Sentence Management toolkits

An Approved Suite of Probation Practitioner Toolkits (ASPPT) are available to Probation Practitioners.

These can be delivered as standalone resources and as a wraparound to other intervention offers supporting the delivery of change work via Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR), licence conditions and some sentence management appointment activities.

By delivering materials from the ASPPT, Practitioners can be assured that they are using approved, evidence informed material, assured against effective intervention principles by the National Effective Interventions Panel (NEIP).

Check out the ASPPT introduction video (password for video ASPPT)

The Approved Suite of Probation Practitioner Toolkits

All ASPPT information is available on EQuiP including an ASPPT FAQ which is currently available here for your convenience.

As of April 2022 the ASPPT contains the following 11 Toolkits:

• New Me MOT
• Constructive Conversations
• Stepping Stones
• Skills for Relationships Toolkit*
• Choices and Changes
• Maps for Change
• Pathways to Change
• Moving On
• Creating Positive Connections
• Responsibly Aware
• First Steps to Change

To note: The chemsex toolkit will not continue as part of the approved suite in its current form. Materials will be re-purposed into a nationally available practitioner resource pack which will be available in the autumn. More information will be available ahead of the resource packs launch.

*Updated – Skills for Relationships – The Skills for Relationships Toolkit is delivered to men with domestic abuse convictions. A new version is available following a redesign to align it with Structured Interventions. The SRT pilot evaluation has been published in the Probation Journal. The research found that practitioners and people on probation perceived that SRT provided an individualised response that helped the development a positive working alliance.

At the start of 2021, we used Home Office innovation funding to develop new SRT digital media clips in collaboration with Design102, Prison Radio Association and people with relevant lived experiences.

Spotlight on new Toolkits – Moving On, Creating Positive Connections, Responsibly Aware and First Steps to Change

Moving On, Creating Positive Connections and Responsibly Aware were all former CRC materials that started life as group work offers. The NEIP supported them for revision and development in 2021, as toolkits. Developers for each toolkit were identified from those former CRCs who are now working in Probation Service Interventions Teams across multiple Regions. Developers have worked passionately and tirelessly to revise products into toolkits and embed the NEIPs feedback to ensure these products align to effective interventions principles. Developers presented the final versions to the NEIP in January, who approved these materials to join the ASPPT. An overview of each toolkit is provided below:

Moving On – is aimed at Males 18+ who are experiencing negative thoughts and feelings about themselves, which are associated with their conviction/offending and its consequences. These thoughts and feelings (which may include offending-related feelings of shame) will be blocking the individual, emotionally or psychologically, from moving forward positively with their life, getting in the way of desistance.

Creating Positive Connections – Men 18+ where it has been identified that they could benefit from developing skills to identify support networks, build self-esteem and confidence to support development of social capital and personal connections.

Responsibly Aware – Men 18+ developed as an early intervention toolkit for males who have started to experience problems in relation to their substance misuse. It takes a harm reduction approach encouraging the participant to develop safe and responsible use. It is not for people who substance use has reached addiction where alternative intervention would be required.

First Steps to Change – Women 18+ intends to support engagement and compliance during the early stages of an Order/Licence by providing practical activities focused on building skills, strengths and strategies to encourage them to desist from offending and have a positive future, taking into account that for a woman to be motivated, she needs to feel safe and supported by someone with a genuine interest in her story.

For more information about the creation of First Steps to Change see an article on the HMPPS Intranet marking International Women’s Day 2022,  featuring the toolkits developer Angela Auty.

NSI recording of ASPPT RAR delivery

There is an advice note for each toolkit in EQUIP that provides clear guidance on how to use the NSI for recording each toolkit.

Training

Practitioners should familiarise themselves with delivery guidance and session content ahead of commencing delivery to individuals on probation. Certain toolkits may require practitioners to attend/engage with training and/or briefings before they are able to use them.

Practitioners should refer to the toolkit manuals on EQuiP for full details of any pre-delivery requirements for PPs.

Non Approved Toolkits

A Non Approved Toolkit refers to any toolkit which is not featured in the above list and is not part of the ASPPT. Non Approved Toolkits are not endorsed by the National Effective Interventions Panel . The panel assesses each Toolkit against established evidence informed effective interventions principles. A Toolkit must demonstrate sufficient alignment to these principles to be considered for inclusion within the ASPPT. Non Approved Toolkit materials should now not be used. As of 31 December 2021 previous interim NSI recording ability in nDelius has been removed for Toolkits that are not part of the ASPPT.

Feedback

Should you have any feedback or queries in relation to individual toolkits or the ASPPT they should send these via the National Effective Interventions Panel Team Functional Mailbox; NEIP@justice.gov.uk