Structured Interventions

Structured Interventions are part of a suite of interventions that Probation Practitioners can refer people to if they present a low risk of recidivism and/or are unsuitable for an Accredited Programme. Structured Interventions can be delivered in a group setting or on a one-to-one basis, have a set format, and are a minimum of four sessions in length.

Structured Interventions are approved for delivery via the HMPPS Effective Interventions Panel and are assessed against seven core Correctional Services Accreditation Advice Panel (CSAAP) principles.

All regions will deliver a minimum of one Structured Intervention in the need areas set out below. Flexibility on meeting regional needs is also a key factor and delivery of any additional Structured Interventions in the three need areas will be at the discretion of the Regional Probation Director.

For an overview of the Structured Interventions available within each probation region, watch this video.

Structured Interventions: Need Areas

Attitudes, Thinking and Behaviour (ATB)

Attitudes, Thinking and Behaviour Structured Interventions aim to reduce recidivism by focusing on one or more of the following areas:

making decisions
solving problems
achieving their goals
managing the influence of anti-social relationships
using pro-social interpersonal skills

These are skills intended to enable participants to overcome challenges and live a purposeful, pro-social lifestyle. Some ATBs will promote these skills within a specified cohort, for example 18-25 year-olds and people with either dangerous driving or drink driving offences.

Available Interventions:

Positive Pathways

Positive Pathways is a strengths-based programme adopting the latest desistance principles which aims to help participants manage challenges relating to their offending.

Positive pathways aims to promote desistance by helping participants strengthen their personal agency, social capital and self-management strategies.

Stepwise Driving

Stepwise Driving is a strengths-based intervention that aims to support desistance from drink and/or drug driving by focusing on areas such as awareness of safe driving; making decisions; and consequential thinking. Stepwise Driving is comprised of insight-oriented psycho-educational content around:

safer driving (e.g., stopping distances, effects of substances on the body, etc)
consequences of dangerous driving
effects of alcohol and drugs on driving
coping with disqualification

Domestic Abuse (DA)

Domestic Abuse Structured Interventions aim to reduce Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) recidivism by focusing on one or more of the following areas:

Attitudes that support healthy relationships
Aggression and anger management
Emotional mismanagement / self-regulation
Social skills
Conflict Management Skills

These are skills intended to enable participants to overcome challenges in relationships and live a purposeful, pro-social lifestyle.

Available Interventions:

Positive Pathways Plus

Positive Pathways Plus is a specifically adapted and extended version of Positive Pathways which addresses a range of domestic abuse and problematic relationship issues, albeit from a personal agency, self-management basis.

Positive Pathways plus offers a separate intervention in the absence of a specifically targeted Accredited Programme requirement, such as Building Better Relationships, which is used where there is evidence of more serious and entrenched harmful behaviour.

Emotional Management (EM)

Emotional Management Structured Interventions are designed to help participants explore and understand their use of violence, and to motivate them towards a violence-free life.

Participants are encouraged to develop and strengthen the resources and protective factors that will support them in reducing the likelihood of using aggressive and / or violent behaviour.

Participants are encouraged to develop realistic and meaningful personal goals that can help them live a more satisfying and pro-social life.

Available Interventions:

Managing My Emotions (MME)

Managing My Emotions (MME) is an anger management programme for individuals whose offending behaviour is linked to a struggle to manage their anger.

Anger is viewed as a normal and healthy emotion that has many layers and that varies in intensity but is identified as an emotion that unchecked can lead to destructive and harmful behaviours.

The approach of MME is to recognise anger in its many shades as symptomatic of unhappiness and dissatisfaction. It focuses on recognising and understanding what is being experienced, identifying causes for this and from there, focuses developing strategies to manage situations and the related emotions effectively.

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