National strategy for community justice: delivery plan update 3 – December 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 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: Review of guidelines by partners and final draft version complete. Launch of the guidance and training implications are being considered. Draft Social Work Scotland guidance for practitioners is being finalised to complement the statutory guidance. The work of the group is aligned to the Scottish Government led group on Diversion.

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: We continue to improve the information received from police to ensure that we secure the right outcomes for the right people. As an example, COPFS now receives additional information from the police regarding mental health issues that may be relevant to the accused’s offending and personal well-being so that it can take informed views on the best outcome in the public interest.

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. The review of the guidelines is at an advanced stage and will be launched in early 2025. Relevant guidance and training for COPFS is under development in anticipation of the launch.

Engagement with Community Partnerships is being assisted with written bulletins and updates from the Crown on the use of diversion.

Status: Outstanding

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: The new pathway for arrest referrals has now been established using Public Task and Section 35 of the Community Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 as the basis for referrals. Police Scotland’s arrest referral processes changed in July 2024, moving away from using consent as the basis for referral and instead seeking the views of the person in custody and taking these into consideration.

This new process coincided with a re-launch of the arrest referral process, including a full review of practices and mapping of services and any gaps in service provision across Scotland.

Localised groups have been established across most local authority areas and this work continues in order to identify pain points and opportunities. This will also assist in identifying the correct people to be involved in the national working group at a Strategic level.

Working with Police Scotland’s Service Design team, a launch event is being planned for the Spring of 2025 to bring partners from the public, private and voluntary sector and academia together and formally launch the national working group to drive further improvements in the arrest referral service.

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 Police Scotland Mental Health Index to achieve this went live in September 2024. The index provides frontline officers across Scotland with access to professional advice from mental health clinicians in their Health Board so they can support individuals to access the right care at the right time.

Police custody suites are not included in the index, but the Scottish Government is continuing to work with Police Scotland and Health Partners to improve access to 24/7 mental health assessments.

With the Mental Health Index now rolled out across the country and available to officers on their mobile devices, this deliverable is now considered complete. Quality assurance of the index will continue into 2025.

Status: Complete

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 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: As part of the arrest referral relaunch, a recruitment process was instigated to increase the number of Custody Support and Intervention Champions across Scotland. This included the development of a formal role profile, ensuring this important role could be formally recognised.

This recruitment process saw a 12% increase in the number of champions, bringing the total to 115 across Scotland, with coverage for all primary custody centres.

Completion of the Trauma Informed training package is mandatory for all Champions and encouraged for all other staff working in custody. A number of additional training courses have also been offered to the Champions, including addiction awareness, the effects of traumatic brain injury and supporting people with diabetes.

Maintaining the cadre of Champions and providing suitable training and development opportunities for them has now moved into business as usual for the Criminal Justice Services Division‘s Custody Healthcare and Interventions team and as such this action is considered complete.

Status: Complete

No 7

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

Timescale: April 2025 Revised in update 3 to April 2026

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: The National benchmarking report on implementation of MAT standards was published in July 2024.

A justice settings work-programme is now being conducted and discussions with justice partners are in progress, alongside dedicated MAT standard implementation network (MATSIN) justice national meetings and workstreams initially focused around MAT 3 (MORS/Risk profiling) and MAT 4 (harm reduction). A toolkit to support and implement MAT is under development for March 2025 with work underway to map all relevant services provided in each prison establishment.

Due to challenges around data recording and sharing, and the need for continued extensive engagement with justice partners, the timescale for this deliverable has been revised to April 2026.

Status: In progress (with revised timescale)

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 Government, Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland established a Partnership Delivery Group to drive activity relating to the recommendations. By February 2025, the Scottish Government will publish a Framework for Collaboration and the PDG will publish a cross-sector Collaborative Commitment Plan. The Framework and Plan will support partnership working between services to ensure that those in need are able to access the right service at the right time.

