Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in Scotland: national overview report 2023-24

11. Social Work Scotland

Social Work Scotland is the professional body for social work leaders, working closely with partners to shape policy and practice, and improve the quality and experience of social work services.

The local authority is the Responsible Authority with primary responsibility for the management of individuals subject to statutory supervision in the community. This responsibility for the joint arrangements within a local authority lies primarily with the Chief Social Work Officer. However, other local authority services, such as housing, education and children and families, also have key duties in relation to this function.

As a Responsible Authority, the local authority is a key member of MAPPA SOGs and contributes to SCRs and implementing any related recommendations pertaining to practice, and adherence to legislation and guidance.

The local authority is also a key member of local Public Protection Chief Officer Groups, and Social Work Scotland is represented on the Scottish Government MAPPA NSG by the Chair of the Justice Standing Committee. The management of the vast majority of RSOs is Police led for the purposes of MAPPA, however, justice social work supervises and manages MAPPA Category 1 and 2 RSOs subject to Community Payback Orders (CPOs) and licences following release from prison. This requires having a capable, well-trained workforce in order to manage this range of individuals.

During 2023-2024, Justice Social Work have continued to:

• work in collaboration with other Responsible Authorities and DTC agencies to ensure the protection of the public;
• work with the Home Office and partners in relation to the development of MAPPS;
• provide justice social work reports and risk assessments to inform the court sentencing process;
• provide a throughcare service to prisoners released on statutory supervision including ongoing risk assessment, developing RMPs, contributing to the SPS’s ICM process and providing reports to the Parole Board for Scotland;
• deliver sexual offending programmes to individuals subject to CPOs and licences in the community.

Justice social work professionals are working collaboratively in contributing to the design, testing and training of the new MF2C programme. There were three local authorities that piloted the new programme. This included developing the intervention on release for those who have offended sexually and are assessed as highest risk and have undertaken the self-change programme in custody. A gradual roll-out of the programme is beginning across JSW, with each area scheduling their training. There is also early discussion around data collection.

Local authorities are also the lead Responsible Authority for MAPPA Category 3, Other Risk of Serious Harm Individuals. This includes people who are not required to comply with the Sex Offender Notification Requirements (SONR) and who are assessed by the Responsible Authorities as posing a high or very high risk of serious harm to the public (for example, people convicted of serious violent and domestic abuse related offences). As with RSOs, the local authority is responsible for holding the CPO or licence and for taking action to initiate breach proceedings with the court or the Parole Board where a person has breached their order or licence. This involves monitoring, management and targeted intervention to address offending and prevention of further offending. In certain cases, this will require recommending immediate recall to prison where there is an imminent risk of serious harm.

In addition, eight local authorities have been involved in the Indecent Images of Children (IIOC) pilot overseen by a multi-agency group and chaired by the RMA. The pilot concluded in June 2024 and research has been obtained which has allowed options for mainstreaming the assessments into court reports to be taken forward – with a final decision on these options expected later in the year.

Social Work Scotland has been involved with UK partners in the development of the MAPPS programme which will replace VISOR. Connectivity testing has taken place across three Local Authority areas. Issues continue to be addressed in relation to non-police personnel vetting and data protection impact statements. Planning around the implementation of MAPPS in Scotland is ongoing.

There continues to be learning in the post-covid period in relation to risk management, with justice social work providing access to a wide range of services despite staff shortages and workforce issues. The JSW contribution to public protection has involved being flexible, making best use of digital technology to maximise MAPPA processes and moving to online meetings where appropriate. SWS has also contributed, more generally, to discussions on public protection with Police Scotland, SG and other partners.

In relation to Terrorism and Counter Terrorism (TACT) JSW have been in the early stages of planning in Scotland. It should be noted that the TACT numbers in Scotland in custody are very low. There has been a workshop organised by Scottish Government where Home Office attended to look at the process in England and how this could be adapted for Scotland. Probation Service are the main agency in England and this will prove difficult to replicate over 32 JSW agencies. There is a further workshop and meetings arranged.

As part of SWS Justice committee there is a public protection subgroup which has an ongoing agenda to look at neurodivergence and aging prison population, including aging RSOs. Links are being established with the SWS Adult committee to engage in a piece of work to better understand the issues faced and how to overcome these.