Case Planning and Case Management

Individual case planning that matches assessed risks/needs to services and case management of detainees which provides appropriate levels and types of support to address those risks/needs, are consistently documented as good practice in the international research and practice literature. However, although no specific features unique to the management of home detainees were cited, with the possible exception of support being provided to families of detainees in their role as co-residents (cited in one report).

Several case managers identified case management practices as critical success factors for successful HD programs, including: an intensive case management approach combining monitoring/supervision with guidance/counselling; an effective case management approach based on one to one personal contact; and ensuring ‘a constructive day’ through work or other activities. Another noted the importance of consistent policy and practice so that everyone is aware of expected standards and boundaries.

Comparison:

All jurisdictions engage in a case planning approach that is documented in policy and procedures documentation, although jurisdictions vary in the extent to which explicit policies and procedures applicable to HD detainees are separately documented or are governed by non-specific case management policies and procedures generally applicable to all offenders on community based supervision (see later section on program administration).

While all jurisdictions apply a case management approach under which the offender’s assessed needs are addressed through participation in specified programs or approved activities, there is some variation in the timing of case planning commencement and review. In NSW, policy documents state that objectives and case plan should be developed at the same time as the suitability assessment report is being prepared for court (which is prior to the HD order being made). In Victoria and NZ this occurs during induction (which occurs on the first day and during the first week of the order respectively), and in SA the case plan must be completed within two weeks of prison release. Jurisdictions also vary in the extent to which policy documentation makes explicit the core matters to be covered in the case plan (see table below).

There is substantial variation in case plan review timing and processes (see second table below). In some jurisdictions there are regular scheduled reviews (eg, monthly in Victoria and 6 monthly in SA).

Features of case planning for persons on HD

	point at which planning process commences	core matters covered in plan
NSW ¹	objectives and case plan should be developed at the same time as the suitability assessment for court	risk factor identification (using LSI-R) targets time frames outcomes responsibility review date
Vic	Offender Management Plan (OMP) initiated during the induction, which must be completed on the first day of the order	all the goals required to be achieved during the order, the strategies to address these goals and imposition of timelines to ensure that the agreed activities address the offending behaviour strategies to be utilised to fulfil any other orders of compliance in terms of compensation or restitution orders issued by the court requirement for and frequency of home visits and schedule of other contacts
Qld	initial case management plan done within 21 days of entering custody, reviewed prior to release to HD	surveillance schedule summary of any additional requirements and risk factors strategies and actions to be implemented in relation to these requirements/risk factors schedule of periodic case reviews
SA	HD Management Plan process commences at intake (generally conducted at residence), each detainee to have a case plan within two weeks of release from prison	conditions of release/order structured day activities risk factors special needs program referrals referral outcomes goals review date
ACT	preliminary case plan included in the assessment report; documented case plan developed within 5 working days of induction, HD Unit Case Managers responsible for actively case managing each detainee immediately following the handing down of a HD order by the Court	details of the detainee’s assessed risk factors and criminogenic needs; objectives for the Home Detention period; specific intervention steps required to achieve the objectives; specific intervention steps required to monitor the compliance with the HD order conditions or any additional conditions set by the Court; details of proposed reparation; time frames for the intervention steps; recommended supervision category (high, medium, and low needs); review of the case plan by the HD Unit Manager and review date for the case plan
NT ²	Client Profile and written Case Plan should be finalised within 6 weeks of first client contact	goals, objectives, tasks, timeframes and responsibility for the task, based on client profile action/priority target areas and target issues/strengths
NZ	Sentence Plan commenced at third meeting after release (see information provision section above)	reporting requirements problems/issues relating to offending objectives strategies for achieving objectives and meeting sentence conditions activities (specifying scheduled activities to be undertaken to achieve objectives and meet sentence conditions responsibility (in relation to the roles of the offender and the Probation Officer in each activity) contingency plan to assist the offender to achieve successful completion, including Reintegrative Needs Assessment

Case review for persons on HD

	features	frequency	responsibility
NSW	no scheduled formal review of overall case management plan but case progress is assessed weekly	weekly case progress assessment	Home Detention Unit team
Vic	regular scheduled review of Offender Management Plan	fortnightly	Home Detention Manager with the case manager
Qld	case reviews occur on a regular schedule throughout the sentence and at event-driven points, eg, entry to HD or parole	6 monthly intervals throughout the sentence	review team consisting of minimum of supervising officer and Area Manager/ Team Leader
SA	case discussion on: progress and compliance with the management plan, referral progress/outcomes, any other existing supervision, any change to supervision level, approved passes/nonessential passes, variations, disciplinary action and formal breaches, and any other matters requiring discussion or review	monthly	Manager Case Management and Home Detention Case Manager
ACT	should include discussion of: progress and compliance with the case plan objectives; reassessment of the level of supervision; individual requests; approved passes; variation to schedules etc, disciplinary matters; and other matters requiring review	no less than fortnightly for category ‘A’ detainees, monthly for category ‘B’, and six weekly for category ‘C’	conducted by Case manager and Home Detention Unit Manager
NT ³	purpose of file reviews: to make sure all order conditions are being followed up; procedures are being followed and breach action taken when it should be; provide a “fresh” point of view; provide suggestions and advice on other things to try/services to refer to; and provide some back up and support	case file reviews every 3 months for new officers (of up to 12 months NT experience) and every 6 months for experienced officers	conducted by peers at the same level or above as determined by the relevant Manager or Assistant Director
NZ	a review of the management regime is conducted for all home detainees excluding preparole detainees, sex offenders, Offender Warning System (OWS) offenders, and those with a victim registered with the Victim Notification Register	within four-six weeks of the commencement of the order; threemonthly or eventdriven reviews of progress against the Sentence Plan	case officer

1 NSW: taken from Probation and Parole Policy and Procedures Manual, not detailed in specific HD policy.

2 NT: taken from generic Case Management policy, not detailed in specific HD policy.

3 NT: taken from generic Case Management policy, not detailed in specific HD policy.

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