New panel to set standard for social workers in criminal justice system

A panel of experts is to be formed to define the quality
standards for social work programmes within the criminal justice
system in Scotland, following an announcement by justice minister
Jim Wallace.

Making the announcement at the Association of Directors of
Social Work’s criminal justice conference in Dunblane,
Wallace said that a panel of 10 people drawn from local
authorities, academic institutions and the voluntary sector would
be created to define standards and set up a system of
accreditation.

Wallace said that the panel will focus on “the principles of
effective practice”. Referring to the executive’s increased
investment in community disposals rather than penal sentences,
Wallace said: “In shaping the future, the emphasis is likely to
shift to the quality of the service which is being provided. We
must continue to reinforce the message across criminal justice work
with offenders that the priority is what works.”