Annual Practitioners’ Day Annual Practitioners’ Day 20102010

www.restorativejustice.org.uk

The RJC Annual Practitioners’ Day 2010 is supported by:

WelcomeWelcome

Lizzie NelsonDirectorRestorative Justice Consortium

Practitioners’ Network DayPractitioners’ Network Day

Welcome to the daya chance to learn from each

other, from experienced practitioners and speakers, and to support each other

Welcome to our speakers

Exciting timesExciting times Alan Duncan MP pledged at the RJC 4th February Conference to

“urgently investigate what legislation or Ministerial edict might be necessary to see RJ implemented on a nationwide basis.”

Labour manifesto commitment to “bring in a Restorative Justice Act to ensure it is available wherever victims approve it“

Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment to increase use of panels; and Nick Clegg spoke about RJ during the live election debate last Thursday “What I’ve seen in my city of Sheffield is that you get these youngsters not when they have done serious crimes, when they are first starting to get into trouble to face their victims, explain why they have done what they have done to their victims, apologise for what they’ve done, make up for what they have done in the community, cleaning up parks and streets. It has a dramatic effect on their behaviour. I want to change people’s behaviour before they become the criminals of tomorrow.”

Supporting your work – the Supporting your work – the role of the RJCrole of the RJC

RJC is here to support and represent restorative practice.

Three key questions I’d like your feedback on today:

Re-designed website: what online resources would help you in your work?

Local and regional practitioner networks: how can RJC support existing networks, and help new ones grow?

Regional CPD events – what do you need?

Building the quality Building the quality assurance frameworkassurance framework The Office for Criminal Justice Reform see

building the quality assurance framework for restorative practice as the essential foundation for future expansion of RJ – this will be true whoever wins the election

The 2010 National Occupational Standards and new Practitioner Award are two key elements of that framework

OCJR support the RJC’s application to Companies House to become the Restorative Justice Council; and have funded four key areas of work to enable RJC to build the quality assurance framework for the future

Office for Criminal Justice Office for Criminal Justice Reform funding for RJC to:Reform funding for RJC to: Review the 2004 Best Practice Guidance, leading

to a joint Restorative Justice Council/Office for Criminal Justice Reform re-publication later this year

Ensure the Skills for Justice pilot of the new Award for practitioners can include practitioners from all areas of restorative practice; and to develop the first national Register of Accredited Practitioners following on from the pilot

Provide the secretariat for the RJC Standards and Accreditation Board to review the Trainers Code of Practice, and create a Practitioner Code of Practice.

Improve our website and develop new ‘How to’ guides, based on the 2010 NOS, for the field.

Becoming the Restorative Becoming the Restorative Justice Council Justice Council

◦ RJC has applied, with OCJR support, to Companies House for the name change

◦ Working with other quality assurance bodies to learn how we can protect quality without stifling innovation in this rapidly developing field

◦ Development of Restorative Justice Council brand – making clear we represent the whole field of restorative practice - and re-development of our website for launch later this year

◦ Strengthening the Board of Trustees by bringing in additional expertise in relation to quality assurance, change management and communications

3 Core roles of the 3 Core roles of the Restorative Justice CouncilRestorative Justice CouncilThe Restorative Justice Council will have

three core areas of work:◦Professional: the Registers of Trainers

and Practitioners; quality marks for services and training providers; Continuing Professional Development Events

◦Public: our website, media, advocacy and information services

◦Practice: consultancy enabling new services to grow

What does this mean for What does this mean for members?members? At a time when restorative practice is taking off,

the field will at last have it’s own quality assurance body, recognised by Government and commissioners, answerable to the membership

Quality assurance rooted in practice, not a new quango

We will ensure that the RJC continues to represent and reflect the breadth of the field of restorative practice

Over time we want to encourage everyone working in the field to join RJC Register

In ConclusionIn Conclusion Extraordinary moment for our field, when all three main parties

seem to have recognised the value of restorative practice, and be committed to an expansion of restorative justice and with an explosion in the use of restorative practices in schools, in neighbourhood policing, and in communities at the grass roots

Quality assurance is critical to the expansion of restorative practice – ensuring the safety of all participants, the confidence of commissioners and communities – and that the quality of practice is maintained and not watered down as practice expands

The RJC will rise to that challenge as we become the Restorative Justice Council – the quality assurance body for the field – remaining rooted as we are in our local and individual practitioner members

My thanks to …… Ben, Les and all the SAB, Linda, Duncan at OCJR, our speakers and presenters today, Chris and Gemma, the RJC Board

And to all our membership for your support as we go forward on this journey together

