National strategy for community justice: delivery plan update 2 – March 2024

Table of deliverables

Aim 1: Optimise the use of diversion and intervention at the earliest opportunity

Priority Action 1: Enhance intervention at the earliest opportunity by ensuring greater consistency, confidence in and awareness of services which support the use of direct measures and diversion from prosecution

No 1

Deliverable

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Timescale

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Responsibility

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Further detail

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Update

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Status

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

No 2

Deliverable

Launch and support the embedding of updated Diversion from Prosecution Guidelines.

This will take into account the Drugs Death Taskforce Report and the ‘Joint review of diversion from prosecution’ report.

Timescale

October 2023

Responsibility

Lead partner - Community Justice Scotland

In collaboration with - members of the Diversion from Prosecution Review Group, including the

Scottish Government, third sector, COPFS, Centre for Youth and Children and Young People's Centre for Justice (CYCJ), Local Authorities, Social Work Scotland and

Police Scotland

Further detail

To ensure awareness of the roles of each partner involved, and to embed more consistent processes to diversion from prosecution, the Review Group will consider reflecting the following in the updated Guidelines:

• articulating the responsibilities of each partner agency in relation to diversion
• opportunities for joint training and awareness raising
• revising the documentation involved in diversion from prosecution and providing templates where appropriate.

Update

Members of the Diversion guidance group have continued to offer comments on the guidance, in the light of the recommendations from the thematic review. The work is also aligned to the Scottish Government led group on Diversion. Meetings have been arranged to finalise the guidance during the next quarter.

Status

Outstanding

No 3

Deliverable

Improve the sharing of information and communication between relevant justice organisations at key points of the diversion from prosecution process.

This will take account of the ‘Joint review of diversion from prosecution’ report.

Timescale

April 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - COPFS

In collaboration with - Police Scotland, Community Justice Scotland, Scottish Government and Local Authorities

Further detail

To enhance information sharing and communication, partners will consider:

• the provision of information on the factors which are driving offending behaviours, or health related matters, between Police Scotland and COPFS during initial decision making
• the flow of information at point of referral between COPFS and justice social work, in order to inform assessments
• communication between COPFS and justice social work in complex cases
• the flow of communication from COPFS to justice social work and the person on diversion at decision-making points
• appropriate participation within community justice partnerships.

Update

Work with Police Scotland to improve quality and consistency of information contained in police reports is ongoing as a priority. The agreement of processes to improve and make consistent the flow of information between prosecutors and local authorities is continuing as part of the review of the national guidelines on diversion. Relevant guidance and training for COPFS is under development. Engagement with Community Partnerships is being assisted with written bulletins and updates from the Crown on the use of diversion.

Status

In progress

Priority Action 2: Improve the identification of underlying needs and the delivery of support following arrest by ensuring the provision of person-centred care within police custody and building upon referral opportunities to services including substance use and mental health services.

No 4

Deliverable

Establish a Working Group that promotes best practice and works to drive an increase in referrals from police custody into support for mental health and wellbeing, addiction and other relevant services. This is with a view to longer term reduction in repeat offending and improved outcomes for individuals.

Timescale

January 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - Police Scotland

In collaboration with - Scottish Government, Community Justice Scotland, Local Authorities, third sector, National Police Care Network, and other relevant community partners

Further detail

The group will seek to ensure that a whole person/no wrong door approach is adopted and that it is understood at a national level what services are available for those in police custody, how referrals can be effective and how provision can best be delivered to address individual needs.

The working group will be cognisant of and will respond to potential changes to arrest referral due to changing information sharing requirements.

Update

Work to develop a new arrest referral pathway remains ongoing and the relaunch of the arrest referral scheme and subsequent working group remain on hold until this pathway has been established. Arrest referrals continue to take place via consent at this time, ensuring people within police custody continue to receive support and a full development plan has been developed and will be instigated once the new pathway is confirmed.

Status

Outstanding

No 5

Deliverable

Improve consistency across the country in the access to 24/7 specialist mental health assessments including in custody centres.

Timescale

December 2023

Responsibility

Lead partner - NHS Boards and Scottish Government

In collaboration with - Police Scotland, NHS Boards and third sector through the Unscheduled Care Collaborative

Further detail

This work is captured by the recent joint inspection of Custody Healthcare and Interventions by Health Improvement Scotland and HMICS.

This will help to improve consistency in accessing specialist mental health assessments for those persons in custody who require one.

It sits within a wider programme of work, with partners through the Urgent and Unscheduled Care Collaborative, to ensure that everyone with urgent mental health care needs get the right help, in the right place, at the right time. This is creating national and local routes to ensure people in emotional crisis or distress and those in need of urgent care are assessed and supported, regardless of how they access services.

The Scottish Government will publish a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy in Summer 2023, with an accompanying delivery plan published in Autumn. The new strategy will allow us to look ahead to make sure we are doing the right things to meet changing mental health needs over the coming years. It will set out a clear vision for future population mental health, wellbeing and care; and our priorities to help us get there.

Update

The Scottish Government is continuing to work with Police Scotland and Health Partners to improve access to 24/7 mental health assessments. The implementation of the Police Scotland Mental Health Matrix will assist and this is currently with the Police Scotland Executive Team for clearance.

Status

Outstanding

No 6

Deliverable

Ensure that the number of custody support intervention champions is maintained or increases, and they all have access to training on Trauma Informed Practice and Motivational Interviewing. This training should subsequently be rolled out to all custody staff.

Timescale

January 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - Police Scotland

In collaboration with - NHS Boards and third sector

Further detail

This approach should encourage arrest referral, and ensure that a person-centred, trauma-informed approach is taken in police custody.

