SPM Participants

Introduction

This section identifies potential participants for SPMs. The supervising Probation Officer should work with the offender to identify who should attend in the particular case and record participants on the Participant Checklist (available on Corrnet).

Participants: Professionals

The following list identifies potential SPM participants who may have or need to have professional involvement with the offender. The role of all professionals in the SPM is to promote community and offender safety. Participants' specific roles in the SPM are outlined below.

Person	Role
Supervising Probation Officer	official oversight of safety plan. provides information. organises the SPM. acts as a scribe, records the content of the SPM.
Psychologist	ongoing risk assessment. development of safety plan. special condition or referral to PS not necessary.
Facilitator PO	facilitates the SPM.
Police	help manage victim awareness and community response.
Child, Youth and Family	advise on access to children. advise on possible reintegration into family.
Other government agency, eg. MSD/WINZ, Housing	arrange assistance in their field if there is an identified need, eg. employment, accommodation.
Programme or treatment providers e.g. private or alcohol and drug counsellor	provide information and contribute to safety plan. awareness of safety plan to reinforce and monitor in treatment/programme.
Kia Marama/Te Piriti Reintegration Officer	provide information and contribute to safety plan.
Kia Marama/Te Piriti Maintenance Group Facilitator	provide information and contribute to safety plan. awareness of safety plan to reinforce and monitor in group sessions.
PARS/Prison Fellowship NZ	provide some support in community.

Participants: personal

The following list identifies potential SPM participants with a personal relationship with the offender and their role in the SPM.

Person	Role
Partner, parents, adult children or other whanau Friends or volunteer support people	close relationship with offender. may live nearby and offer housing or help with reintegration. must be informed and competent adults who are unlikely to collude. Contribute information in the meeting about the offender's risk. support for the offender. monitor risk and use the safety plan's strategies to mitigate risk.
Colleagues/Employer	provide support. develop safety plan for employment.
Church or marae representatives	provide support develop safety plan for that context.
Other	for example, an interpreter.

Helping find support people

It may be difficult for some offenders to identify supports in the community to invite to a Support Planning Meeting. Where an offender has limited support the Probation Officer may, with the offender's approval, assist with finding alternative sources of support, eg. PARS, prison visitors, other offender support groups.

Mandatory participants?

It is anticipated that CYF and Police will be participants in most SPMs given the risks and needs which make the offender suitable for an SPM. If the PO does not identify CYF or Police as necessary participants, then the PO should:

Consult with their Service Manager, facilitator and the psychologist.
Decide whether a meeting excluding CYF or Police is capable of producing an effective and defensible safety plan.

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