Steps to take
Follow these steps when:
- the offender has BWLS needs, and
- they can be addressed.
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Step
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Action
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1
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Review the details of the programme. Ensure that:
- the timeframe for the programme fits within the offenders sentence timeframe (at least for the completion of the agreed BWLS hours)
- the programme is available within the offender’s residential area
- the content of the programme is not likely to pose any risks for the Department of Corrections (if you have any doubts about this, check with the service manager), and
- if the offender is on a joint sentence, discuss with other staff involved to make sure that the programme fits with the requirements of the other sentence/orders.
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2
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Check the number of hours required by the programme, and if these exceed the offender’s BWLS hours, check whether this is a relatively close match with the maximum available authorised hours. |
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3
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Determine and record your recommendations. Ensure that you include:
- a recommendation to authorise or not authorise the BWLS programme
- the number of BWLS hours to be counted for the programme (this can be up to a maximum of 20% of the sentenced hours)
- whether BWLS can be completed in conjunction with existing CW arrangements, or whether the CW ITR will need to be amended
- the revised CW ITR (if required), and
- reasons to authorise the programme where the programme duration exceeds the maximum number of BWLS hours available.
Reference: This topic, the block titled Matching hours and programmes.
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4
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Forward the proposal to the service manager. |
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5
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Update IOMS casenotes to credit the offender’s CW sentence with the time taken to participate in the referral and assessment steps for BWLS.
Notes:
- This should be done in the report in screen, as a report in for CW.
- Place the completed PAC form on the offender’s hard copy file.
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The service manager approves/declines the proposal
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6
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| If… |
then… |
| the proposal is approved |
go to Volume 3A, Part VIII, Chapter 3, Confirming the Programme Details with the Offender. (Please refer to the related links section on this page). |
| the proposal is declined |
- inform the offender (in writing) that there is no suitable BWLS programme at this time, and that they must continue to complete their CW hours
- record the outcome in IOMS casenotes, and
- advise Work and Income or the programme provider that the offender will not be attending the proposed BWLS programme.
Note: If the proposed programme was a Work and Income programme, the offender may still have obligations to Work and Income to attend the programme.
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Matching hours and programmes
It is unlikely that the programme hours will match the offender’s available BWLS hours (up to 20% of their sentenced hours).
When there is a programme available for the offender, use the following guidelines to check the details of the proposed BWLS hours and programme length/duration.
More programme hours than BWLS hours
Where the number of hours required for the programme are more than the maximum available hours, only recommend for approval if the offender is willing to attend the full programme.
Note: When the programme hours are more than the offender’s BWLS hours, CPPS will monitor compliance on the programme until the total number of BWLS hours has been completed. BWLS hours must be counted from the start of the programme, i.e. it is not possible to choose which elements of the programme to treat as BWLS hours.
No exact number of programme hours
- If the programme is one where the provider has a commitment to work with the participants until a particular outcome is achieved (e.g. successful placement in employment), further details may be required from the programme provider prior to completing the BWLS ITR.
- If the programme does not have an exact number of hours, make sure that sufficient information is available to issue a BWLS ITR covering the agreed BWLS hours.
