Community Justice Scotland Ceartas Coimhearsnachd Alba Community Justice Outcome Activity Across Scotland Local Area Annual Return Template and Guidance 2019-20 April 2020 Page 1 of 34 1. Background The introduction of the Community Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 triggered the formal implementation of the new model of Community Justice in Scotland. A number of key documents are associated with the Act including the National Strategy, Justice in Scotland: Vision & Priorities and the Framework for Outcomes, Performance and Improvement. The 2016 Act places a duty on community justice statutory partners to produce a Community Justice Outcome Improvement Plan (CJOIP) which outlines key local needs and priorities and the plans and actions to address these against a backdrop of the documents noted above. Beyond this, the partners are also tasked with reporting, on an annual basis, the community justice outcomes and improvements in their area, again with reference to the associated strategy and framework documents and, when complete, submit those annual reports to Community Justice Scotland. Community Justice Scotland is committed to working in partnership with community justice partners and have designed the template and guidance to support local areas in reporting on their annual outcomes and improvements in a meaningful way that captures necessary data in an effective and efficient manner. 2. Statement of Assurance The information submitted to Community Justice Scotland using this template is for the purpose of fulfilling the requirement under s27 of the Community Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 for Community Justice Scotland to produce a report on performance in relation to community justice outcomes across Scotland. The data submitted using this template will be used for this reporting purpose only. In the report, local authority areas will only be specifically identified with their consent. However, Community Justice Partnerships should be aware that any information held by Community Justice Scotland is subject to statutory Freedom of Information obligations. Page 2 of 34 3. General principles of the template The template is designed to capture a range of important data in a way that allows local partners to highlight key aspects of community justice activities, outcomes and improvements over the specified period without it being onerous or time and resource demanding. Most of the template is self-explanatory and, where this is the case, there is little guidance required. In the sections that require more direction for completion, please refer to the template completion guidance which was issued alongside this reporting template. The text (in blue) will outline what is expected in terms of reporting. It would be helpful if responses in each of the “evidence and data” boxes within section 4 of the template (“performance reporting”) is held to a maximum of 300 words per indicator to ensure the main points are captured. This allows for an efficient analysis by Community Justice Scotland on return. The use of bullet points in your answers is acceptable. Where the template asks for evidence, a written response will suffice and there is no expectation that you send additional supporting documentation – if there are any aspects Community Justice Scotland is unclear on it will be our responsibility to request clarification where necessary. If any response or evidence requires details about people with lived experience (e.g. evidence in respect of someone’s life story) please NO NOT include any personal sensitive information (as outlined in Schedules 2 & 3 of the Data Protection Act 1998) as Community Justice Scotland does not require such information. If this is unavoidable then please ensure that the data is fully anonymised. This is the third iteration of the template and guidance. Page 3 of 34 4. Template Completion 1. Community Justice Partnership / Group Details Community Justice Midlothian Community Justice Partnership Partnership / Group Community Justice Jim Sherval, Public Health Consultant, Partnership Group Chair NHS Lothian Community Justice Fiona Kennedy, Community Safety and Justice Manager, Partnership / Group Co- Midlothian Council ordinator Publication date of 31 March 2020 Community Justice Outcome Improvement Plan (CJOIP) 2. Template Sign-off The content of this annual report on community justice outcomes and improvements in our area has been agreed as accurate by the Midlothian Community Justice Board and has been shared with our Community Planning Partnership through our local accountability arrangements. Signature of Community Justice Partnership / Group Chair: Date: 24/09/2020 …………………………………………………………………... ……………………………. 3. Governance Arrangements Please outline below your current governance structure for the community justice arrangements in your area: The Midlothian Community Safety & Justice Partnership Board was established to coordinate and oversee community justice in Midlothian. The Board has responsibility for the implementation of the improvement actions contained within the CJOIP and content of the national strategy. Members of the Board report annually on the indicators contained within the National Outcomes, Performance and Improvement Framework. A multi-agency Midlothian Community Justice Working Group – consisting of statutory and non- statutory partners - was established alongside the Board to develop the CJOIP and drive forward the improvement actions agreed within. The progress of the working group is overseen by the Midlothian Community Safety and Justice Partnership Board. The statutory partners are required to review the Midlothian Community Justice Outcome Improvement Plan throughout the three year period, and in the following circumstances, to determine when a new plan is required: Page 4 of 34 When a revised National Performance Framework for Community Justice is published When a revised National Strategy for Community Justice is published When a revised (Community Planning Partnership) Local Outcomes Improvement Plan (LOIP) for the local authority area is published. Indicators within the CJOIP are included in the LOIP (Single Midlothian Plan) and reported on by the Community Planning Partnership. The Midlothian Community Safety and Justice Partnership is one of five strategic groups within the Community Planning Partnership, and is made up of the following statutory partners: Police Scotland Midlothian Council (Communities and Lifelong Learning, Housing, Education, Children and Families, and Justice Social Work). Scottish Fire and Rescue Service NHS Lothian Integrated Joint Board for Health and Social Care Skills Development Scotland Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service Scottish Prison Service Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service In addition to a number of non-standard partners agreed by the partnership: Victim Support Midlothian Midlothian and East Lothian Drugs and Alcohol Partnership (MELDAP) Mid and East Lothian Women’s Aid Change Grow Live Health in Mind The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 creates the legislative framework for community planning in Scotland. It places a duty on specific statutory partners to contribute towards improving outcomes through community planning. One of the strategic priorities within community planning is reducing inequalities; this includes all of the services that support the reduction of offending and reoffending. Page 5 of 34 4. Performance Reporting – National Outcomes NATIONAL OUTCOME ONE Communities improve their understanding and participation in community justice Indicator Evidence and Data (max 300 words per indicator) Please describe the activity Then describe the impact Activities carried ‘Introducing Community Justice in Midlothian’ event on 20/11/19 attended by 80 MOTIVATION - Improved awareness, motivation and out to engage services users, partners from Justice, health, substance misuse and third sector. enthusiasm for CJ partners and communities to work with Speakers included Karyn McCluskey Naomi Breeze (one woman drama together in the delivery of CJ services. Event feedback ‘communities’ as performance) and James Docherty (professional and personal experience of extremely positive - 78% of attendees rated the event well as other navigating the care and criminal justice system). 5/5. Written feedback included “Inspiring and proof relevant that change can happen”. Overall impact was as constituencies intended. Rewrite of the CJOIP half-day workshop held on 19/02/20. Brought together SERVICE USER LED CJOIP NOW FIT FOR statutory partners, third sector, service users with lived experience of the justice PURPOSE - Rich data collected that formed the basis system, elected members and Board members. ‘Inclusive Justice Co-producing for joint actions and indicators for the new CJOIP. Change’ by Weaver et al was used to ensure that voices, in particular of those Positive feedback from service users who said they with experience of the justice system, were heard and encouraged. Focus groups were pleased to have been invited and were left feeing were established to look at the National Indicators. “respected and listened to”. Community Council training day in Sept 2019- presentation on Community Justice INCREASED AWARENESS of the issues that delivered to Community Council members. underpin offending behaviour and how effective partnership working can begin to address issues within Midlothian. Social Media continuing to be used as a platform for sharing relevant local and WIDER AUDIENCE AND ABLE TO REACH MORE national consultations, strategies