Implementing The Life Line Concept: Report Of The Task Force On Long Term Offenders

Appendix B - In-Reach Worker Orientation And Training

1. REQUIRED READING

More than a Matter of Time by John Braithwaite, 1992.

Long Term Offenders in Forum on Corrections Research, Vol. 4 No.2 June 1992.

Short Time: A Chronicle of Consultation on Life Line by John Braithwaite, 1994.

Task Force Report on Long Term Sentences, Correctional Service of Canada, 1991.

Committee Report - Life Line Project, John Braithwaite Chairman, 1990

Term Imprisonment: Policy, Science, and Correctional Practice, Ed. by Timothy J. Flanagan, Sage Publications. Inc., Thousand Oaks, Ca. 1996.

Corrections and Conditional Release Act

Corrections and Conditional Release Regulations

Correctional Service of Canada Case Management Manual

Correctional Service of Canada Mission Document

National Parole Board Mission Document

2. SKILLS AND ABILITIES TRAINING

Communications Skills - strong emphasis is placed on the necessity for a sound knowledge and understanding of effective communication skills. This is particularly important because the In-Reach Worker must be a representative and program advocate not only inside the institutions but also outside in the community at large, where he or she may required to effectively communicate with any or all facets of society.

Interviewing Skills - is another element where both sound knowledge and successful practice are essential. The extent to which the initial interview with a newly sentenced lifer is productive depends largely on the In-Reach Worker being able to establish an element of trust and belief in the inmate. Coupled with this is the desirability for a rudimentary knowledge of motivational techniques and practices that will ensure that the offender understands, accepts and assimilates the message and recommendations of the In-Reach Worker.

Counselling Skills - A significant part of an In-Reach Worker's duties involves problem-solving and counselling skills. This requires an understanding of behaviour dynamics, the ability to identify and assess various problem situations, suggest solutions and if necessary to intervene where it appears a crisis is developing. All of this must be done while maintaining an environment that is marked by trust and effective relationships.

Information Sharing - Respecting requirements for confidentiality and disclosure are important matters that are critical to the maintenance of credibility with all partners in the process, and with offenders. This also includes the need to have a thorough understanding of the importance of confidentiality, information-sharing and protection of information.

Cross Cultural Sensitivity Training - Canada is a country with many cultures that formally recognizes this fact in its multicultural policies and practices. It is important to ensure that In-Reach Workers understand and respect these policies and make active offers of service to all offenders in their In-Reach target group. From time to time this may require the use of an intermediary to assist with translation and other services. Establishing and maintaining contacts with community-based organizations representing the various ethnic or cultural groups may also be required.

Official Language Policy - This policy guarantees all Canadians of the right to receive service in their designated official language. In-Reach Workers must recognize this fact and if they are not able to provide service directly they should be prepared to find or enlist the assistance of someone who can communicate in the inmate's designated official language.

Case Management and Conditional Release Policies - In order to provide effective service it is critical that In-Reach Workers understand and remain current with the policies, practices, and procedures of the case management process and those of the National Parole Board. The correctional planning process forms the foundation for correctional treatment and as such is of primary importance to the In-Reach Worker's endeavours. Understanding, monitoring, and evaluating client progress on correctional plans is central to the role of the In-Reach Worker since safe release at the earliest time possible is the goal for both the client and the worker.

Community Resources - The In-Reach Worker must have a thorough knowledge of the community resources available to the offenders and their families. Ideally such knowledge would include personal networking with those community resources most commonly used by offenders.

Computer Literacy - Information is electronically managed by the Correctional Service of Canada and the National Parole Board, and increasingly by private sector agencies. To communicate effectively in this domain it is necessary that the In-Reach Worker understand the technology and be able to move with relative ease within the world of information processing.

General Office Procedures - Office organizational skills and procedures are factors that, although seemingly mundane, require understanding and attention. These include routine data collection, report writing, information handling and storage, managing expense claims, time scheduling, and maintaining regular contact with stakeholders. Since there is a good probability that a client may have several In-Reach Workers over the course of a sentence it is important that accurate and useful files be maintained.

 

3. ON-THE-JOB ORIENTATION

Some of the learning process for the above skill areas can be dealt with, or at least introduced, in formal training sessions, while others are best learned and/or reinforced through a phased and supervised period of on-the-job training. The most useful approach may be to introduce the above skills, in formal and informal sessions, over a period of up to six weeks, after which the worker is ready to start a gradual process of taking more direct responsibility for work with the clients.