Introduction
When assessing an offender for a work placement, the following issues are taken into account:
- the offender’s suitability
- work skills opportunities
- whether CWA or CWC is appropriate
- placement availability, and
- offender’s work/family commitments.
Offender’s suitability
An offender's suitability will be assessed against the following criteria:
- age (particularly in relation to young offenders – see note below)
- nature of current offence
- previous offending history
- previous compliance/history of breaches
- affiliations (pro/anti-social)
- personal characteristics and circumstances
- offender availability, and
- assessments:
- motivation
- risk rating (RoC*RoI), and offender warning system (OWS) assessment
- issues raised through screening assessment (risk to self or others)
- physical and/or mental capabilities
- vulnerability (age, gender, intellectual or mental health issues), and
- reintegrative needs that are likely to affect compliance.
Note: All offenders, regardless of age, can be placed at a CWC. However, every effort should be made to place young offenders at a CWA as the first option. If this is not possible, special care should be taken when allocating a young offender to a work party to reduce the effects of contamination.
Work skills opportunities criteria
The offender's work skills opportunities will be assessed against the following criteria:
- opportunity to learn work skills/habits
- use of existing skills – benefits to agency
- cultural needs/reintegrative opportunities
- ability/need to work in both CWC and CWA placements (to complete hours), and
- number of hours of CW to be undertaken.
Agency versus centre
An offender will be assessed for availability, suitability and work skills opportunities for placement with a CWA.
If the offender is assessed as unsuitable, unable or unwilling, then placement at a CWC must be considered.
Criteria for placement availability
The offender should be assessed against the following criteria for placement availability:
- location with respect to a CWA or CWC
- transport availability
- employment commitments
- education (level, needs, commitments)
- religious needs/commitments
- requirements of other sentences, such as:
- programmes, and
- home detention (HD) phase
- social and family needs
- restrictions such as:
- witness protection
- non-association, and
- protection orders
- availability of a suitable CWA, and
- offender availability, including:
- times (including hours/frequency), and
- locations.
