Supported accommodation services include The Innis Centre and Dismas House where work is undertaken in an impartial, courteous and professional manner. These Units provide supported accommodation for offenders assessed as medium and high risk of re-offending. Both facilities:

• Work in partnership with Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI), Police Service for Northern Ireland (PSNI), Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS), Social Services, Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) and other relevant stakeholders to reduce the offender's risk of re-offending and assist them in their successful re-integration back into the community.
• Contribute to the assessment and management of offenders, and assist when necessary in any enforcement proceedings.
• Use this assessment to agree and provide a range of structured interventions aimed at addressing each individual's criminogenic needs.
• Co-ordinate the delivery of any rehabilitation services or interventions aimed at meeting these needs.
• Ensure adherence to health and safety requirements in order to provide a safe and secure working and living environment for Residents and Staff.
• 'Provide facilities and regimes that are accessible to all relevant Offender groups and cater for the diverse needs of all residents' (Probation, 37/2005)
• Work in partnership with PBNI and LAPPP's to “...take all reasonable action to keep to a minimum the offender's risk of harm to others” (HMIP, 2007, 'Not Locked up but Subject to Rules)

The innis Centre and Dismas House

Description

The Innis Centre and Dismas House are residential units both situated in Belfast Both facilities accommodate adult male offenders assessed as medium and high risk of re-offending. This client group present with multi-complex risks and needs which need to be assessed and managed, such as;

Referral Criteria

The Innis Centre and Dismas House will consider referrals for adult males aged 18 or over.

• All clients are referred via Probation Officers based in the prisons or in the community. These referrals are processed via the Hostel Referral Panel which meets on a weekly basis to discuss referrals, arrange interviews and allocate places for those seeking Approved Accommodation.
• All Offenders allocated a placement in Approved Accommodation are assessed as medium or high risk of re-offending and have been involved in a variety of offending behaviour.
• Decisions regarding placements are made with victim considerations to the fore.
• All residents are subject to variety of Court Orders and must be allocated a Unit Key-worker and Probation Officer.

Objectives 

Public Protection Measures

Close co-operation and information sharing between relevant organisations involved in Public Protection Arrangements for Northern Ireland (PPANI). This aims to ensure that relevant information is made available in good time to help make sound, effective risk assessments and draw up risk management plans.

Practice Issues

• Adhering to the basics of good practice - observation, accurate and accountable recording, spending time / being with residents, consistency, establishing and maintaining appropriate boundaries, flexibility, meeting basic needs - clothing, hygiene, GP and Dentist registration.
• Staff Communication - handovers, memo's, detailed (monthly and or weekly) reports, risk assessments.
• Working in Partnership - Offenders to read and sign case notes and monthly reviews. Self-Assessment of risk by Offender to be incorporated into Unit Risk Assessments.
• Handover meetings - key issues are shared and responded to appropriately and in a timely manner.
• Adherence to Standards of practice
• Awareness of Legislation, Court Orders, Child Protection Procedures, Research and Integration of Theory into Practice.
• Awareness of offending behaviour.
• Staff Awareness of specific offending hazards e.g. alcohol, drug use, anger, domestic violence, internet use, inter-familial contact, visiting child centred locations, social isolation.

Multi-Disciplinary Working

• Ongoing feedback to PBNI via detailed monthly or weekly reports, tripartite meetings, via telephone and written records of contact, consistency when dealing with noncompliance.
• Multi-disciplinary communication and working with stakeholders such as; PSNI, PBNI, Social Services, Training Providers, and Floating Support.
• Ensuring referral to supervised activities - Art Therapy, Music, Adult Literacy, AXIS and NIACRO.
• Adherence to directions and guidance given by LAPPP's.

Working Hours:

Residential Programme