The Scottish Government and COSLA have a shared ambition for a trauma-informed and responsive workforce and services across Scotland, supported by investment in a National Trauma Training Programme, led by NHS Education for Scotland (NES). A trauma-informed approach can support anyone affected by trauma by reducing the risk of causing further harm or re-traumatisation (by offering a different experience of relationships, one in which people are offered safety rather than threat, choice rather than control, collaboration rather than coercion, and trust rather than mistrust).

Police Scotland is reviewing the impact of this training, with a view to rolling it out to all custody staff.

More broadly, work will continue through the National Trauma Training Programme and network of trauma lead officers and trauma champions across local authorities, health boards and community planning partners to support the implementation of trauma-informed systems, organisations and workforces. This will be supported by the forthcoming publication of a new Quality Improvement Framework, developed by the Scottish Government, COSLA, NHS Education for Scotland and the Improvement Service.

Update

A recruitment process for additional Custody Support and Intervention Champions is underway, with a view to having them in place ready to support the arrest referral relaunch once the new pathway is confirmed.

Criminal Justice Services Division (CJSD) continue to support the uptake of the NES Trauma Informed training package by all custody officers and staff, however monitoring of compliance is currently a challenge due to it being an external provider. Police Scotland are also in the process of developing an internal training package.

Status

Outstanding

No 7

Deliverable

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Standards 1-5, will be implemented in all local areas, including in justice settings.

Timescale

April 2025

Responsibility

Lead partner - Public Health Scotland

In collaboration with - Scottish Government, NHS Boards, Police Scotland, SPS, Community Justice Scotland, Local Authorities and Alcohol and Drugs Partnerships, third sector and individuals with lived and living experience

Further detail

The MAT Standards are evidence based standards to enable the consistent delivery of safe, accessible, high-quality drug treatment across Scotland. These are relevant to people and families accessing or in need of services, and health and social care staff responsible for delivery of recovery oriented systems of care.

The MAT Standards are being embedded and mainstreamed, including in justice settings, both community and custody.

Integration Authorities have been directed by the Scottish Ministers to implement MAT Standards 1-5 in community settings by April 2023 to be followed by implementation of all standards, including 6-10, in community settings by April 2024 and to have all standards implemented in justice settings by April 2025.

Update

MAT standards Implementation Support Team (MIST) in Public Health Scotland hosted the seminar on MAT in justice settings in March 2024 and began developing implementation toolkits for publication in June 2024.

Status

In progress

No 42

Deliverable

Develop an action plan to respond the findings of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland Thematic Review of the servicing of mental health demand on policing published in October 2023.

Timescale

November 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner -

Scottish Government, Police Scotland and Scottish Police Authority

In collaboration with - the Policing and Mental Health Partnership Delivery Group.

Further detail

This deliverable will build on the work undertaken as part of deliverable 5 to support police officers in circumstances where a person presents experiencing distress or a mental health crisis and may need specialist intervention. These new actions aim to continue to reduce the need for police officers to respond to mental health incidents by directing people to more appropriate care settings and improving the transfer of care.

Update

The Scottish Police Authority, Police Scotland and Scottish Government have established a Mental Health and Policing Partnership Delivery Group, with other key partners represented. Drafting of a workplan that encompasses the range of activity both within and across partner organisations to respond to the HMICS recommendations on Mental Health and Policing is underway.

The Scottish Government has also committed to undertaking a national review of Psychiatric Emergency Plans to help define Police Scotland and other partner roles and to develop a more consistent approach across Scotland.

Status

In progress

Aim 2: Ensure that robust and high-quality community interventions and public protection arrangements are consistently available across Scotland

Priority Action 3: Support the use of robust alternatives to remand by ensuring high quality bail services are consistently available and delivered effectively

No 8

Deliverable

Ensure bail supervision services are available in all Local Authorities and that electronic monitoring of bail is introduced across Scotland.

Timescale

December 2023

Revised in update 1 to June 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - Local Authorities

In collaboration with - Social Work Scotland, third sector and Scottish Government

Further detail

National Guidance and additional funding has been provided to support this deliverable, which will improve the options for alternatives to remand available to the judiciary across Scotland.

Update

Bail supervision services are now available in all local authorities across Scotland.

All local authorities now offer electronically monitored bail (EM bail) with the exception of Western Isles, who are planning to introduce it as soon as possible.

Status

In progress (with revised timescale)

No 9

Deliverable

Increase levels of suitability assessments for bail supervision and electronically monitored (EM) bail.

Timescale

December 2023

Revised in update 1 to January 2025

Responsibility

Lead partner - Local Authorities

In collaboration with - Social Work Scotland and Scottish Government

Further detail

The suitability assessment process is undertaken by Local Authority justice social work services, who will provide statistical returns to evidence levels of suitability assessments undertaken. The process is supported by National Guidance for Bail Supervision and National Guidance for EM bail, and following collaboration by Scottish Government, Social Work Scotland, RMA, justice social work and Community Justice Scotland an amalgamated suitability assessment template has been introduced.

Update

SG has now started to collect more detailed information on bail supervision cases commenced and assessment reports, as part of the justice social work statistical collection.

This data is currently classified as “official statistics in development”, and will continue to be monitored, allowing progress against this deliverable to be tracked.

It is acknowledged that increasing assessments alone does not display the full picture of progress. However, assessment numbers provide a good proxy measure, and collecting this data will enable us to track progress.

Status

In progress (with revised timescale)

No 10

Deliverable

Identify further areas for action, in line with proposals in the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill, to strengthen alternatives to remand across Scotland and build adequate capacity and resilience locally.