Through the Mental Health Unscheduled Care Network, we have recently completed a National Review of Psychiatric Emergency Plans (PEPs). National PEP guidance and template are in development. These will aim to improve the national consistency and ease of use, ensuring that local roles, responsibilities, and processes are clearly articulated.

Status: Outstanding

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: All local authorities now offer electronically monitored bail (EM bail) and bail supervision services.

Status: Complete

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: From 2022-23, the Scottish Government now collects more detailed information on bail supervision and EM bail cases commenced, and suitability assessments undertaken, as part of the justice social work statistical collection.

This data is currently classified as “official statistics in development”, however the 2023-24 data has seen improvements in reporting. The Scottish Government is continuing to work on improving the data collection guidance to support local authorities, and this data will continue to be collected.

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 continue to track progress.

To date, from the data available, the numbers of suitability assessments undertaken have increased from 4,538 in 2022-23 to 5,532 in 2023-24.

G4S have also published a related annual statistical report for the first time in 2024. There were 1,140 electronic monitoring orders as a condition of bail for 2023-24 in Scotland. The information from the justice social work statistics is a subset of this figure.

Due to the number of suitability assessments undertaken increasing by over 20% between 2022-23 and 2023-24, this deliverable is considered complete. However, work to maintain progress in this area will continue.

Status: Complete

No 10

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

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: Awareness-raising focussed training for practitioners is currently being developed by Community Justice Scotland, and the project group will continue to help shape the content.

A subgroup within the project is reviewing the bail suitability assessment process and aims to establish a prioritisation triage method to highlight cases to be assessed.

Further focus areas, including breach processes and cross-authority co-operation, have been identified via engagement with local authorities and next steps are currently being scoped.

Discussions are ongoing with partners to consider options for developing further support for people on bail.

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 completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

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 Revised in Update 3 to October 2025

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 is continuing between Scottish Government, SPS, RMA and Justice Social Work to optimise the appropriate use of HDC across the prison estate. This ongoing work has secured a substantial increase in numbers of prisoners being granted HDC over the last 12 months.

This group is also working in partnership to develop updated guidance to agencies involved in the HDC process. A new draft will be circulated to wider stakeholders shortly for consideration.

These tasks are being co-ordinated with other developments regarding HDC – including planning with partners for GPS electronic monitoring to be available to monitor appropriate HDC cases from early 2025 onwards, and plans to change the eligibility criteria for HDC with the intention of increasing the time period that appropriate individuals can spend on release under licence conditions.

Lastly, future work with partners on the implementation of the new temporary release provisions for long-term prisoners set out in the Bail & Release from Custody Act 2024 (replacing HDC for that cohort) will be planned in coming months – subject to wider operational priorities.

The initial task to examine options for optimisation of HDC was completed within the initial timescale of June 2024, with a new model being agreed and implemented. The timescale for this deliverable has been revised to October 2025 to incorporate the workstreams which have been subsequently added to the initial plan (including work on production of guidance, implementation of GPS EM, and consideration of time periods) and to ensure operational capacity for delivery of these changes.

Status: In progress (with revised timescale)

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: Regulations to enable GPS come into force on 31 January 2025.

Regular delivery meetings are ongoing with G4S, SPS, Justice Social Work and Police Scotland. This first use of GPS EM will be evaluated after a year of operation to inform considerations of any further rollout of GPS EM in Scotland.

Status: Complete

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 completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

No 14

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

No 15

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

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 is concluding work on reviewing the future distribution methodology for funding JSW.

The work has progressed to modelling a short-list of options and these have been utilised to support further consultation with stakeholders.

Once a decision is taken, it is anticipated that a new methodology will be introduced in 2026/27.

Status: Outstanding

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: In 2023 key stakeholders agreed a work plan and actions are progressing to support the development of Trauma Responsive Social Work Services.

After piloting ‘Transforming Connections’ Trauma Skilled Level training with over 200 early career social workers in 23/24, OCSWA are working with local leads to agree how best to embed this learning into their newly qualified social worker (NQSW) supported year programmes. In the interim, the team are working with local leads to provide further training and coaching support to NQSWs between until July 2025.

