on reduction of risk to women and children.
As programmes started to run, the complexity of
this role became even more apparent and
exceeded the original plans made centrally to
support the training and development of women
engaged in this role.
Women needed a well developed awareness of
the effects of Domestic Violence, an
understanding of how to put the manual into
practice (including a good grasp of relevant
legislation and the role of other organisations) as
well as an understanding of the men’s
programme. The role has been well developed
and integrated within some Areas but we realised
that this was not always reflected in the support
or understanding of the Women Safety Worker
role nationally.
In order to address this, a three day training pack
was commissioned nationally to reach all Women
Safety Workers. The initial six training events ran
throughout the country and attempted to capture
many of the existing Women Safety Work staff.
A recent ‘Training the Trainer’ event (week of 9
July in York), passed on the training pack to
regional trainers (most of whom are established
Women Safety Workers) who will form a resource
for new Women Safety Workers and those who
may have missed the opportunity of the national
training.
Work is currently underway to establish a
workbook and qualification which can accompany
this training and further acknowledge this
important and essential role. We are committed to
continue to disseminate best practice from Areas
regarding the organisation of Women Safety
Workers within the overall Domestic Violence
programme structure.
12
Send any helpful examples of
good practice to:
Penny Rickman, Effective Practice Regional
Training Manager, East of England Region
Email: Penny.Rickman@
essex.probation.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 07903 747545
or
Phil Mackin. NOMS Interventions &
Substance Abuse Unit
Email: Philip.Mackin@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7217 8044
09: FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS TRAINING
The Fundamental Skills training package was
developed as one of a number of initiatives to be
taken forward under the NOMS Joint Sex Offender
Assessment and Treatment Strategy. One of the
principal objectives of this is to work towards end-
to-end management of sex offender treatment.
The new Fundamental Skills training was jointly
written by the Probation Service and Prison
Service, led by Elizabeth Hayes (NOMS), David
Middleton (NOMS) and Chris Dean (HMPS). The
aim was to merge the Probation Service’s
Foundation Skills training and the Prison Service’s
old Fundamental Skills training whilst updating both
packages with latest research and current
knowledge of best practice. The structure and
content were designed jointly and differences in
current practice between the two Services
acknowledged. There have now been several pilots
of this training. The package has been adjusted
following these events to accommodate feedback
and issues that have emerged. Overall feedback on
the training has been positive, particularly regarding
its emphasis on practising skills. The first fully
combined event is due to be rolled out in early
September. This consists of 2 separate events
running simultaneously, with a total of 64 training
places, to be delivered by 10 trainers. Practice
delivery sessions take place in syndicate groups of
8 participants, each led by 1 trainer.
In order to plan for this, a Train the Trainer event
was held for both Probation and Prison Service
trainers in June 2007. The overall success of this
event (one of the first fully joint training events)
was the active willingness of the group to work
together, acknowledging each others’ strengths.
The group predominantly saw this event as an
interesting and exciting opportunity. Many of the
trainers referred to sharing experiences across
the services and understanding each others’
practice as a key benefit of the training.
There was support for the new training package
and its contents, with minor suggestions for
improvement. The participants were all
experienced trainers for other programmes so
were usefully able to develop ideas and potential
solutions for identified problems, drawing on their
extensive combined experience.
In response to queries raised by the trainers’
group, comprehensive guidance has since been
jointly drawn up by Chris Dean (HMPS) and Anita
McLeod (NOMS) to assist trainers in assessing
individuals from each others’ service, and trainers
are looking forward to putting this into practice.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Elizabeth Hayes, NOMS Interventions &
Substance Abuse Unit
Email: Elizabeth.Hayes6@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7217 8401
Anita McLeod, NOMS Interventions &
Substance Abuse Unit
Email: Anita.McLeod@
northumbria.probation.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7217 8211
13
10: RELAPSE PREVENTION PROVISION
WITHIN COMMUNITY SEX OFFENDER
TREATMENT PROGRAMMES
The Relapse Prevention elements of all 3 core
community SOTPs have recently undergone
revision. This has been done in order to
accommodate emerging research on the Good
Lives Model, in addition to addressing a range of
previous delivery issues. A further consideration
has been to facilitate more seamless transition for
offenders between programmes in custody and in
the community. Similar revision has been
undertaken with Prison Service programmes
provision.
The first of the community revisions, for the
Northumbria Sex Offender Groupwork Programme
(NSOGP) was accredited by the Correctional
Services Accreditational Panel and a briefing
event was held for trainers in June 2007. The aim
of the briefing was to enable trainers to lead
conversion events for existing facilitators, which
are to be rolled out over the next few months.
Trainers have subsequently retooled existing
materials for training both new facilitators and new
offender managers in the programme. A guidance
briefing is to be issued to existing offender
managers, to advise them of these changes.
The relapse prevention revisions for the other
two core community SOTPs (TV-SOGP and
C-SOGP) are due to be submitted to the Panel on
16th October 2007. Provided that these receive
successful accreditation, the aim is for these to be
similarly rolled out over the next few months.
An additional briefing event to develop all
facilitators’ understanding of the Good Lives
Model is being planned for February 2008, in
conjunction with a change over to the new
relasped prevention provision for community
FOTPs.
FURTHER INFORMATION areas via a Gateway communication to Chief
Elizabeth Hayes, NOMS Interventions & Officers, issued in mid-July 2007 and will be
Substance Abuse Unit reinforced to SARN writers through the planned
Email: Elizabeth.Hayes6@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk training schedule.
Tel: 020 7217 8401
FURTHER INFORMATION
Anita McLeod, NOMS Interventions & Elizabeth Hayes, NOMS Interventions &
Substance Abuse Unit Substance Abuse Unit
Email: Anita.McLeod@ Email: Elizabeth.Hayes6@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
northumbria.probation.gsi.gov.uk Tel: 020 7217 8401
Tel: 020 7217 8211
Anita McLeod, NOMS Interventions &
Substance Abuse Unit
11: POST PROGRAMME REPORTS Email: Anita.McLeod@
FOR SOTP’S northumbria.probation.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7217 8211
PC 09/07 advised that the deadline for completion
of all post-programme reports was 2 weeks after
the end of the core programme, in order to count
as a completion. It further advised that post-
programme reports should be sent to Offender
Managers within 3 weeks of the end of the core
programme.

PC 17/07 then advised areas of the intention

to move from the previous format of post-
programme reports for SOTPs to the Structured
Assessment of Risk and Need (SARN) post-
treatment report (once staff have been suitably
trained), in order to align community treatment
programmes more closely with prison-based
accredited programmes.

However, it was recognised that post-treatment

reports for SOTPs (both the old post-programme
report format and the new SARN format) are
more substantive and relate to a longer period of
treatment than for other accredited programmes.
Therefore, a longer timescale needs to be
allowed.

In recognition of this, the deadline for completion

of SARN post-treatment reports and sending
these to Offender Managers has now been
extended to 6 weeks. This was communicated to

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