Justice Social Work Services: national throughcare guidance

3. Overview of Roles and Responsibilities

3.1 JSW has a duty to provide a service to people subject to statutory supervision on release. This includes people subject to a life sentence; an OLR; a long term determinate sentence (4 years and over); a short term sex offender sentence; an extended sentence or an SRO.

3.2 The statutory duty commences from the point of sentence. For those released on parole licence, long term prisoners released automatically when they have only 6 months left to serve on their sentence or those subject to a short term sex offender licence, the duty continues through to the Sentence End Date (SED). For persons subject to extended sentences, the duty continues until the end of the extension period. For persons subject to an SRO, the duty continues until the SRO expires (but see paragraph 3.3 in relation to voluntary throughcare services). For life sentences, the duty continues until the licence conditions to be subject to supervision has been discharged by the PBS. In OLR cases the statutory duty is for the rest of the person’s life.

3.3 JSW also has a statutory duty to individuals released from short term custodial sentences who are not subject to a licence on release who request their services. That duty continues for a period of 12 months from the date that the person is released from custody.

3.4 The roles and responsibilities for JSW are to assess and manage risk with a focus on public protection, while supporting people to reintegrate into their communities.

3.5 Within throughcare practice, PBSW and CBSW have different but connected roles that should complement each other in the delivery of service provision. A collaborative approach by PBSW and CBSW is at the heart of quality throughcare social work practice.

3.6 PBSW services are funded by SPS with PBSW employed by local authorities as a commissioned service. PBSW has an integral role in assessing risk and developing plans for people who are subject to statutory supervision when they are released from custody. PBSW also provide a link between community-based partners and wider SPS provision, as well as supporting the assessments for progression through the sentence in preparation for release. Within any custodial setting PBSW offer a duty service for people in custody who require social work support.

3.7 CBSW services have an overarching role to support the person to reintegrate into their community whilst maintaining a focus on public protection. This includes assessing and managing the presenting risks and needs, while monitoring compliance with licence or order conditions. CBSW do this by collaborating with the person, their family, their community and with partner agencies. CBSW offer support throughout the custodial element of a sentence through to the transition back into the community until the SED where relevant.