The offender plan provides the basis for managing and monitoring the sentence/order, and ensures that identified offender needs and the requirements of the sentence/order are addressed.
The offender plan is developed collaboratively between the probation officer and the offender.
The offender plan must be completed in IOMS and a printed copy signed by the offender and the probation officer within four weeks of the sentence/order start date.
If the sentence/order is long or complex, it may be appropriate to develop an initial offender plan (addressing all urgent issues) within four weeks and to complete a comprehensive offender plan at the first three month review.
If the sentence/order is a very short one (less than four weeks) it may be appropriate not to develop an offender plan. However the probation officer must ensure that all requirements of the sentence/order, and particularly any special conditions, are able to be met.
Offender plans should be reviewed at either 3 or 6 month intervals depending on the type of sentence/order.
Offender plans should also be reviewed when:
General Reference: Volume 2, Part V, Chapter 4 – Offender Plan Reviews
It is good practice to develop a draft plan prior to meeting with the offender, to provide a framework for discussion.
Discuss each part in language relevant to the offender (eg, 'violence propensity' may be described as 'I get into fights' or 'I get angry and hit people').
Ensure that the offender understands the plan and that they agree with it (eg, planned reporting requirements have to be met, whether the offender agrees or not).
Be clear with the offender that meeting the requirements of the sentence/order is not optional, and their agreement is sought on how this will be achieved.
Use the following table with general guidelines about how to develop an offender plan with the offender.
Reference: For details on the plan format and how to draft and complete a plan, see Chapter 3 later in this part ‘The Offender Plan’.
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Field |
Guidelines |
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Objectives |
Objectives should address all identified offender needs, risks, and sentence/order requirements. Establish only the number of objectives required to achieve the requirements of the sentence/order. Give priority to objectives that relate directly to standard/special conditions of the sentence/order. Objectives should be translated into the key activities that have to be undertaken in order to achieve them. |
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Key activities |
Key activities include rehabilitation, reintegration and compliance activities. Record the start and end date for each activity. Use the SMART approach, so that each activity is:
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Strategies |
Develop strategies for achieving activities/objectives. Consideration must be given to any barrier that the offender has and which impacts on their ability to comply with the requirements of their sentence/order. Strategies could include:
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Responsibility |
Specify which tasks the probation officer is responsible for and which tasks belong to the offender. |
The probation officer managing the rehabilitative sentence is responsible for completing the offender plan if the offender is subject to dual/multiple sentences.
This includes consulting with other Community Probation & Psychological Services (CPPS) staff, responsible for managing the other sentences, for input when undertaking a review of the plan.
The offender plan will include details of the other sentence/s and objectives/activities related to that sentence.
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