Annual Practitioners’ Day Annual Practitioners’ Day 20102010

www.restorativejustice.org.uk

The RJC Annual Practitioners’ Day 2010 is supported by:

Les DaveyLes Davey Chief Executive, IIRP UK Chief Executive, IIRP UK

(International Institute for Restorative (International Institute for Restorative Practices - UK Office)Practices - UK Office)

RJC TrusteeChair of RJC Standards and Accreditation Board (SAB)

RJC Standards and RJC Standards and Accreditation BoardAccreditation Board

Les Davey - Chief Executive, IIRP UK and RJC Trustee (CHAIR)

Debra Clothier - National Policy Development Officer, NACRO (VICE CHAIR)

Ben Lyon – Register of Restorative Practitioners and RJC Trustee

Annette Hinton - Manager Maidstone Mediation Service

Ken Webster – Director, KW Consultancy and Training

Val Marshall - Supervising Mediator, Mediation Buckinghamshire

Kim Smith - RP Dev. Manager, Norfolk Constabulary

Gill Grimshaw - Volunteer, Leamington Mediation

Chris Stevens - Divisional Manager, Surrey YJS

Claudine Rane - Freelance Independent

Bill Kerslake - Head of Effective Sentencing, Youth Justice Board

RJC SAB Advisory GroupRJC SAB Advisory Group

Debbie Barton - Restorative Justice Sergeant, Nottinghamshire Police

Marian Liebmann - Freelance Consultant and Mediation/RJ Trainer

Mike Ledwidge - Director, The RJ Training Company

Joanna Mears - Restorative Justice Representative, Thames Valley Police

Wendy Freshman - Chief Executive, Mediation Whitstable

Bob Kennett - Director, Safety Net Associates

Alison Carey - Restorative Approaches Coordinator, LB of Richmond - upon -Thames

Belinda Hopkins - Director, Transforming Conflict

Jennifer Stott - Probation Officer, Greater Manchester

Barbara Tudor - Practioner/Manager, West Midlands Probation

RJC Standards and RJC Standards and Accreditation Board (SAB) - Accreditation Board (SAB) -

Draft Work StreamsDraft Work StreamsDevelopment Award

SAB Leads - Ben Lyon & Kim Smith, with Lizzie Nelson (RJC Director)Mar-May 20101.With Skills for Justice plan launch event. (Took place on 1st April 2010)2.Assist with planning for pilot and identification of partner agencies.Jun - Aug 20101.Monitor progress/participate in the pilot.2.Support other agencies/individuals to ensure smooth running of the pilot.Sep - Dec 20101. Support RJC with development of RJC register of Accredited Practitioners

(open to all those accredited through the pilot)Jan - Mar 20111.Ensure Development Award pilot evaluation informs final award structure.2.Share evaluation of pilot with EU RJ Forum

RJC Standards and RJC Standards and Accreditation Board (SAB) - Accreditation Board (SAB) -

Draft Work StreamsDraft Work Streams

RJC Award BadgesSAB Leads - Annette Hinton, Val Marshall, Chris Stephens, Claudine Rane and Gill Grimshaw

Mar-May 20101. Develop policy on which awards RJC should badge.2. Advise RJC Board on ‘badging’ C&G Development Award.3. Market Research and discovery on what NVQ, BTEC, etc. and Higher Education

awards are available in the field.

Jun - Aug 20101. Consider other awards and advise RJC Board appropriately. 2. Develop guidance on awards available.

Sep - Dec 20101.Publish advice for practitioners on RJC ‘badged’ awards as a ‘How to get accredited’ RJC guide

RJC Standards and RJC Standards and Accreditation Board (SAB) - Accreditation Board (SAB) -

Draft Work StreamsDraft Work Streams

Trainer and Practitioner Codes of PracticeSAB Leads - Les Davey, Ken Webster and Ben LyonMar-May 20101. Review RJC Voluntary Code of Practice for RJ Trainers.2. Plan process for development of Practitioner Code of Practice

Jun - Aug 20101. Assess the options for development of accreditation for trainers, training

organisations and/or training courses including who should accredit.2. Develop Practitioner Code of Practice

Sep - Dec 20101. Recommendations re development of Trainer Accreditation to RJC Board2. Publication of RJC Practitioner Code of Practice. Invitation to all RJC practitioner

members to sign up to it.

RJC Standards and RJC Standards and Accreditation Board (SAB) - Accreditation Board (SAB) -

Draft Work StreamsDraft Work StreamsSAB infrastructure

SAB Leads - Les Davey & Debra ClothierMar-May 2010Finalise and agree:1. Work Programme2. Terms of Reference3. Conflict of Interest4. Advisory Group membership and terms of reference Identify and invite Commissioners to SAB Identify additional roles/needs to be represented in Advisory Group membership & invite

appropriate individuals to Advisory Group.