Timescale

April 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with - justice partners, Community Justice Scotland, victims’ organisations, third sector, and Local Authority representatives through the Alternatives to Remand Reference Group

Further detail

The short life Alternatives to Remand Reference Group was established to provide expertise and operational insight to inform the proposed areas for action in relation to the future development of alternatives to remand.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with key stakeholders to drive forward areas of action to strengthen the availability, effectiveness and confidence in alternatives to remand in Scotland.

This will include consideration of justice social work and other community justice services capacity and other associated pressures currently being faced, including ongoing recovery from the COVID pandemic.

Update

The Strengthening Alternatives to Remand project group has now identified and will co-ordinate priority actions to drive forward improvements in the availability, consistency and effectiveness of alternatives to remand. Prioritisation has been informed by engagement with partners across the justice sector.

This work will be progressed under deliverable 43.

Status

Complete

No 43

Deliverable

Progress identified actions to strengthen the consistency, availability and effectiveness of bail services across Scotland.

Timescale

April 2026

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with - justice partners, Community Justice Scotland, victims’ organisations, third sector, and Local Authority representatives through the Strengthening Alternatives to Remand project group

Further detail

This deliverable builds on work undertaken as part of deliverable 10 and is being progressed by the Strengthening Alternatives to Remand project group.

As well as continuing to identify areas for further improvement, the project group will progress the following identified actions:

• Develop and deliver practice training on bail services for Justice Social Work, and design informational materials to build awareness of services among key partners;
• Review the bail assessment process to identify areas for improvement, and publish updated guidance if required;
• Explore the feasibility of providing more focused support for people on bail, through collaboration with third sector partners.

Update

The project group is in the process of scoping partners’ training needs, which will inform the design of training products.

A sub-group has been established to review the bail assessment process, and next steps for this work have been identified.

Mapping of third sector services which provide support to those on bail is underway.

Status

In progress

Priority Action 4: Strengthen options for safe and supported management in the community by increasing the use of electronic monitoring technologies

No 11

Deliverable

Engage with justice partners to explore the viability of new technologies and policy uses, including location monitoring.

Timescale

April 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with - Local Authorities, Police Scotland, Community Justice Scotland, SCTS, SPS, Social Work Scotland and the electronic monitoring service provider

Further detail

New technologies or uses have the potential to provide alternative monitoring capabilities and increase the range of community alternatives available to courts and SPS across Scotland.

Update

Detailed discussions have taken place with SPS, G4S and other partners around the model of operation. Pilot success criteria have been developed, draft regulations drafted, contractual requirements drafted, and kit levels modelled.

The implementation of this work will be taken forward under deliverable 44.

Status

Complete

No 12

Deliverable

Work with key stakeholders to explore options to optimise the operating model for Home Detention Curfew (HDC) for short-term prisoners. We will seek to achieve this by examining and reviewing current practice, the risk assessment process, the application process, as well as key decision points and the statutory operating protocol.

Timescale

June 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with - SPS, RMA and relevant justice partners

Further detail

The Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Act 2023 removes long-term prisoners from the HDC process and introduces a new temporary release licence for that cohort which focuses both on providing more opportunities for structured testing and the provision of further evidence to the Parole Board to inform their decision on whether to recommend release on parole. Release on this licence will be underpinned by risk assessment and consultation with the Parole Board and is intended to support successful reintegration.

HDC remains an important and recognised part of the re-integration process, allowing eligible individuals a supported return to the community in the lead up to their release. Ensuring it operates optimally and functions as intended is critical to its use.

Therefore, short-term prisoners will continue to access HDC and the planned review will explore if any changes to the existing HDC process could better support the re-integration opportunities for this cohort.

Update

Work continues with SPS, RMA, JSW and others to take forward a programme of work to optimise the appropriate use of HDC across the prison estate. This work is supported by the HDC Task and Action Group which meets fortnightly.

Status

In progress

No 44

Deliverable

Engage with justice partners around the implementation of new technologies and policy uses, including GPS location monitoring.

Timescale

December 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with - Local Authorities, Police Scotland, Community Justice Scotland, SCTS, SPS, Social Work Scotland and the electronic monitoring service provider

Further detail

New technologies or uses have the potential to provide additional monitoring capabilities and increase the range of community alternatives available to courts and SPS across Scotland.

This deliverable will build on the work undertaken as part of deliverable 11.

Update

Regular delivery meetings with G4S and Scottish Government Legal Directorate stood up, aim of running from after summer challenging but still our target.

Status

In progress

Priority Action 5: Ensure that those given community sentences are supervised and supported appropriately to protect the public, promote desistence from offending and enable rehabilitation by delivering high quality, consistently available, trauma-informed services and programmes

No 13

Deliverable

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Timescale

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Responsibility

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Further detail

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Update

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Status

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

No 14

Deliverable

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Timescale

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Responsibility

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Further detail

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Update

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Status

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

No 15

Deliverable

Complete an evidence review of the current justice social work landscape.

Timescale

March 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with - third sector, Care Inspectorate, RMA, COSLA, Community Justice Scotland, Scottish Association of Social Workers, and Social Work Scotland

Further detail

This will help inform a decision on whether justice social work will be included in the National Care Service (NCS) or not. It will also review what is working well and what improvements could be made to justice social work arrangements with consideration given on how this will strengthen community justice as a whole. Alongside other relevant deliverables, the identified actions which emerge from this research will form part of a coordinated programme of work aimed at supporting the development of justice social work services the short, medium and longer term.

Update

The Justice social work research report has been published. The findings are being utilised to support both ongoing discussions regarding JSW and the NCS, a series of broader actions to support the development of services.

