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Humberside Probation
Trust
21 Flemingate
Beverley
HU17 0NP

Tel: (01482)  867271

Interventions

Interventions in Humberside Probation Trust is about providing rehabilitative services that are proven to have an impact on those needs associated with offending. It is about direct face to face contact through a variety of different approaches that are responsive to the diverse needs of offenders while balancing the protection of the public. All of our interventions are delivered by trained, qualified staff. The following is a brief outline of some of the most important Interventions delivered by Humberside Probation Area .

High Risk Programmes

1.    Sex Offender Programmes - we deliver a number of different programmers that work with sex offenders. The programmes aim to protect the public by working with convicted offenders to change their behaviour:

              I.    Northumbria Sex Offender Programme (NSOG) – is designed to challenge and modify participant’s patterns of thinking within that underlies their abusive behaviour towards women, men and children. Exercises in the group work programme are designed to help participants take responsibility for their actions and recognise their offending was a process not an event – a process structured around specific sets of thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

             II.    Northumbria Sex Offender Programme – Relapse Prevention (RP) – Relapse Prevention is designed to enable group attendees to be able to identify their own risk factors and develop appropriate, realistic and effective strategies to deal with any future risks.. 

            III.    Internet Sex Offender Treatment Programme (ISOTP) - The programme is designed specifically for those offenders whose only convictions are for Internet related offences. Research into internet offenders indicates that most do not need to undertake full core treatment programmes in order to address dynamic risk factors. Furthermore as a group they tend to show certain specific features that are less evident in the general sex offending population; for example, they have good victim empathy but poor victim awareness. Some also have specific collecting behaviour problems which can be associated with obsessive compulsive disorder

            IV.    Community Adapted Sex Offender Programme (CASOTP) - The adapted programme is a combined core and relapse prevention programme designed for those who have learning difficulties. The programme is very similar to the Northumbria Core Group work Programme, and like that programme, is a rolling programme where new members can join at the beginning of a new block. Most of the programme is delivered using pictures, drawings, symbols and video rather than written word. The programme is currently being piloted for the NPD and has not yet been accredited. It is expected that it will be rolled out nationally in 2008..

2.     Integrated Domestic abuse Programme (IDAP) - This programme has been developed for men who have been convicted of domestic abuse related offences. IDAP is designed to challenge participants’ patterns of thinking and rationalisations that underpins and maintain their violent and abusive behaviour. IDAP aims to provide participants with both information and practical tools in order to change their abusive values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours. The programme is based around the “power and control" wheel and is designed to develop reflective and critical thinking skills and provide the means for men to develop non-controlling relationship skills. The approach also involves probation staff providing support and advice for victims, and working closely with agencies involved in the protection of victims of domestic abuse.

General Offending Behaviour Programmes

1) Thinking Skills

A programme designed to help individuals acquire, develop and apply a series of skills that will enable them to manage difficulties in their lives and to avoid future re-offending.

 2) Cognitive Skills Booster

 The Cognitive Skills Booster programme is designed for graduates who have completed Enhanced Thinking Skills and Thinking Skills Programme. It is designed to return offenders to the skills they have already learned and develop these further. It also provides an opportunity for participants to problem solve in the ‘real world’ with everyday problems.

 3) CALM (Controlling Anger and Learning to Manage it)

 C.A.L.M is a programme designed to control anger and give offenders skills to manage it. Its aim is to reduce the frequency, intensity and duration of violence.

4) Priestley One to One (OTO)

 One to One is a General Offending Behaviour Programme for individuals. It is used in extreme circumstances where diversity considerations make groupwork unsuitable. It allows flexibility to meet what is happening in offender’s lives. We also use Priestley One to One to work with racially motivated offenders.

 5) Drink Impaired Drivers

This programme targets men and women who have been convicted of a drink driving offender. It aims to educate them about the effects of alcohol on themselves and others, and in doing so helping them to positively change their drinking habits, particularly whilst driving.

