Item 6 - Community Justice Partnership Update
West Dunbartonshire Council · 15 August 2024
Back to Community Planning West Dunbartonshire Management Board — 15 August 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Management Board Meeting Community Planning Partnership Highlights and Issues Report FOR INFORMATION ONLY X FOR DECISION Name of Partnership Community Justice Partnership Date of report 04/07/2024 Name and email of lead contact Lesley.James@west-dunbarton.gov.uk 1 Highlights of activity and progress since last meeting CJOIP CJ (Outcome Improvement Plan) The CJ outcome improvement plan was ratified at the May Community Justice Partnership with key outcomes focusing on: ➢ Arrest Referral Scheme ➢ Custody to community pathways ➢ Prevention and Early and Effective Intervention ➢ Women and Justice ➢ CARM/FRAME ➢ Authentic Voices ➢ Strengthening Diversion ➢ Caledonian Systems SNSAs are also being undertaken to inform work streams related to: ➢ Voluntary Throughcare ➢ Performance & Audit activity ➢ Pre/Post Sentencing ➢ Diversion Working groups have been established to support the CJP Outcome Improvement Activity: ➢ Arrest Referral Scheme. Group established and 1st multi-agency meeting held. CJ Co-ordinator has engaged with Police Scotland Targeted Operating Model (ToM) meetings to help support the national roll out of the scheme. ➢ Caledonian System. Group established and x2 multi-agency meetings held ➢ Custody to Community. Group established and x2 multi-agency meetings held ➢ Prevention & EEI. Group established and 1st multi-agency meeting held ➢ Authentic Voices. Group established and 1st multi-agency meeting held ITEM 6
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➢ Women in Justice. Group established and 1st multi-agency meeting held The Women’s Safety and Support Service has partnered with SafeLives to undertake research into the experience of women in the justice service in WD. The research will seek to understand women who have experienced GBV and links to offending behaviour. The research findings will support future service provision and seek to improve the experience of women victims who come into conflict with the law. ➢ Community Sentences (pre-sentencing/post- sentencing) – initial meeting held to explore ToR and group membership. ➢ CARM/FRAME. Group established and 1st meeting held. This is a partnership approach between Children & Families and Justice S/W in preparation for the pending Care & Justice Act. Early Release of Prisoners Scheme The Emergency Release of prisoners began in June 2024 and justice and community justice partners have co-ordinated the preparation for WD residents returning to the local authority. All stakeholder partners have held emergency meetings to make sure that all risk is managed and that victims are protected. Justice services have liaised with victims services to ensure that no risk is hidden or missed as part of the early release scheme. This has been hugely successful and the sharing of information has made victims safer. Community Justice Scotland (CJS) Undertakings The Community Support Services Tool (CSST) is now live on the CJS website to help inform Sherriff’s sentencing decisions. A mirroring resource directory has also been created for justice staff so they are aware of what is available in the local authority – this will improve consistency and quality assurance in assessment reports for court. Training; Information & Awareness Raising Sessions; & Trauma Informed Practice There have been 2 information and awareness raising sessions held to inform stakeholder partners to raise the profile of Community Justice and the Caledonian System in WD. The CJ Co-ordinator has started TTT for trauma informed practice to ensure that all justice staff are strained to Trauma Skilled Level and develop trauma responsive competencies. DAAMH Intersectionality Training (Domestic Abuse, Addictions, and Metal Health) has been created and developed by the CJ Co-ordinator and The WSSS Team Manager. The pilot has been projected for the end of the year and will be offered to Justice and Addictions staff. Profile raising activity at CVS conference. Restorative Justice SACRO project manager has met with justice staff and referral pathways have been established. SACRO will report outcomes and impact to the CJP that will contribute to the annual report.
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Wider Strategic Partnership Working Community Justice and wider Justice Services have been working in partnership with the VAWGP – supporting training, MARAC activity 2 Outline of any issues/risks and how these are being managed Issues or risk will be identified and assessed in the Strategic Needs and Strengths Assessments and identified at working groups. These will be reported to the CJP in the first instance and escalated through governance procedures where appropriate. Management of issues/risk will be identified as working group activity unfolds. Uncertainty around budgets and finance are an ongoing risk for all justice activity. These risks will be managed through the appropriate governance structures. There is a minimal national budget to delivery voluntary throughcare services – this will have an impact for the locality – once budgets are confirmed support will be required. 3 Outline of the main outputs expected before next meeting Progress reporting update from all working groups and wider activity. 4 What are your requirements of partners in the Community Planning Management Board to achieve the outcomes of the DIG? To support the CJP to deliver locally on the ‘National Strategy for Community Justice’ at a local level. To support the CJP with the uncertainty (nationally) regarding funding and budgets to support the local delivery of the strategy. The DIG will be required to identify funding to deliver the local CJOIP and associated activities. 5 Please outline any good news story you wish to share WD Community Justice delivered input at the CVS Conference. This was very well received and links were made between CJ and the importance of the third sector to support justice service users in their rehabilitation. https://wdcvs.com/success-story/making-connections-conference-2024/ The ToR for the ARS has been requested nationally – the WD model has attracted national attention and has been praised for its co-ordinated approach.
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CJS is interested in the SCARO RJ pilot in WD and are keen to follow the pilot and take learning in regard to the National RJ roll out. They have requested to partner with WD to better understand RJ.