Status

Complete

No 16

Deliverable

Complete a review of the principles which underpin the justice social work funding formula which is used to distribute over £100m of community justice in funding annually across 32 Local Authorities. This will help inform the future development of the formula and distribution methodology, including identifying areas for improvement.

This work over the next 12 to 18 months will be led by the Community Justice Funding Review Group (FRG).

Timescale

December 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with - Community Justice Scotland, Social Work Scotland, COSLA, and third sector

Further detail

This deliverable will contribute to ongoing efforts to ensure that consistent, high quality community justice services are available across Scotland, with a continued emphasis on encouraging a shift from custody to community interventions.

This work will include consideration of any particular issues currently impacting on the distribution of justice social work funding and any opportunities which may arise in advance of a more significant review of the funding formula (for example, in relation to the impact of the pandemic and ongoing recovery efforts on workloads).

Update

The sub-group are continuing work on reviewing the future distribution methodology for funding JSW. The work has progressed to modelling a short-list of options and these will be used to support consultation with stakeholders later this year.

Status

In progress

No 17

Deliverable

Work with key stakeholders to develop a programme of work to support development of Trauma Responsive Social Work Services. This includes a programme of implementation support and training for social work services, including justice social work.

Timescale

April 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with - the Trauma Responsive Social Work Services Partnership Delivery Group and Expert Advisory Group

Further detail

The Office of the Chief Social Work Adviser (OCSWA) has appointed a Programme Lead to work with key stakeholders to ensure Scotland’s social work services are able to recognise where people are affected by trauma, and to respond in ways which reduce risks of retraumatising and supports recovery.

OCSWA are working closely with the Scottish Government’s Trauma, ACES and Resilience Unit, NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and the Improvement Service to ensure this work aligns with the National Trauma Training Programme.

Update

Work recently concluded to provide trauma skilled practice training to over 200 newly qualified social workers (NQSWs), from October 2023 to March 2024. This has been evaluated and the team are working with local leads across Scotland to provide this offer again over the next year to NQSWs who have recently or are due to qualify. Work to embed this training and follow up support into the mandatory supported year for newly qualified social workers is progressing.

Work continues to progress with the four early implementation sites engaged with the implementation support and learning programme. Work to create the right conditions with local leaders is underway, with workshops and learning sessions scheduled with leaders from May through summer. Workshops and learning sessions are currently being scheduled for wider workforces in scope from August. Training materials and learning products have been developed and are currently being finalised by the team.

The National Trauma Transformation Programme website provides more information on the workplan, delivery of implementation support and learning programme, and our work with newly qualified social workers.

Status

In progress

No 18

Deliverable

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Timescale

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Responsibility

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Further detail

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Update

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Status

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

No 19

Deliverable

Pilot an assessment method for individuals who commit offences relating to indecent images of children (IIOC).

Timescale

June 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - RMA

In collaboration with - Scottish Government and Local Authorities

Further detail

This will involve work on the IIOC Framework.

Update

Progress report has now been sent to Scottish Government. The National Strategic Group will be considering the next steps on this work, including what the current approaches to risk assessment offer if there are not to be changes following this pilot.

Status

In progress

Priority Action 6: Ensure restorative justice is available across Scotland to all those who wish to access it by promoting and supporting the appropriate and safe provision of available services

No 20

Deliverable

Increase knowledge and awareness of restorative justice and ability to direct people to appropriate restorative justice services as and when these become available.

Timescale

April 2025

Responsibility

Lead partner - Community Justice Scotland

In collaboration with - Children's and Young People's Centre for Justice (CYCJ), Scottish Government and community justice statutory partners including Local Authorities and Police Scotland

Further detail

The model for delivery of restorative justice in Scotland requires an effective link with community justice partners, facilitated by local partnerships and local communities to support implementation.

This deliverable aims to support the implementation of the wider commitment to have restorative justice services available across Scotland to all those who wish to access it, at a time that is appropriate to the people and case involved.

Update

Work undertaken as part of this deliverable includes:

• Test cases completed within Shetland. CJS evaluations commence May 2024.
• Further case agreed within East Lothian to be delivered by SACRO.
• Policy and Practice Framework provided to SG for comment. Amendments and additions provided by CYCJ.
• 2024/24 work plan developed.
• RJ animation (CJS/CYCJ) updated
• Development of the RJ Learning Module for hosting on CJS website. Launch on track for early May 2024 - this supports stakeholder knowledge and awareness.

Status

In progress

Aim 3: Ensure that services are accessible and available to address the needs of individuals accused or convicted of an offence

Priority Action 7: Enhance individuals’ access to health and social care and continuity of care following release from prison by improving the sharing of information and partnership-working between relevant partners

No 21

Deliverable

Identify opportunities for supporting continuity of care through the development of suitable Clinical IT solutions, facilitated via the Prisons Digital Health & Care Systems Provisioning Programme.

Timescale

Main changes to be delivered by 2025 with full implementation by 2028

Responsibility

Lead partner - Prisons Digital Health & Care Systems Provisioning Programme Board

In collaboration with - its key stakeholders including Scottish Government, NHS Boards and SPS

Further detail

Having considered the recommendations of an Outline Business Case, the Scottish Government will invest in the development of a suite of Clinical IT solutions for prisons that can be used interactively to support improvements to:

• patient management;
• prescribing and medicines administration;
• access to patient history at point of need; and
• provision of digital continuity of care for external contractors.

This work will commence in June 2023.

Update

The Clinical IT programme continues on track with a dedicated programme team and support from National Services Scotland as programme managers. The Programme Board will continue to meet monthly to drive forward the work with all suppliers and stakeholders.

Status

In progress

No 22

Deliverable

Develop and implement a revised Information Sharing Agreement between SPS and NHS Boards.