OCSWA are supporting four Implementation sites across social work and multidisciplinary services, including justice social work in Stirling Council. The team are working through a comprehensive programme of learning and implementation support with leaders and the workforce in scope, including sessions focussing on trauma enhanced practice, supervision, wellbeing and power sharing with lived experience. Initial learning from these sites will help inform scheduling, with further areas across Scotland to be supported by the team until 2027. Thereafter an independent evaluation of the programme will help identify next steps.

Status: Complete

No 18

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: Following National Strategic Group discussion, pilot phase now completed and additional guidance will be added into court reporting process.

Status: Complete

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: The policy and practice framework has been provided to the National Restorative Justice Stakeholder Group for comment and amendments have been received and completed.

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 Programme Board continues to meet monthly to drive and monitor progress towards milestones. Due to a significant issue affecting one of the key suppliers, additional support within NSS has been identified and work is ongoing to minimise impact across programmes, including for prisons.

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: The SPS Health Team have recruited to 2 posts, enabling progression of this deliverable. While work is underway to update the Memorandum of Understanding, the current information sharing agreement remains extant.

Status: Outstanding

No 23

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 Memorandum of Understanding was approved by partners and endorsed by the Scottish Health in Custody Oversight Board on 2nd December 2024. The next step is to send to signatories for sign off.

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 completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

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 authorities continues. Through regular meetings with key stakeholders, SPS and Local Authority colleagues, the SHORE standards have been refreshed to include up-to-date legislation and an action plan. Fife council are currently undertaking a pilot project at HMP Perth with people on remand to improve access to housing on release. Additionally, South Lanarkshire are undertaking a pilot at HMP Addiewell focussing on the performance managing framework.

Status: Outstanding

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: The refreshed SHORE standards have now been published on the SPS website. The refresh includes an updated legislation and policy section and action plan detailing areas for future strategic development.

This refresh is in advance of a full review of the SHORE standards.

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 strategic framework to assist with the establishment of SPS EABs has now been established. The Northern Employment Advisory Board (NEAB) has now agreed a strategy to embed the board into SPS, and following this, the whole estate.

Initially, the NEAB will discuss employability supports and opportunities for individuals in HMP Perth, Grampian and Castle Huntly.

Planning meetings have already taken place, and there are multiple partners including DWP, Only a Pavement Away, Perth and Kinross Council, Scottish Government and Sodexo, involved. Additionally, the SPS continues to onboard relevant attendees.

Status: Complete

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: The No One Left Behind: Employability Strategic Plan 2024-2027, published September 2024, sets out our continued commitment to deliver an employability system that tackles inequalities in Scotland’s labour market, creating a responsive and aligned approach that helps people of all ages who face the greatest barriers to progress towards, into and to sustain work.

Status: Complete

No 30

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: A small working group of stakeholders facilitated by the Scottish Government has now taken on the task of completing this guidance in preparation for publication.

In addition, planning is underway with Community Justice Scotland for a series of briefings and an e-learning module to ensure this is embedded into practice.

Status: Outstanding

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 review of third sector voluntary throughcare provision across Scotland was carried by Community Justice Scotland. Following this it was agreed that a new single national voluntary throughcare service, delivered by a partnership of third sector organisations, will be commenced in April 2025. This will support individuals leaving sentences of four years or less or a period of remand, should they wish to receive throughcare.

The new service will replace the current voluntary throughcare provision offered by Shine PSP and New Routes PSP.

Status: Complete

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 Revised in Update 3 to June 2025

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 is underway to co-ordinate the transition from existing third sector voluntary throughcare services delivered by the Public Social Partnerships to the new national throughcare service.

Work is also progressing in relation to the provision of support to individuals being released under the Prisoners (Early Release) legislation which is expected to take place in February 2025. A multi-agency Delivery Group has been established to co-ordinate this work and oversee the release planning.

