IntroductionWhat is the Gateway to Practice?

It is a mandatory requirement for all new Practitioners to complete the Gateway to Practice by the end of their two week induction period to a Probation Service provider (10 working days, or pro rata, if part time employed staff).

The Gateway to Practice process formalises the good induction opportunities that the probation service already offer new Practitioner staff.

The Gateway to Practice has been designed to ensure all new practitioners are provided with the induction they require to understand the purpose, key tasks and values of the probation service, including:

Assessment and management of risk of serious harm Interagency work within the criminal justice system to protect the

public Communication skills Diversity

There are four stages (gateways) to the Gateway to Practice document; these include the core learning objectives to be achieved, and are presented in booklet form for completion:

1. Foundation Stone: workplace induction to Policies; Role and Responsibilities, and IT.

2. Gateway 1: a short written question and answer assignment to cover the following: the Criminal Justice System; Risk of Serious Harm and Public Protection; Effective Communication; and Diversity

3. Gateway 2: Observations of work practice by shadowing colleagues. A Shadowing Sheet is to be completed to record observations made.

4. Gateway 3: Demonstration – Use of knowledge and Skills in work practice.

Note for Practitioner:

It is your responsibility to ensure your Line Manager is kept informed of your progress during the Induction / Gateway to Practice process. It is your responsibility to take your assignment work to your Line Manager for

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discussion, and for getting the necessary signatures to complete the full document.

Note for Line Managers:

It is Line Mangers responsibility to: ensure that they are familiar with the Gateway to Practice documentation; to provide the time and learning opportunities for all new Practitioner; to ‘sign off’ each booklet and the completed Gateway to Practice document at the end of the Induction period (details can be found at the end of the document). Only after the completion of the 2 week induction period and the completion of the Gateway to Practice assignment work can Practitioner be assigned to work directly with Offenders.

The completed Gateway to Practice document (with Practitioner and Line Managers signatures) will be subject to Quality Assurance procedures.

In order for Practitioner to complete this document they must be signposted to, and have access to IT systems and information (egs. Epic; Intranet; Library resources; other written materials, Risk of Harm Guidance + Training Resource (V3) via EPIC).The Gateway to Practice document (including the four Booklets) is to be completed and ‘signed off’ by the Line Manager by the end of the 2 week induction period (10 working days, or pro rata, if part time employed staff). Please return the document to your Training Manager (HR if no Training Manager). Please complete your initial appointment date details below, and sign (this marks the first day of your 2 week induction period).Practitioner:.......................................................................

Start Date:.........................................Completion Date:

……………………………….

Line

Manager:......................................................................................

................

Foundation StoneWorkplace induction

Booklet 1 - to be completed within the first 2 days of employment.

Line Manager/Resource Officer to organise access to IT and relevant policies for the booklet to be completed. Line Manager to discuss policies and roles and responsibilities.

Learning Objectives:

Describe roles and responsibilities relevant to their role Access resources relevant to their role Describe key policies relevant to their role including human

resources, health and safety and information sharing and protection.

Outline 5 key policies relevant to your role – Word Limit: 50 to 150 words for each policy listed.Examples: Complaints Procedure; Staff Code of Conduct; Absence Management

Policy Title Describe the policy and how this relates to your role as a Practitioner.

1

Policy Title Describe the policy and how this relates to your role as a Practitioner.

2

Policy Title Describe the policy and how this relates to your role as a Practitioner.

3

Policy Title Describe the policy and how this relates to your role as a Practitioner.

4

Policy Title Describe the policy and how this relates to your role as a Practitioner.

5

Completion Date:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

I have had the opportunity to discuss this with my Line Manager Yes No

Gateway OneThe Criminal Justice System; Risk of Serious Harm and Protection of the Public; Effective Communication; Diversity.

Booklet 2 - to be completed from day 3 to 10 of the induction period.

Practitioner Signature: Line Manager Signature:

Line Manager/Resource Officer to organise access to IT and relevant reading materials for the booklet to be completed. Line Manager to discuss how each of the four areas will link to the Practitioner’s role.

Learning Objectives:Practitioners will demonstrate knowledge by answering the questions in each of the four areas listed below:

The Criminal Justice System What is the Criminal Justice System? Who are the key Stake Holders? Why do we have a Probation Service? What is the Probation Service expected to achieve?

Risk of serious harm and public protection What does ‘risk of serious harm’ and ‘public protection’ mean? Why is it essential to assess and manage risk of serious harm? Why is interagency work important when working with offenders to

protect the public?

Effective communication What are the core elements of effective communication? Why is it important to use effective communication in Probation

work? Who will you need to communicate with, in your Practitioner role? Why is it important to record information about offenders:

accurately and timely? Where is information recorded about offenders in your work place?