Timescale

April

2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - SPS

In collaboration with - NHS Boards and Local Authorities

Further detail

Where data on admissions and scheduled liberations is shared, this should enable community health and social care services to liaise with prison health care on admission and to prepare for and meet individual’s needs on release.

Scottish Government is also working with SPS and other stakeholders to identify improvements in processes related to social care in preparation for the National Care Service. This may include data sharing considerations.

Update

Personnel changes and vacancies within the SPS Health Team have impacted on capacity to deliver on concluding the review of the Information Sharing Agreement between SPS and NHS. Recruitment is now underway for 2 critical posts which will ease the pressures. It is anticipated that this can be progressed during Quarter 2 2024/25. In the meantime, the existing agreement remains extant.

Status

In progress

No 23

Deliverable

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Timescale

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Responsibility

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Further detail

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Update

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Status

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

No 24

Deliverable

Implement the revised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SPS and the NHS.

Timescale

January 2024

Revised in update 1 to

March 2024

Responsibility

Lead partners - NHS Boards via National Prison Care Network and SPS

Further detail

The MoU revision will provide improved clarity on the roles and responsibilities of each organisation and be the framework for partnership working and shared practices.

Update

The revised Memorandum of Understanding is currently being reviewed by parties’ legal teams and will be progressed once this has been completed.

Status

Outstanding

Priority Action 8: Ensure that the housing needs of individuals in prison are addressed consistently and at an early stage by fully implementing and embedding the Sustainable Housing on Release for Everyone (SHORE) standards across all local authority areas

No 25

Deliverable

Explore options for a potential pilot project to enhance the consistency and co-ordination of housing services for individuals leaving prison, in line with the SHORE standards, prior to their release from custody.

Timescale

August 2023

Revised in update 1 to

September 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with - SPS, Local Authorities, COSLA, ALACHO

Further detail

A potential pilot will explore what is needed to facilitate a more consistent approach amongst prisons and Local Authorities to assess and meet the housing needs of people in and leaving prison, which could inform future developments for wider co-ordination amongst Local Authorities and partner agencies.

Update

After the SHORE pilot was paused with City of Edinburgh Council, the pilot has been taken forward by Fife Council. The pilot has therefore been explored and will feed into the implementation of the SHORE standards. This deliverable is now complete.

Status

Complete

No 26

Deliverable

Continue to support the full implementation of SHORE standards across all prisons and LA areas – including the development of multi-agency arrangements amongst local housing providers (and other public services and third sector organisations).

Timescale

August 2024

Revised in update 2 to December 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with - SPS, Local Authorities, COSLA, ALACHO and other relevant justice partners

Further detail

These arrangements should aim to address the housing and support needs of relevant individuals prior to release and describe the local processes between community justice partners and prisons.

The development should involve the creation of a standardised template to deliver a more collaborative and consistent approach to housing options advice and support. Arrangements should also use the evidence gathered from Local Authority and SPS mapping exercises, as well as any learning from a potential pilot. This work will feed into future discussions with sector stakeholders.

Update

Work to embed the SHORE standards across all prisons and local authority areas continues. This includes regular meetings with key stakeholders, SPS and local authority colleagues. Fife Council are undertaking a pilot project, which will feed into the implementation of the SHORE standards.

The timescale for this deliverable has been revised as a result of the change in pilot location (see deliverable 25).

Status

In progress (with revised timescale)

No 27

Deliverable

Publish refreshed and updated SHORE standards, which include a focus on a wider range of individuals, and articulating what ‘best practice’ looks like.

This will take into account learning from any potential pilot project, and multi-agency arrangements.

Timescale

November 2025

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with - SPS, Local Authorities, COSLA, ALACHO, Community Justice Scotland and other relevant justice partners

Further detail

Partners that developed the SHORE standards will have the opportunity to contribute to updating the SHORE documents to reflect subsequent developments.

As noted during the development of the SHORE standards, the guidance can be refreshed and developed to better recognise that every individual’s experiences and housing needs may be different, and that measures should be in place to respond effectively to an individual’s differing housing needs.

Update

Work is ongoing to refresh the SHORE standards in advance of a full update. This includes updating the standards to reflect new legislation, such as the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Act 2023.

Status

In progress

Priority Action 9: Enhance individuals’ life skills and readiness for employment by ensuring increased access to employability support through effective education, learning, training, career services and relevant benefit services

No 28

Deliverable

Develop a strategic framework to assist with the establishment of SPS Employability Advisory Boards.

This will take into account technological advances and a refreshed SPS Learning & Employability Strategy.

Timescale

April 2024

Revised in update 2 to November 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - SPS

In collaboration with - Local Authorities, Skills Development Scotland and third sector

Further detail

The establishment of Employability Advisory Boards will promote a more strategic approach to the provision of employability and learning support to people who are leaving custody.

To support this approach, a pilot will be launched across multiple areas which will involve prisons mapping available employability and learning services and undertaking needs assessments within local areas.

Local Authorities currently deliver Scottish Government funded employability services through No One Left Behind, which is an all age employability service working with partners at a local, regional and national level to deliver a person-centred service. All parties will work together to provide this inclusive service approach to individuals upon release from custody.

Update

The development of the strategic framework is nearing completion.

EABs continue to be developed in terms of organisations and employers supporting the Board.

SPS are working with Only a Pavement Away, who currently operate in England, to provide wraparound care/employment opportunities and have now employed a representative to start Mid-May in Scotland.

After the success of the HMP Low Moss event, the EABs are developing further employability events, including a construction and landscaping employability event in June.

Status

In progress (with revised timescale)

No 29

Deliverable

Community justice partnerships, Local Employability Partnerships and Employability Leads within Local Authorities should ensure that they are effectively integrated and aligned to ensure individuals are able to effectively access education and employability services.

