Residential Work with Offenders by Emma Wincup

Author:Emma Wincup [Wincup, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781138729551
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2019-11-26T00:00:00+00:00

Concluding comments

This chapter has explored the process of assessing and managing risk in bail and probation hostels. Through focusing on two aspects of hostel work: the referral process and the management of trouble, some of the dilemmas relating to the assessment of management of risk have been highlighted. The particular social, economic and political climate in which hostel staff now work and the unique characteristics of residential work with offenders which give risk assessment and management a particular accent have been outlined. The assessment and management of risk permeates every aspect of work with offenders in residential setting such as bail and probation hostels. There is a need for both proactive action to be taken to reduce the likelihood of violence complemented by policies which outline procedures, including the provision of support for staff if violence should occur.

The need to develop better systems to assess and manage risk is likely to continue as a priority for hostels. Risk management is now perceived as a necessary precondition of effective practice. As scarce resources under the 'new penology' become targeted at the most risky groups, the future for hostels may lie in working with high risk offenders. Hostels have already begun to diversify for example taking prisoners on home leave who are viewed as 'too risky' to be unsupervised; for example, sex offenders. Alternatives measures may be used for some of the client group traditionally accommodated in hostels, for example, electronic monitoring. Whilst current practice and procedures appear generally to work, developing procedures for assessing and managing risk appears crucial. As Kemshall (1996) notes, a way forward is to increase the knowledge base of hostel workers about risk and ground that knowledge in practice experience and practice wisdom. This involves encouraging hostel staff to evaluate in practice (Shaw, 1996), to do explicitly what is already done implicitly and reflect individually and as a team on the process of risk assessment and management in order to encourage best practice.

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