The Brief Overview of the SEEDs Romanian Pilot

The Brief Overview of the SEEDs Romanian Pilot Experience …a style that gives more meaning to our practice…

The context § A long collaboration experience with NOMs, universities and other organisations from UK; § Our first international research experience; § 42 small probation teams (average: 6 - 7 probation counsellors); § The average of caseloads for a RPC at the end of 2013: § App. 80 cases offenders with supervision in the community + App. 28 pre-sentence reports; § 2013 – “the preparation year” for the new penal legislation enforcement.

The content of SEEDs pilot in Romania § Delivery of co-facilitators training; § Delivery of SEED briefing event for Brasov, Dolj and Bucharest § § managers’ team; Delivery of SEED core training for three teams by Nigel Hosking and two Romanian co-trainers; The core training was observed by one expert of ASSW and the feedback questionnaires were collected from the participants at the training; Delivery of three SEED follow up events (continuous professional development); Observe and collect practitioners feedback questionnaires after each follow up training (and some practitioners interviewed);

The content of the pilot in Romania (continued) § Observation of the practice sessions and peer learning group was delivered in three teams; § Questionnaires for offenders collected (the evaluation included all the cases coming into supervision in this period in three teams trained to deliver SEED); § Drafting an interim report on questionnaires from practitioners and training observation by the experts of Sheffield University; § Drafting a final report, including questionnaires for offenders and compliance data on all offenders, by the experts of Sheffield University.

Elements of the transfer and adjustment of the pilot § Area of the SEEDs pilot implementation: • Three probation services selected: - 14 probation counsellors trained from Bucharest team; - 7 probation counsellors trained from Dolj team (Craiova County); • - 8 probation counsellors trained from Brasov team. Opportunity to have the comparison groups (trained/un-trained) in the same PS

Elements of the transfer and adjustment of the pilot (continued)

Elements of the transfer and adjustment of the pilot (continued) Adjustment and translation of the training materials: • Some adjustment of the sessions, such as: the session about professional’ s ethics and values, the TBC recorded session, the ending of supervision; • Some terms is good to remain in English than to be translated; • All the materials were translated and for DVD`s clips were used some transcripts. Tips: Using the same translators/interpreters for all training sessions; Invite specialists to verify the translation; Using subtitle or transcript for the DVD`s clips.

Elements of the transfer and adjustment of the pilot (continued) Trainings delivery: • One more day for the core training and for each follow up courses; • Two training groups organized and maintained during the all trainings;

Elements of the transfer and adjustment of the pilot (continued) Trainings delivery: • The training agenda and materials were adapted according with the length of courses; • Two Romanian trainers were involved to delivery the training sessions; • Preparation sessions for the team of trainers. Tips: The involvement of the local trainers and specialists will permit you to disseminate the model in the future.

Elements of the transfer and adjustment of the pilot (continued) Observation sessions: • A new practice for managers and teams; • An objective and structured method of feedback; • An opportunity for managers to find out the professional potential of their staff. • One manager from pilot observed the practice of all PC, trained an untrained;

Elements of the transfer and adjustment of the pilot (continued) Peer learning groups: • • A welcome practice; A new style of staff interaction; A special invitation: untrained PC, managers or the coordinator of the SEEDs pilot; Tips: In the large teams that organize the PLG named more responsible for organized these groups- one for each.

Elements of the transfer and adjustment of the pilot (continued) § Applying and collecting questionnaires for the convicted persons: • Started to apply questionnaires for the convicted persons after 5 months of supervision (not 2 months as planned); • Application of the questionnaires started at the end of June – beginning of July 2013 until October – December 2013; • Collected until April 2014.

SWOT

SWOT Analysis for SEEDs Strong points: § Professional development of probation officers; § Confirmation of what you do; § Acquiring new exercises/worksheets; § Quick intervention methods adapted to beneficiary needs and crisis; § Meetings are highly-structured and focused; § Improving the professional relation with beneficiaries; § Beneficiaries are more involved, engaged;

SWOT Analysis for SEEDs Strong points: § Activating self-reflection (e. g. Unconscious bias) § Increasing team cohesion and feed-back; § Sharing experiences - referring of the observation sessions and peer learning group; § Feedback from the convicted persons.

SWOT Analysis for SEEDs Weaknesses: § Time for organisation and performance (availability); § Mobility of one of the team (Dolj team) § Training for a part of the members of the teams.

SWOT Analysis for SEEDs Opportunities: § Possibility of improving practice (including the New Criminal § § § Code); Offering new models for good practice; Continuous professional development; Separation from the daily routine and the possibility of reflecting on the method of working with beneficiaries; Possibility of structuring different departments within the service; Possibility of using SEED as a program to be applied as an obligation given by the court.

SWOT Analysis for SEEDs Threats: § Limited space for the activity with beneficiaries - lack of confidentiality, it can affect the 1 to 1 relation and the intervention; § Limited time – high level of case load; § New legislative framework - determines limited time for SEED.

Questions and reflection …

Special thanks for… Angela, Joanna, Ioan, Nigel

Contact details: ramona. balaita@just. ro Thank you!