Timescale

April 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - Local Authorities

In collaboration with - community justice statutory partners, including Skills Development Scotland and Social Work Scotland

Further detail

This will mean that a partner has a clearly defined and understood advocacy role within the employability pipeline and will be responsible for encouraging appropriate learning, employability and careers services referrals from community sentences and upon release from custody.

A key worker model is used by employability to ensure a holistic, person-centred approach to delivery. This approach works jointly with Local Authority staff who administer community sentences.

Individuals serving community sentences can access the Scottish Government Employability service No One Left Behind, and Skills Development Scotland have a number of resources which could be promoted to individuals serving community sentences and upon release from custody.

Aspects of this deliverable are also reflected within the Community Justice Improvement Tool.

Update

Our No One Left Behind Employability approach is available in all 32 Local Authority Area. This approach is person centred and tailored to suit individual needs. The service is integrated with other services within the Local Authority for both referrals and to ensure a holistic package of support is available.

Status

In progress

No 30

Deliverable

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Timescale

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Responsibility

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Further detail

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Update

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Status

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Priority Action 10: Enhance community integration and support by increasing and promoting greater use of voluntary throughcare and third sector services

No 31

Deliverable

Publish and embed updated operational guidance to justice social work for the delivery of throughcare services.

Timescale

February 2024

Revised in update 2 to September 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with - relevant justice partners including Community Justice Scotland, RMA, third sector, Social Work Scotland and community justice statutory partners, including Local Authorities and SPS

Further detail

This guidance will promote a more consistent approach to pre-release planning and the subsequent support offered to all individuals on their release from prison, by Local Authorities and partner agencies. It will focus on public protection, positive community reintegration and a reduction in further offending.

Update

Throughcare guidance has been shared with partners from the reference group and feedback has been received. Once the feedback has been applied to the current draft, it will be shared with further stakeholders including victims’ groups and voluntary groups before a period of testing.

The timescales have been revised in order to incorporate extensive comments and take into consideration the findings of the thematic review to Prison based social work and the HMIPS progression review.

Status

In progress (with revised timescale)

No 32

Deliverable

Review the provision of Third Sector Voluntary Throughcare services.

This will inform decisions for the future grant funding process for third sector voluntary throughcare provision and the way the provision will be organised in the future.

Timescale

April 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - Community Justice Scotland

In collaboration with - relevant justice partners including Scottish Government, third sector and community justice statutory partners, including Local Authorities and SPS

Further detail

This project will review current third sector voluntary throughcare provision by consulting and engaging with key stakeholders, service users and service providers. The project will also use research data and gathered evidence to ensure that future processes promote partnership working and consistency, whilst ensuring an individual’s needs are met on release.

Update

A new single national throughcare service, to be delivered by a partnership of voluntary sector organisations, will be commenced in April 2025 to replace the existing throughcare services provided by the Public Social Partnerships. The process for organisations to apply to deliver the new service will be open from April 2024.

Status

In progress

No 33

Deliverable

Continue to promote and enhance multi-agency pre-release planning and co-ordination of activities in support of throughcare. This requires more consistent information sharing practices and consideration of the movement of people between Local Authority and health board areas.

Timescale

December 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with - relevant justice partners including Community Justice Scotland, third sector, RMA, SPS, NHS Boards, Local Authorities and Social Work Scotland

Further detail

The review of guidance, as well as the commissioning project for third sector-delivered voluntary throughcare services, will highlight where any improvements are required.

Work within the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Bill, relating to pre-release planning, will also guide the development of practice and co-ordination during sentence and in the lead up to release from custody.

Update

Work remains ongoing with operational partners to support releases direct from court. Engagement has begun with key justice stakeholders to focus on touchpoints within the system and opportunities for improved data sharing. Consideration is also being given to the implementation of the release planning duty within the Bail and Release from Custody Act which will promote and enhance multi-agency work around throughcare support.

Status

In progress

No

No

Deliverable

Deliverable

Timescale

Timescale

Responsibility

Responsibility

Further detail

Further detail

Update

Update

Status

Status

Aim 4: Strengthen the leadership, engagement, and partnership working of local and national community justice partners

Priority Action 11: Deliver improved community justice outcomes by ensuring that effective leadership and governance arrangements are in place and working well, collaborating with partners and planning strategically

No 34

Deliverable

Implement the Community Justice Performance Framework, the Improvement Tool and the updated self-evaluation model for community justice.

Timescale

April 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - Community Justice Scotland, Care Inspectorate and Scottish Government

In collaboration with - statutory community justice partners and third sector

Further detail

The revised Community Justice Performance Framework (CJPF) and the accompanying Guidance and Technical Document (which provides information on how to use the outcomes and indicators in the CJPF) was published on 31 March 2023.

The Community Justice Improvement Tool was also published on the same date by Community Justice Scotland. This sets out the local evidence that will supplement the national indicator data. Local evidence will provide further context to the national indicators, and help to drive improvement and better understand performance in relation to the nationally determined outcomes.

The Care Inspectorate is also reviewing and updating the guide to self-evaluation for community justice in Scotland. “A self-evaluation guide to support quality improvement for community justice in Scotland” will be published and launched in 2023.

All three organisations will work together to embed and implement these documents in a way which ensures they are used to their maximum benefit, and to consider what additional work may be required to help achieve this.

Update

The data required for two of the outstanding national indicators included in the Community Justice Performance Framework has been sourced. The Guidance and Technical Notes that accompany the Framework has been updated to support Community Justice Partnerships use these new indicators as part of their reporting requirements. The trend data up to 2022-23 was supplied to Community Justice Partnerships in March.