RJC Standards and RJC Standards and Accreditation Board (SAB) - Accreditation Board (SAB) -

Draft Work StreamsDraft Work Streams

Support to RJC Staff TeamSAB Leads - Les Davey and all SAB membersMar-May 20101. Support re planning and Practitioner Network Day 20th April 2010 2. Support planning for OCJR funded RJC ‘How to’ guides 3. Support planning for OCJR funded RJC review of Best Practice Guidance

Jun - Aug 20101. Quality check draft ‘How to’ guides2. Participate in review of Best Practice Guidance process

Annual Practitioners’ Day Annual Practitioners’ Day 20102010

www.restorativejustice.org.uk

The RJC Annual Practitioners’ Day 2010 is supported by:

Restorative Justice ConsortiumBirmingham

20 April 2010

Niall KearneyEuropean Forum for Restorative Justice

Definition of best practice

A best practice is a technique or methodology that, through experience and research, has proven to reliably lead to a desired result.

A commitment to using the best practices in any field is a commitment to using all the knowledge and technology at one's disposal to ensure success.

From What is.com 2007.

Overview

3 areas for best practice-Policy & legislation-Practice & Training-Research

Developments

Policy & legislation

Article 10Penal mediation in the course of criminal

proceedings1. Each Member State shall seek to promote mediation in

criminal cases for offences which it considers appropriate for this sort of measure.

2. Each Member State shall ensure that any agreementbetween the victim and the offender reached in the course of such mediation in criminal cases can be taken into account.

COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION of 15 March 2001 on the standing of victims in criminal proceedings

Policy & legislation• “The current survey confirmed the notion that most

EU member states consider penal mediation to be appropriate for lesser crimes, but not for grave offences.

• According to the experts the exceptions are Finland, Germany, Luxembourg and Poland.

• In Finland the exact circumstances of the offence are taken into account in determining the suitability of mediation.

• In Germany the victims interest is the main criteria and Luxembourg finally bars domestic violence cases.

• In Poland mediation is possible in all cases.”

Project Victims in Europe, APAV for VSE, p114, Lisboa 2009

Policy & legislation

• Question:

Which is better for RJ – a statutory or non statutory base?

Practice & trainingThe training of mediators in criminal matters often varies from project to project.

Some training programmes are very comprehensive; some mediators, however, are only trained in the basics of mediation; others are not trained at all.

...Working with offenders and certainly with victims of crime, requires specific attitudes, techniques and sensitivities.

Recommendations on the training of mediators in criminal matters, European Forum for Restorative Justice, Leuven 2004.

Practice & training• TOA – Servicebuero (Täter-Opfer-Ausgleich) draft 6th edition since 1994.

• Standards - Mediation services should be governed by

recognised standards. - Mediation services should have sufficient

autonomy in performing their duties. Standards of competence and ethical rules, as well as procedures for the selection, training and assessment of mediators should be developed.

- Mediation services should be monitored by a competent body.

(RECOMMENDATION No. R (99) 19 of the COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS to member states concerning mediation in penal matters. )

Practice & training

• Question:

Which is better: standards at European or national level or some combination of both?

Research

• Building Social Support for Restorative Justice

• Restorative Justice and Crime Prevention

• Mediation and Restorative Justice in Prison settings

Research

• Question:

From a research perspective, what is next on the agenda?

Developments

• Domestic violence• The position of the victim• Availability – penal intervention /

a service to the public• Technology• European Commission

Developments

• Question:

How do you identify development opportunities in your own practice?

Summary

• What would make RJ even better in UK?

Sources

• Recommendations on the training of mediators in criminal matters, European Forum for Restorative Justice, Leuven 2004.

• Guidelines for a better implementation of the existing Recommendation concerning mediation in penal matters – Council of Europe; EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR THE EFFICIENCY OF JUSTICE(CEPEJ); Strasbourg 7 December 2007

• Restorative Justice: an Agenda for Europe, the role of the European Union in the further development of restorative justice, Jolien Willemsens, European Forum for Restorative Justice, Leuven 2008.

• Project Victims in Europe, APAV for VSE, Lisboa 2009

• Final Report of National Commission on Restorative Justice, Judge Mary Martin et al, Dept of Justice, Equality & Law Reform, Dublin 2009

More information

www.euforumrj.org

Annual Practitioners’ Day Annual Practitioners’ Day 20102010

www.restorativejustice.org.uk

The RJC Annual Practitioners’ Day 2010 is supported by: