Scottish Advisory Panel on Offender Rehabilitation (SAPOR): biennial report 2020 - 2022

4. Overview of 2020-2021 to 2021-2022

COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, SAPOR played a crucial role in collaborating with various justice partners to adapt and ensure the continued effectiveness of offender rehabilitation programme and interventions. The pandemic presented unique challenges, as the justice system needed to maintain its operations while also safeguarding the health and well-being of both offenders and those working within the justice system.

These challenges included:

• Adapting to Remote Services: SAPOR, in cooperation with justice partners, swiftly pivoted to support and promote the use of remote services and interventions. This transition was essential to ensure that rehabilitation efforts could continue while adhering to social distancing and public health guidelines.
• Guidance and Standards: SAPOR provided updated guidance and standards to justice partners to ensure that remote interventions met the necessary criteria for effectiveness and safety. This was particularly important in situations where in-person sessions were not possible.
• Support for Frontline Workers: SAPOR collaborated with justice partners to provide support and resources for frontline workers who were delivering interventions. This support ranged from offering advice in virtual intervention techniques to addressing the unique challenges of remote supervision and support.
• Flexibility and Innovation: In response to the evolving nature of the pandemic, SAPOR and justice partners demonstrated flexibility and innovation. New methods, tools, and technologies were explored to enhance the delivery of rehabilitation programme and maintain their quality.

The collaborative efforts of SAPOR with justice partners during the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the resilience and adaptability of the criminal justice and rehabilitation systems. By working together, they not only managed to continue their essential services but also laid the foundation for a more agile and responsive approach to offender rehabilitation in the face of unprecedented challenges.

Endorse Function

SAPOR considered the implementation of an "Endorse Function," a hallmark of good practice for community justice initiatives and interventions that promote rehabilitation and support desistance. The aim was to provide recognition and wider dissemination of effective practices within community settings. However, after a thorough evaluation, SAPOR decided not to adopt this function for specific reasons:

• Programme vs. Practice: One of the central considerations was the distinction between programme and practices. SAPOR traditionally focused on accrediting offender programme that followed structured curricula. While these programmes could be rigorously evaluated and accredited, practices within community justice settings often encompass a broader array of interventions, including case management, counselling, support services, and various other methods. Determining uniform standards for such diverse practices presented a significant challenge.
• Accreditation vs. Endorsement: SAPOR's core function had been programme accreditation. While the Endorse Function aimed to recognise and endorse good practices, it was distinct from the accreditation process. SAPOR recognised that endorsing practices within the community justice sector required a separate set of criteria and evaluation parameters than the accreditation of structured programme.
• Diversity of Practices: The community justice sector is characterised by a wide range of diverse practices and interventions. These practices can vary significantly depending on the local context, resources, and the unique needs of the individuals involved. Creating a single set of endorsement criteria that could encompass this diversity was a complex task.
• Quality and Consistency: SAPOR understood the importance of promoting good practices within community justice, but it recognised the challenge of ensuring consistent quality across such a wide spectrum of interventions. Without rigorous accreditation criteria, there was a concern that endorsed practices might vary significantly in quality.
• Resource Constraints: The implementation and maintenance of an Endorse Function would require additional resources. SAPOR needed to carefully consider how these resources would be allocated and whether they could be better used to strengthen existing accreditation processes.

While SAPOR decided not to adopt the Endorse Function, it remained committed to promoting good practice in community justice. The decision was made with the intention of ensuring that the Panel's efforts continued to align with its core function of accrediting offender programme and that the best approach for endorsing and recognising diverse practices within community settings could be explored through collaboration with relevant partners, including CJS. This decision allowed SAPOR to focus its resources on its core mission while also fostering collaboration to advance rehabilitation and support desistance within the Scottish Justice System.

Accreditation of the Ultimate Self Programme

SAPOR is proud to provide an overview of our recent accreditation efforts concerning the Ultimate Self Programme, developed by the Scottish Prison Service. This initiative holds significant importance as it is tailored to address the unique responsivity needs of women in custody.

The Ultimate Self Programme is an offender rehabilitation programme meticulously designed to support participants in comprehending the nature of their offending behaviour. Its central goal is to equip individuals with effective strategies to reduce the risk of reoffending, thus promoting a more rehabilitative and secure environment.

Our Panel, in collaboration with justice partners and experts, has undertaken a thorough process of accrediting the Ultimate Self Programme. This rigorous evaluation ensures that the program meets the highest standards of evidence-based practices and is aligned with the principles of effective offender rehabilitation.

The accreditation of the Ultimate Self Programme not only reflects our commitment to fostering safer communities but also highlights the programme's dedication to addressing the specific needs of women in custody. SAPOR remains devoted to its mission of reducing reoffending and promoting rehabilitation, and we are pleased to contribute to the ongoing success of the Ultimate Self Programme.