Status

In progress

No 35

Deliverable

Work with stakeholders to identify steps that could be taken to increase resilience in the local model of coordination and delivery of community justice.

Timescale

April 2024

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with - Community Justice Scotland, COSLA and Local Authorities

Further detail

The Scottish Government will engage with a range of local community justice partners to understand whether there is additional action required to help support local community justice partners in achieving improved outcomes.

This may include work to understand whether additional guidance/learning could be provided on the use of the revised performance framework, and whether there are potential benefits to establishing greater consistency in the role of community justice coordinators (being mindful of the need to retain flexibility and ability to adapt to local needs and circumstances).

This will be taken forward in a way that does not duplicate the statutory duties of Community Justice Scotland, and will build on engagement that was previously undertaken with members of the Community Justice Network in 2019/20. It will also be mindful of the current staffing/resource pressures.

Update

Discussions with stakeholders have taken place to consider the viability and value in defining standardised role descriptions for local community justice co-ordinators, but in order to help retain flexibility at a local level it has been decided not to progress this.

The Community Justice Peer Network, comprising of community justice co-ordinators, has formed a working group to tackle issues commonly faced across local authorities. This working group is attended by representatives from COSLA, Community Justice Scotland and Scottish Government to help ensure cross organisational visibility, input and coordination.

Status

Complete

No 36

Deliverable

Publish and embed updated statutory guidance on community justice outcomes improvement planning and reporting.

Timescale

October 2023

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with - Community Justice Scotland, community justice statutory partners and third sector

Further detail

The Scottish Government will update the statutory guidance supporting statutory community justice partners to understand their roles within the Community Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 (as per s24 of the Act).

This refresh will also take into account best practice, and the role of statutory partners and the third sector working together at a local level.

Update

A consultation with partners on a draft version of the guidance has been completed and the feedback received is being considered. Finalised guidance will be published as soon as possible.

Status

Outstanding

No 37

Deliverable

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Timescale

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Responsibility

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Further detail

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Update

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

Status

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

No 45

Deliverable

Investigate feasibility of removing current ‘double ring-fencing’ funding from 2025-26 and undertake a formal funding review of Justice Social Work in 2025/26.

Timescale

October 2026

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with – COSLA,

Local Authorities and the Scottish Government Funding Review Group

Further detail

The NCS Justice Social Work research identified resourcing as a central theme for improvement, with action required to ensure sufficient resourcing to achieve key outcomes.

Update

Work is underway with COSLA via a joint Funding Review Group. The group is also considering options to increase flexibility within the current ring-fenced arrangements.

Status

In progress

No 46

Deliverable

Update the national outcomes and standards for Justice Social Work.

Timescale

October 2026

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with –

National Outcomes and Standards (NOS) Review Group

Further detail

The current National Outcomes and Standards (NOS) for justice social work are out of date and not reflective of current practice. This deliverable will update NOS to support consistency of service provision across Scotland, and provide increased support and clarity to practitioners.

Update

The NOS review group has held initial meetings and have established their terms of reference. They are currently considering an early draft of the first chapter.

Status

In progress

No 47

Deliverable

Establish a framework for consistently updating Justice Social Work operational guidance.

Timescale

October 2026

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with – Community Justice Scotland,

Justice Analytical Services

Further detail

Various pieces of operational guidance, owned by a variety of partners, are currently out of date. To support the workforce to continue to deliver quality practice, we will set out a framework for when guidance documents should be updated.

Update

We will conduct an initial review of all operational guidance to identify priorities. We will then work with stakeholders to establish the wider framework.

Status

In progress

No 48

Deliverable

Undertake a collaborative review to streamline funding reporting and monitoring arrangements for Justice Social Work.

Timescale

November 2026

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with – Funding Review Group

Further detail

A collaborative review is proposed to ensure there is no unnecessary duplication in national funding reporting and, where possible, to streamline reporting arrangements to support JSW managers and practitioners.

Update

A proposed plan and timeline for this work has been drafted and is undergoing review.

Status

In progress

No 49

Deliverable

Establish an ongoing Justice Social Work Practitioner forum.

Timescale

December 2025

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

Further detail

This deliverable will work to extend the Terms of Reference for the existing workforce panel to establish an ongoing practitioner advisory panel made up of JSW practitioners.

Update

Work is underway to consider continued resourcing and a revised terms of reference for an advisory group.

Status

In progress

No 50

Deliverable

Identify information required by Justice Social Work at both pre-conviction and pre-sentence stages in order to undertake court reports. Ensure any data sharing agreements required to allow for lawful sharing of this information are in place.

Timescale

March 2025

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with – Social Work Scotland, Police Scotland, Community Justice Scotland,

COPFS, SCTS,

Risk Management Authority.

Further detail

This deliverable will bring together key stakeholders from across the justice system to consider practice improvements and/or any digital solutions to provide JSW with information that would improve the quality of risk assessments and case management plans. With information from a range of sources, set within the context of past and current behaviours, JSW will be in a stronger position to review suitability for community-based disposals and increase judicial confidence in use of community sentences.

Update

A working group was established in January 2024 to take this forward. Following an initial scoping exercise the focus of the project has been agreed. A terms of reference and a plan of work established.

Status

In progress

Priority Action 12: Enhance partnership planning and implementation by ensuring the voices of victims of crime, survivors, those with lived experience and their families are effectively incorporated and embedded

No 38

Deliverable

Implement the Trauma Informed Justice Knowledge and Skills framework.