COVAID (Controlling of Violence in Angry Impulsive Drinkers)

COVAID – ‘group community’ is a programme designed specifically for drinkers who sometimes lose control and become angry and aggressive. The programme seeks to encourage participants to monitor their drinking with the aim of being able to control their alcohol consumption. Participants are expected to complete homework assignments between sessions.

Typical offences for which COVAID has been given as part of a sentence have included Affray, Assault, Criminal Damage, ABH and Public Order Offences. The COVAID condition can be attached to Suspended Sentence Orders or Community Orders or imposed as a licence condition.

COVAID is not designed for those offenders who are alcohol dependent although each case will be reviewed individually. The criteria for inclusion on COVAID are as follows:

S/he is living in the community

• There have been three or more incidents (whether or not convicted)of alcohol related violence/aggression in the last two years
  
• S/he has basic literacy and comprehension ability
  
• S/he understands what participation in COVAID involves and is willing to take part in the programme
  
• S/he has no current or significant history of domestic violence (this includes recent police ‘call outs’ that have not led to conviction)

Humberside Probation Trust is the first area to roll out COVAID (group version) in the community although initial feedback from areas where the group has been running in a custodial setting has been very positive.

Employment, Training and Education Provision

All offenders subject to Probation supervision have access to provision designed to increase Literacy and Numeracy skills and to increase their chances of finding employment.

Skills for Life - Humberside Probation Trust employs 5 specialist staff to assist and support offenders’ attendance at Skills for Life classes. The classes are delivered by nine mainstream education providers, mostly colleges and local authority adult education services, at a range of venues and times. Considerable effort is made to ensure provision fits with individual offender’s circumstances. The majority of classes are supported by Humbercare mentors who provide extra support for the offender learners.

Along with improving offender’s educational skills such work greatly improves self-confidence, employability and the ability of an offender to engage with the world around them. Progression is an essential element of this work.

The success of this work is a result of committed Probation staff and excellent partnership arrangements with both education providers and the Learning and Skills Council.

Employment - Humberside Probation Trust contracts SOVA (Supporting Others Through Voluntary Action) to provide employment advice and guidance for offenders. This is an extremely popular service for offenders and is successful in helping them find both vocational training and employment. Good relations with employment agencies and relevant training have resulted in employment agencies contacting SOVA in order to fill vacancies. SOVA provision ranges from practical help in opening a bank account, help with job search and arranging short vocational certification training and taster courses. As with education Learning and Skills Council funding is crucial in the provision of training. Around 40% of offenders attending such training go on to find employment. As employment is regarded as one of the most likely ways for an offender to avoid offending this represents considerable success and excellent value for money.

Accommodation

Homelessness is very common amongst offenders, and there is a clear link between the lack of suitable accommodation and re-offending. The Service manages two Approved Premises (Hostels) which accommodates a number of men in a closely monitored, supervised and structured environment. The Service also works with the Statutory and voluntary Sector to provide accommodation for offenders leaving custody or serving a sentence in the community.

Community Payback

Making good…and making safer

Community Payback is a cost-effective punishment based in the community; it dates back to 1974 with the introduction of Community Service and still follows the original rudiments of reparation and rehabilitation with a strong focus on work discipline. The following bullet points highlight some of the restrictions we operate within.

• Offenders can be sentenced to between 40 and 300 hours of Community Payback by the Courts and are expected to average 6 hours minimum per week.

• The work must have an obvious benefit to the community (ideally by reducing the risk or fear of crime).
  
• The work must be physically, mentally or emotionally challenging for the offender.
  
• The work should go some way towards improving the offender’s social and employment skills.
  
• The work should not require specialist skills, but should be able to be completed by individual or groups of offenders under supervision.
  
• The work must not expose offenders, staff, or members of the public to unacceptable or inappropriate risks (all projects are subject to Health & Safety requirements and have a current risk assessment).
  
• The work provided by offenders must not be used to replace that provided by paid employees.

One of the themes of Community Payback is making the work we do both more visible and more accountable to communities. Encouraging the public to have their say in the type of work we carry out is not without its difficulties but it has proven to be a popular area of our work and given Community Payback the opportunity to work with other agencies.