Restorative Justice Stakeholder Group: terms of reference

Background 

The Scottish Government has committed to have Restorative Justice services widely available across Scotland by 2023, with the interests of victims at their heart. Safe delivery of the service at point of use will be a key underlying principle.

The Scottish Government published the Restorative Justice Action Plan in June 2019 explaining how this will be achieved. The Vision set out in the plan is:

‘Restorative Justice is available across Scotland to all those who wish to access it, and at a time that is appropriate to the people and case involved. Approaches taken are consistent, evidence-led, trauma informed and of a high standard. This seeks to ensure the needs of persons harmed and their voices are central, and supports a reduction in harmful behaviour across our communities.’

The first action identified in the Restorative Justice Action Plan is to establish a Stakeholder Group. This paper sets out the Group’s Terms of Reference.

Stakeholder Group remit

The remit of the Stakeholder Group is to advise on and oversee delivery of the actions contained in the Restorative Justice Action Plan. It will do this by:

• working collaboratively and having oversight of work of RJ co-ordinators
• providing advice about, supporting, and managing delivery of agreed actions
• scrutinising delivery of actions, to ensure consistency of service as RJ is rolled out Collectively measuring and demonstrating impact against the RJ action Plan
• identifying sources of data and information to inform a robust, consistent evidence picture, and support monitoring of delivery
• co-producing core questions and developing standardised data collections processes that build on (where appropriate) existing systems and practice
• considering and helping to address any practical challenges presented as a result of actions agreed at an operational level
• assessing and advising on resource challenges, and identifying options for how these can be addressed

Key initial priorities for the Stakeholder Group are: 

• mapping existing availability of RJ in Scotland
• identifying and securing appropriate and specified delivery models  
• completion of a Training Needs Analysis (once models agreed)
• developing standardised data collection 
• raising awareness

Membership

Membership of the Stakeholder Group has been drawn from key organisations that will be involved with the development and delivery of restorative justice in Scotland. Membership is on an organisational basis:

• Community Justice Scotland 
• Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• COSLA
• Police Scotland
• Restorative Justice Forum 
• SACRO
• SCOREscotland
• Scottish Government
• Scottish Prison Service
• Scottish Women’s Aid
• Turning Point
• Victim Support Scotland
• Children's and Young People's Centre for Justice
• National Youth Justice Advisory Group 
• Social Work Scotland 
• Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration 
• Children’s Hearings Scotland 
• Judiciary

Working method 

The working methods for the group will be as follows:

• members are expected to send representative(s) to all meetings, which will [be held quarterly]
• organisations’ can choose to send different representative(s) with appropriate knowledge and skills to meetings, depending on matters on Agenda
• attendees should be of an appropriate decision-making level
• members will communicate and consult with colleagues in their organisations prior to and following meetings of the group
• members will be responsible for timely completion of actions allocated to them

Duration

The Stakeholder Group will meet until the Restorative Justice Action Plan has been delivered – i.e. until at least 2023.