Diversity What are the core values of the Probation Service? Why is it important to value diversity?

The Criminal Justice System

Please give a brief explanation for each question. Word Limit for each question: 50 to 100 words.

What is the Criminal Justice System?

Who are the key Stakeholders?

Why do we have a Probation Service?

What is the Probation Service expected to achieve?

Risk of Serious Harm and Public Protection

Please give a brief explanation for each question. Word Limit for each question: 50 to 100 words.

What does risk of ‘serious harm’ and ‘public protection’ mean?

Why is it essential to assess and manage the risk of serious harm?

Why is interagency working important when working with offenders to protect the public?

Effective Communication

What are the core elements of communication? Please list, and give advantages and disadvantages for each type of communication (egs. telephone, letter, email).Type of Communication

Advantages Disadvantages

Continued Over…….

Please give a brief explanation for each of the next four questions. Word Limit for each question: 50 to 100 words.

Why is it important to use effective communication in Probation work?

Who will you need to communicate with in your Practitioner role?Please list the people/organisations and agencies you are likely to be communicating with in your role?

Why is it important to record information about offenders: accurately and timely?

Where is information recorded about offenders in your work place?

Diversity

Please give a brief explanation for each question.

Word Limit for each question: 50 to 150 words.

What are the core values of the Probation Service?

Why is it important to value diversity?

Completion Date:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

I have had the opportunity to discuss this with my Line Manager Yes No Practitioner’s Signature: Line Manager Signature:

Gateway TwoDemonstration

An observed practical demonstration of knowledge and skills used by a colleague in 2 or 3 interview/meetings situations.

Booklet 3 – and the observations: to be completed after day 5 of the induction period.

In conjunction with your Line Manager, or designated staff member, arrange2 to 3 joint pieces of work which could be an interview or meeting situation with an Offender in attendance. In this interview: please explain your name and role as a Practitioner in that situation.

Afterwards: please complete one Shadowing Sheet per interview and submit the Sheets with this booklet. (Note* it may be useful to photocopy the Sheet to use/make notes on in the interview situation).

Please number (1 to 3) the types of interviews you have observed in the order that they were held.

Sentence planning Unpaid workInterventions Victim workReviews Interview of an offenderCourt MAPPAPrison Approved premises

Please Date and get Signatures for each observation when completed.

No. Date of Observation

Practitioner Signature Colleague Signature(observed person)

1

2

3

Booklet Completion Date:…………………………………………………………………………………………..

I have had the opportunity to discuss this with my Line Manager Yes No

Shadowing sheet 1 – to be completed and submitted with booklet 3 (one Shadowing Sheet per observation). Word limit: 50 to 150 per section.

Practitioner’s Signature: Line Manager Signature:

a

What was observed? (give a brief description)

b

What risk issues were highlighted? (environment or relating to offending)

c

What issues of diversity were raised? (eg. Childcare)

d

What different types of communication were used and how effective were they?

e

Outline three learning points from b, c and d?

Shadowing sheet 2 – to be completed and submitted with booklet 3 (one Shadowing Sheet per observation). Word limit: 50 to 150 per section.

a

What was observed?

b

What risk issues were highlighted? (environment or relating to offending)

c

What issues of diversity were raised? (eg. Childcare)

d

What different types of communication were used and how effective were they?

e

Outline three learning points from b, c and d?

Shadowing sheet 3 – to be completed and submitted with booklet 3 (one Shadowing Sheet per observation ). Word limit: 50 to 150 per section.

a

What was observed?

b

What risk issues were highlighted? (environment or relating to offending)

c

What issues of diversity were raised? (eg. Childcare)

d

What different types of communication were used and how effective were they?

e

Outline three learning points from b, c and d?

Gateway ThreeUse of knowledge and skillsIn discussion with your Line Manager discuss and arrange a piece of work which includes communication with a Service user.This piece of work is to be conducted by you and observed by your Line Manager or designated staff member.Afterwards: Discuss learning points with your Line Manager or the designated staff member in relation to the following:b What risk issues were highlighted? (environment or relating to offending)c What issues of diversity were raised? (eg. Childcare)d What different types of communication were used and how effective

were they?

Booklet 4 Completion Date:…………………………………………………………………………………………..

I have had the opportunity to discuss this with my Line Manager Yes No

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Gateway to PracticeCompletion Date:............................................................................................................

I have had the opportunity to discuss this with my Line Manager Yes No

*Congratulations* on the completion of your Gateway to Practice

Practitioner’s Signature:Line Manager Signature:

Practitioner’s Signature:

PRINT:

Line Manager Signature:

PRINT:

Please send your completed Gateway to Practice document to Learning & Development Department, Stourbank House, Kidderminster