NCJ Number
55509
Date Published
1978
Length
55 pages
Annotation
A STUDY COMMISSION REVIEWING THE TRAINING OF PROBATION WORKERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FINDS GREAT CHANGES ARE TAKING PLACE IN THE FIELD AND URGES GREATER COOPERATION BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND PLACEMENT AGENCIES.
Abstract
THE CHANGES FOUND BY THE REVIEW ARE DETAILED AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR THE TRAINING OF FUTURE PROBATION OFFICERS ARE ASSESSED. AT PRESENT, THE PRACTICE PLACEMENTS ARE SEEN AS THE MOST VALUABLE PART OF THE FUTURE PROBATION OFFICER'S TRAINING. BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH CHANGES, AREAS WHICH NEED TO BE UPDATED ARE POINTED OUT. IN GENERAL, PROBATION OFFICERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM SPEND MORE TIME WORKING WITH ADULTS THAN WITH CHILDREN, SPEND MORE HOURS WORKING WITH REPEAT OFFENDERS, AND ARE ASKED TO PROVIDE A WIDER RANGE OF SERVICES. THE PRACTICE PLACEMENTS ARE SEEN AS ESPECIALLY VALUABLE IN TEACHING THE STUDENT TO HANDLE THESE AREAS, WHICH ARE NOT COVERED WELL IN SCHOOLS, AND TO LEARN TO FUNCTION IN COURTROOMS AND OTHER NONSOCIAL WORK SETTINGS. SPECIAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN SCOTLAND AND IN NORTHERN IRELAND ARE REVIEWED. THE LARGE NUMBER OF MINORITY OFFENDERS AND MINORITY SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS ALSO CREATE PROBLEMS. THESE ARE REVIEWED. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE CLOSER COORDINATION BETWEEN SCHOOLS OF SOCIAL WORK AND AGENCIES SUPERVISING PRACTICE PLACEMENTS, CAREFUL SELECTION OF THE PERSON WHO WILL SUPERVISE THE STUDENT'S PLACEMENT, AND A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF THE AGENCY IN THE EDUCATION OF THE STUDENT. THE ROLE THE CENTRAL COUNCIL FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN SOCIAL WORK CAN PLAY IN PROMOTING THIS COORDINATION IS REVIEWED. APPENDIXES PRESENT NOTES ON THE PROBATION AND AFTER CARE SERVICE, EXAMPLES OF TOPICS WHICH MIGHT BE COVERED IN A PRACTICE PLACEMENT, AND EXAMPLE OF TEAM SUPERVISION, A SAMPLE ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE, A CURRICULUM OUTLINE, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY.