Determining Non Attendance or Cooperation Issues

Introduction

This topic outlines the responsibilities and initial steps to take when determining non attendance or cooperation issues.

CPPS requirements

Any non attendance or cooperation issues must be dealt with by CPPS. The programme provider or representatives have no responsibility for enforcement action of any kind.

The programme provider may be asked to provide information and/or statements as required to support the CPPS staff to:

• determine that some or all of the BWLS hours are not to be counted
• take enforcement action, or
• take any other necessary action.

Note: CPPS staff may contact the programme provider (other than Work and Income providers) directly to obtain clarification of any matters raised from the timesheet or to seek further information where this is required.

Work and Income specific requirements

If the BWLS programme is being provided via Work and Income, then Work and Income will manage the relationship with the programme provider. This includes taking action to seek any additional information that may be required. CPPS staff will only contact the programme provider directly where this has been approved by the Work and Income liaison person, or where the matter is urgent.

The intended response to any attendance or cooperation issue should, in general, be advised to the Work and Income liaison person in advance of the action being taken.

Note: Work and Income may also impose requirements on the offender to attend programmes provided by them because the offender is a beneficiary. While CPPS may decide to cancel the BWLS ITR and/or not to count the programme hours as BWLS hours, it may not be appropriate for CPPS to stop an offender’s attendance at a Work and Income programme. If Work and Income require continued attendance but a decision has been made to stop counting hours as BWLS, the offender is required to complete their hours as CW.

Determining the issues with the offender

Non attendance or cooperation issues may be raised by the provider/ Work and Income liaison person or the offender, or through the monitoring timesheets

If the offender has raised the issue:

• investigate the issue with the offender and the provider (or the Work and Income liaison person), and
• determine what action(s) may be required.

Determining the issue with the provider

If the issue has been raised through the BWLS monitoring timesheets, contact the programme provider or Work and Income liaison person (as appropriate), to seek further clarification.

Following contact with the provider/Work and Income liaison person, determine whether the issue raised is sufficiently serious to require an interview with the offender.

If appropriate, issue the offender an ITR or a letter directing them to report for an interview to discuss the information.

Note: If the offender has ceased to attend the BWLS programme, they are required to advise their CPPS supervisor within 3 days.