This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Appointments to accreditation panel
17/01/2003
Appointments to the Accreditation Panel which will deal with community supervision programmes for adult and young offenders, were announced today.
The panel has been set up to accredit community supervision programmes and its work aims to reduce reoffending by promoting excellence in programmes in the community dealing with offenders.
Alan Finlayson is appointed for a two year period to chair the new Panel. In addition to his work as a part time sheriff, his previous experience includes his appointment as Reporter to the Children's Panel for Edinburgh City together with extensive experience of and interest in criminal justice social work practice.
Accreditation Panel members have been drawn from both within and outwith Scotland to ensure that the Panel has access to relevant expertise and experience in this specialist field.
Commenting on the appointments, Justice Minister Jim Wallace said:
"I am delighted that Alan Finlayson has agreed to take on this important task. His background and experience make him the ideal person to lead the Panel through its formative stages. I am confident that he will prove to be an effective chair with a focus on achieving results and outcomes.
"We have also been very fortunate in attracting such eminent figures in the field of programme accreditation to serve on the Panel. Membership includes internationally recognised figures and we have secured a strong cross representation with the Joint Prison and Probation Accreditation Panel, operating in England and Wales and the Scottish Prison Service's Accreditation Panel. Each individual brings a diverse range of skills and experience, which will undoubtedly contribute to the future success of the Panel."
Cathy Jamieson added:
"Scotland's Accreditation Panel will combine the experience and knowledge of people who work with offenders, to ensure that services to prevent their re-offending are effective.
"At the heart of the Executive's action plan to reduce youth crime is our determination to reduce the number of persistent young offenders. I expect the introduction of accredited programmes for this group to be the first priority in youth justice for the panel."
The Accreditation Panel will function as an independent group providing advice to Scottish Ministers. It has a remit to support the Executive's objective of reducing re-offending by promoting excellence in programmes in the community dealing with offenders and by accrediting and encouraging effective approaches. The work of the Panel will extend to embrace youth justice during the course of 2003.
Members are being appointed for an initial period of 2 years. It is envisaged that the Panel will meet approximately 10 full days per year.
Details of the appointments are set out below:
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SOCIAL WORK ACCREDITATION PANEL MEMBERS
Mr Alan Finlayson (Chairman): Alan Finlayson was a solicitor between 1965 and 1970 before being appointed Reporter to the Children's Panel for Edinburgh City then Lothian Region before retiring from that office. In 1991 he gained a commission as a temporary Sheriff before more recently being appointed a part time sheriff. In these capacities he has achieved the unusual distinction of sitting in every Sheriff Court in Scotland. He has extensive experience of and interest in social work practice relating to criminal justice services and is highly regarded by those working in the field.
Ms Meg Blumsom: National Probation Service Programme Development Manager. Has held numerous positions within the probation service. As Head of Offending Behaviour Programmes with the National Probation Service she has responsibility for the development of programmes across England and Wales and has provided advice on panel work to the Swedish accreditation panel. She has also been an external examiner to the Diploma in Social work and MSc course (offenders) for Southampton University and for Bradford and Ilkely colleges.
Mr Brian Fearon: Assistant Director of Fieldwork and Community Services, Central Regional Council, 1987-1994. Head of ChildCare, Central Regional Council, 1994 - 1995. Retired as Director of Social Services with responsibility for Social Work and Housing Services in East Dunbartonshire Council from 1995 - 2000. Member of Expert Panel on Sex Offenders 1998. Advisor to COSLA and Scottish Executive. Tutor at Edinburgh University Social Work Department on the MSc/Advanced Criminal Justice Award. Chair of Clackmannanshire Child Protection Committee. Secretary of the Association of Directors of Social Work in Scotland.
Ms Jo Knox: Depute Chief Inspector, Criminal Justice Social Work. Has substantial experience as a social work practitioner and manager. Has worked as a probation officer in addition to experience of criminal justice and children's social work services, including prison based social work. Was a lecturer in criminal justice social work at Edinburgh University before joining Social Work Services Inspectorate.
Professor Gill McIvor: Professor of Social Work and Director of the Social Work Research Centre, based at Stirling University. Teaching: MSc in Advanced Social Work Studies in Criminal Justice. Research Interests: Social work and criminal justice; female offenders; alternatives to custody; children, young people and crime; crime and social exclusion; drug treatment and testing. Current member of the Scottish Prison Service Accreditation Panel and advisor to the Joint Prisons and Probation Accreditation Panel for England and Wales.
Mr Philip Priestley: Independent academic and consultant with extensive experience in this field. Has worked as a probation officer and jointly with James McGuire doing research, teaching, training and writing in the area of social skills and offending behaviour. Publications include Offending Behaviour: Skills & Stratagems for Going Straight.
Professor Peter Raynor: Professor of Applied Social Studies, University of Wales. Current work includes developing research and teaching in criminal justice and criminology. Main research interests are in the field of social work with offenders, with particular interest in evaluative studies of probation practice. Other interests have included juvenile justice, substance abuse, and aspects of social work education. He has published extensively in the above fields. Current member of the Joint Prisons and Probation Accreditation Panel, and is a member of the South Wales Area Probation Board.
Ms Morag Slessor: Current post - Consultant Forensic Clinical Psychologist, Forensic Community Mental Health Team, Forth Valley Primary Care Trust. Additional responsibilities include being a Member of the Parole Board for Scotland and Visiting Lecturer, MPhil in Clinical Psychology, University of Edinburgh. Has an extensive knowledge of the field of risk assessment and management, particularly in relation to violent offenders.
Mr Bill Whyte: Director, Criminal Justice Development Centre. Has extensive experience in social work as a practitioner, manager and academic, particularly in the field of youth justice and criminal justice social work. Previous experience includes research, practice development and designing research studies. Has undertaken a number of commissioned studies in the field of youth and criminal justice. Was previously Director for MSc in Advanced Social Work Studies in Criminal Justice for managers and experienced social work practitioners.
Mr Ed Wozniak: Head of Research & Evaluation Services with Scottish Prison Service. Was a member of the planning committee and a keynote speaker at the international "Towards a Safer Society" conference held in Glasgow in September 2002. Is a Psychologist by profession and has published extensively.
This release was first published on 21/01/2003