Planning for the implementation of the sections from Part 2 of the Bail and Release from Custody Act 2023 is underway with key partners.

The timescale for this deliverable has been revised to reflect ongoing work relating to implementation of the Bail and Release from Custody Act and the new national throughcare service.

Status: In progress (with revised timescale)

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: All national indicators have been developed and data for 2023-24 has been supplied to Community Justice Partnerships by October 2024 for inclusion in reporting on the first year of the Community Justice Performance Framework.

The updated guide to self-evaluation has been published and introduced to the sector. The Care Inspectorate is currently engaged with a number of community justice partnerships, supporting bespoke self-evaluation activities. It has also developed a staged approach to self-evaluation which incorporates a draft core assurances template. This has been shared with the sector, including Community Justice Scotland to review and provide feedback. Feedback will be used to further refine and finalise the template and then support its application within partnership areas as part of scrutiny planning.

Status: Complete

No 35

Deliverable completed – see section ‘Previously completed deliverables’

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: Following consultation with partners, Community justice outcomes improvement planning and reporting: statutory guidance was published in July 2024.

Status: Complete

No 37

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: Analysis of different options for increasing flexibility within the current ring-fenced arrangements was undertaken, but it has been determined by the Scottish Government that the existing arrangements will continue in 2025/26.

Status: Complete

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 had been meeting monthly with work progressing to plan. However, the work was paused in October 2024 for operational reasons. It is intended to re-commence this work in early 2025 and it is on track to be delivered within current time scales.

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: An expanded practitioner panel has been formed with a revised term of reference. The panel met several times in late 2024 with meetings scheduled for 2025.

Status: Complete

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: The working group has continued to meet on a regular basis reporting to the Community Justice Programme Board. Progress over this period includes:

i. the introduction of a data sharing agreement to enable JSW to access previous conviction information from out with Scotland.

ii. Working with SCTS to establish the legal basis for continued data sharing with JSW via the SCTS portal.

iii. Working with COPFS to establish a process for enhanced information sharing with JSW to assist in suitability assessments for additional bail conditions.

iv. Working with COPFS to identify additional information that can be made available to assist with risk assessment in cases deferred for JSWR.

Working with HMPPS to establish a joint cross border process for cases deferred for court reports.

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) launched two e-modules in November 2024 to support workforces at the trauma informed and skilled levels, and continue delivery of trauma-informed senior leader training to justice agencies.

The Trauma informed Knowledge & Skills project working group agreed upon a monitoring framework to show implementation progress against the group’s agreed activities/outcomes.

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 continue to work with criminal justice agencies on reviewing written communications, carry out further training workshops and webinars, and have developed an e-module to support justice agencies. A version of the ‘People at Heart Style Guide’ for public use is in development.

The workstream established by the Victims Taskforce has now met three times and is in the process of agreeing the broader scope of the project. The workstream will consider the outcomes of the Scottish Government’s response to the VNS Review, as well as the recommendations set out in the Victim Centred Approach Report. The timeline for an implementation plan remains at its revised date of 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 Interventions and Support directory (CISD, previously known as the Community Support services Tool) is now cited on the Community Justice Scotland website and was officially launched on the Judicial Hub in September 2024.This project has been successful in improving the accessibility of information on community interventions and supports available across Scotland. The CISD is now an online resource which presents information in a clear, concise and searchable format. Online forms have been designed to allow services providing support to add their information, with an automatic update reminder process to assist in keeping information up to date.

Status: Complete

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: Community Interventions and Support Directory was published on the CJS website: a fully public and accessible directory of interventions and support that is available across Scotland. This is being shared with and promoted to relevant partners across the justice landscape to drive better sentencing and support.

CJS are working in partnership with three local authority community justice partners to create a language guide/ toolkit on stigma. The aim is that the product produced by this project will support further local authority community justice partners in their public communications and raise awareness around stigmatising language and its impact on people in the justice system and their families.

Status: In progress