Guidance is going to assist the training of probation workers

Thursday, 28 July 2016 09:17 |

The work of the probation workers and the specific functions they have in the system for execution of punishments requires the presence of particular competences providing the efficiency of the measures enforced by court. The development of the probation services, the changes in the normative order as well as the changes in the society and in the socio-demographic profile of the offenders challenge the probation workers to constantly improve themselves. This regards not only the improvement of their professional competencies but also their continuing training and their qualification in the long term.

After conducting an assessment of their needs for a training within project “European Standards in Probation Training” and after implementing inquiries, focus groups, and structured interviews with workers and heads of probation services, it became clear that the probation workers’ trainings had to include topics which would provide them with a thorough understanding of the European practices of jurisdiction and probation activity. There were also other topics that were highlighted such as work with people with addictions, with radicalists, and with people with mental disorders and backwardness, organization and conduction of individual and group work with individuals dismissed ahead of term, conduction of trainings for social skills, psychology of criminal behavior, etc.

The survey showed the need for a training of topics related to planning, organizing, and conducting group and individual work with different categories of offenders, including individuals dismissed ahead of term, as well as issues related to emotional burnout in professional environment. As a response to the received results from the survey, under project ”European Standards in Probation Training” it was developed Conception for a training of probation workers, which provides an efficient and complete system of trainings responding to the probation workers’ needs. Two programmes for a training of probation workers were developed: Programme for increase of the professional competencies of the probation workers and Programme for a continuing training of the probation workers. For the sake of the efficiency of the trainings, a programme for a training of trainers was developed.

The programmes are compiled in a special edition “Trainings for Increase of the Professional Competencies and Continuing Qualification of the Probation Workers. Guidance for the participants in the trainings.” This is designed for probation workers who will go through a training for increase of their professional competencies or a continuing training. The edition includes information and training materials necessary for the conduction of the trainings, which are set as appendixes in each separate topic.

The authors of the articles are: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladimir Velinov, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bozhidara Kriviradeva, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yoanka Purvanova, and Diana Velkova.

Project “European Standards in Probation Training” has been funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 under Programme BG15 “Corrective Services Including Non-Custodial Sanctions”.