Timescale

December 2023

Revised in update 1 to

December 2027

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with - justice partners, including Community Justice Scotland, third sector and statutory community justice partners

Further detail

The framework will help justice organisations identify what their staff need to know when responding to victims of crime and witnesses in a trauma-informed way and will inform the development of consistent training in trauma-informed practice. It outlines the knowledge and skills for trauma informed practice needed by all people who work in the justice system to respond to victims and witnesses (including children and young people). It is also designed to support those responsible for the delivery of training to identify key learning objectives for different workforce roles, and to develop and deliver training accordingly.

Those with lived experience have been key to the development of the framework, and this is seen throughout the document.

The Scottish Government is providing additional funding to NHS Education for Scotland (NES) to support organisations implementing the framework. The Victims Taskforce and the relevant workstream will consider how we keep the voice of lived experience throughout the implementation phase.

Update

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) published the Trauma Informed Justice knowledge and skills framework in May 2023, followed by the roadmap for creating trauma-informed and responsive change in August 2023.

NES have produced a package of e-modules and workshop materials for use by the justice sector, and are delivering bespoke Scottish Trauma Informed Leaders Training sessions to justice partners. Additional e-modules are in production and are expected to be delivered by winter 2024.

The SG is working with the Victims Taskforce Workstream to develop an implementation plan to co-ordinate and monitor cross-system implementation of the Framework.

Status

In progress (with revised timescale)

No 39

Deliverable

Raise awareness of the ‘People at Heart’ approach to communications and the key principles.

Timescale

December 2023

Revised in update 1 to

December 2027

Responsibility

Lead partner - Scottish Government

In collaboration with - Community Justice Scotland, third sector and statutory community justice partners including, Police Scotland, SPS, SCTS

Further detail

A review of communications across the justice system was conducted, and a new approach was developed called ‘People at Heart’. The approach is focussed on improving communication between criminal justice agencies and victims and witnesses. It also focuses on ensuring that written communications are empathetic, easy to understand, and empowering, to better engage with victims and witnesses.

This is for anyone working across the justice system.

The Scottish Government will work with local partners and the Victims Taskforce to raise awareness of this work and share relevant materials.

Update

The First Word have created ‘People at Heart’, a person-centred, trauma-informed approach to communication that puts the needs of people affected by crime first. The approach has been co-developed by criminal justice agencies, third sector partners and people with lived experience. It has tailored to ensure it supports the trauma-informed knowledge and skills framework published by NES.

The First Word have worked with criminal justice agencies to rewrite communications. They have also created guidance, provided online training and developed digital learning for the justice agencies.

To support this work, the Victims Taskforce has established a new workstream to lead and drive implementation of the approach across the justice system.

The work to raise awareness of and implement the ‘People at Heart’ approach across the justice system will continue beyond March 2024. The timeline for this deliverable was therefore revised to December 2027.

Status

In progress (with revised timescale)

Priority Action 13: Support integration and reduce stigma by ensuring the community and workforce have an improved understanding of and confidence in community justice

No 40

Deliverable

Work to ensure that partners and the judiciary can more effectively access information on all relevant available services in each Local Authority area.

Timescale

June 2024

Responsibility

Lead partners - Scottish Government and Community Justice Scotland

In collaboration with - statutory community justice partners and third sector.

Further detail

Community Justice Scotland has an online resource which provides information about the range of community support services available in Scotland. The information is provided by local Community Justice Partnerships and collated by Community Justice Scotland.

It includes details on sentencing measures such as Community Payback Orders, Drug Treatment and Testing Orders, Structured Deferred Sentences, Bail Supervision, Third Sector Programmes and other relevant statutory services and interventions.

Part of this work will involve conducting a review to consider the best way of gathering information and ensuring an effective and up-to-date resource for partners. This may involve exploring and developing sustainable options for future hosting, resourcing and expansion of information on local community justice services.

Update

The Community Support Services Tool (CSST) Improvement Project plan has been implemented by Community Justice Scotland and work is underway to deliver key outcomes. This has involved actions around content development, data gathering/review and online advancement. Ongoing engagement continues with the Judiciary, the Criminal Justice Voluntary Sector Forum, and Local Community Justice Partnerships to support the achievement of this outcome.

Status

In progress

No 41

Deliverable

Ensure the continued awareness raising and promotion of the National Strategy for Community Justice.

Timescale

November 2026

Responsibility

Lead partner - Community Justice Scotland

In collaboration with - Scottish Government, statutory community justice partners and third sector

Further detail

Community Justice Scotland will continue to champion community justice by taking the lead in promoting the National Strategy for Community Justice. This will involve working collaboratively with national partners to drive change and support improvements in the community justice system, in line with the strategy and to increase public and community awareness and understanding of the benefits of community justice. This deliverable will be reviewed following the required review of the strategy in 2026.

Update

The Community Payback Order Annual Report 2022-23 was published and CJS worked with local areas and local news media to tell positive stories about people sentenced to a CPO and as well as community benefit from the work undertaken. This resulted in 11 local news stories across Scotland including Aberdeenshire, Moray, Perth and Kinross, Midlothian, South Lanarkshire and Fife.

CJS continues to promote priority action 4 regarding Electronic Monitoring, including through (i) articles to Scottish media outlets (ii) Partnering with G4S and the national EM champions to identify real-life stories (anonymous), which are published on the CJS website, (iii) Posting a series of new targeted myth busting content on social media, (iv) a dedicated learning hub on the CJS website and (v) presenting to sheriffs and associated colleagues at bespoke local and national events.

Based on marketing insight projects on attitudes towards community justice, a short film has been produced explaining community justice, the benefits, aims and impact it can have on everyone in the community. The script for ‘What is community justice’ was tested amongst stakeholders, peers and the public. This will be launched in FY2024/25 and used at in-person events, presentations and meetings as well as online.

Status

In progress