Question reference: S5W-29880
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 12 June 2020
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Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 24 June 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the number of (a) face-to-face, (b) phone and (c) video call meetings there have been between criminal justice social workers and offenders during the COVID-19 lockdown, and when it last corresponded with local authorities on this subject.
Answer
Information is not held centrally on the number of meetings between justice social workers and people who have committed offences during the COVID-19 lockdown.
There is regular engagement between the Scottish Government and Social Work Scotland to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on justice social work and the delivery of community orders, and to discuss any issues or concerns arising. Guidance was issued to Chief Social Work Officers in each local authority area on 20 March to encourage local areas to prioritise cases based on risk of harm and to move to phone contact if and when appropriate.
While data is not collected by the Scottish Government on individual meetings, we are aware that individuals on supervision by justice social work are being seen face-to-face in offices and on home visits where this is assessed as necessary and proportionate based on risk. Most contact continues to be via telephone or video call. Prison-based social work continues to operate, prioritising statutory work, with some teams able to operate within prisons and some remotely.
Further guidance was issued to Chief Social Work Officers on 18 June 2020 to provide an update on priorities and expectations as restrictions begin to ease.