SAPOR recruitment: applications open for panel members

Scottish Advisory Panel on Offender Rehabilitation (SAPOR)

Job title: Panel Member

Location: Panel meetings are held on a quarterly basis normally in either Edinburgh or Glasgow but have also been held online.

Duration: Up to 6 year period (with an option of renewal for 2 further years).

Remuneration: Appropriate daily rate (£450) for attendance at panel meetings and pre-panel reading time (as and when required).

Expenses: Travel and subsistence where incurred.

Background

The Scottish Advisory Panel for Offender Rehabilitation (SAPOR) is sponsored by the Scottish Government and was formed in 2012 replacing the Scottish Accreditation panel for offender programmes (SAPOP).

The role of SAPOR is to reduce re-offending and support desistance. They do that in relation to programmes, interventions and processes within the Scottish Justice system by providing approval and advice, by setting standards and by promoting excellence. Specifically those programmes, interventions and processes must be aimed at rehabilitating people who have offended and SAPOR encourages properly evaluated innovation. SAPOR’s focus is on programmes and interventions for individuals who have been convicted of an offence. Therefore, programmes and interventions targeted at those pre-conviction are not within the Panel’s current remit.

SAPOR have a forward programme for consideration of programmes for accreditation and most recently have considered the Caledonian Programme for domestic violence. In addition to this, SAPOR support those developing programmes through their SAPOR advice function.

Job description

Due to a number of panel members tenure coming to an end the panel are looking for new panel members.

Panel members

We are looking for leaders in the field who will be part of the SAPOR panel, working with colleagues on the panel to provide approval and advice, and helping to set standards and promote excellence in programmes. The job will involve participation in reviewing of programmes/interventions for those who have offended, to be delivered within a custodial and/or community setting.  

This role requires high level critical analysis skills and the ability to handle complex themes and materials. It also requires a strong familiarity with the theoretical and empirical bases that underpin justice interventions and very strong communication skills to facilitate engagement with fellow panel members and programme developers.

The ability to manage workload flexibly, including detailed pre-reading within relatively short time frames around the meeting schedule would be helpful. The role involves working collaboratively with Scottish Government, the Scottish Prison Service and other professional groups. 

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• ability to challenge the views of others in a constructive and supportive way
• ability to analyse complex themes and materials
• ability to contribute to innovations in how we accredit ‘programmes’
• a sound knowledge and understanding of the Scottish Justice system
• expert level understanding of theoretical and empirical evidence informing effective interventions in the criminal justice field
• experience of interventions in either prisons or community settings
• excellent communication skills
• proven leadership in their field

Desirable

• experience in managing, developing or evaluating offence specific interventions with individuals involved in the justice system, including the design or management/evaluation of programmes/standards
• significant, theoretical and practical knowledge/application of effective approaches within a community, prison or forensic setting
• experience of rolling out innovative criminal justice interventions and addressing governance and implementation issues
• experience of working within a community justice or prison setting
• a background in delivering behavioural change programmes either in a justice social work, prison or clinical psychology setting
• experience of undertaking in-depth research and evaluation
• a sound knowledge and understanding of one or more area of work relevant to SAPOR such as intimate partner violence, sexual offending, women offenders, substance use and offending, young offenders, technology enabled offending, risk assessment and victims

How to apply

The closing date for applications is 20 April 2025 and interviews will take place in May 2025. Further detail of the interview process will be provided prior to the interview dates.

To apply for the position as a member of SAPOR please apply in writing (in no more than 1000 words) detailing your background and experience. Please mark the subject line of your email with “SAPOR”, with your name and address prominent.

Please send this as your application, by email, to Belisa.Veiga@gov.scot

If you have any queries regarding the position please contact Graham Robertson, Public Protection Unit Head at: Graham.Robertson@gov.scot  

In the event that further posts are required, a reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for up to 12 months.