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Project „European standards in probation training“, Contract ¹ 93-00-201/02.04.2015 is funded Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, Program BG15 "Correctional Services including Non-custodial Sanctions" |
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Supervisions help trainers from the system of Directorate General „Execution of Punishments” (DGEP)
During the second continuing training of probation workers under project „European Standards in Probation Training”, which took place from 10th till 17th July in Bansko, a number of individual supervisions of the trainers took place as well. These trainers are workers from the system of DGEP in the country who have been trained for this from the very first training stage of this project.
Two experts were hired for conducting the supervisions who initially designed a Model for individual supervision and later – a Schedule for its conduction.
The supervisions themselves were conducted during the training – between the activities and at the end of the activities, and included 10 trainers – workers in the system of DGEP in the country. The balance after the activity is: 36 individual supervisions with all trained trainers.
The aim of the activities is to support the trainers in ther work process and to deal with difficulties during the conduction of the trainings.
Representatives of the Regional probation services in Smolyan, Yambol, Haskovo, Pleven, Burgas, Sliven, Pernik, Blagoevgrad, Pazardzhik, and Kardzhali took part in the training itself.
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”.
Guidance is going to assist the training of probation workers
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”.
Efficiency assessment of conducted trainings
Efficiency assessment of the programmes implemented by trainers put an end to the experts’ activities under project “European Standards in Probation Training”. The main goal of the project is to improve the practical skills and knowledge of the probation workers in Bulgaria in accordance with the best European standards through a series of trainings aimed at improving their capacity. As part of the project design, two experts took part in all planned trainings – initial and continuing, and took respective feedback from the trainees. The main experts’ conclusions after the efficiency assessment are the following:
In contrast to the trainees taking part in the initial training, those participating in the continuing trainings improve their practical skills; Cases is the most wanted additional material with both groups of workers; Despite the high assessments, there are doubts about the practicality of the programmes and their elements. This requires even bigger synchronization of the training and the practical part; The school year in Regional Services “Execution of Punishments” is the main mechanism for spreading knowledge and skills inside the system and this practice is going to be further developed and formalized; The team meetings and intervisions are an important element of practically mastering and checking the acquired knowledge and skills.
After having made a thorough analysis and efficiency assessment of the conducted trainings, the final versions of the educational programmes were developed as well as the manual for the trainees and the guidance, which is already published and is going to be circulated among the people concerned.
The Project has been funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 under Programme BG15 “Corrective Services Including Non-Custodial Sanctions”.
Second continuing training of probation workers
Second continuing training under project „European Standards in Probation Training” took place in the conference hall of hotel „Riverside” – Bansko, from 10th till 17th July. Probation workers from the Regional probation services in Smolyan, Yambol, Haskovo, Pleven, Burgas, Sliven, Pernik, Blagoevgrad, Pazardzhik, and Kardzhali took part in the training. During the training the following topics were discussed: „Contemporary legal aspects of probation activity”, „Good practices in case planning and case management”, „Individual work with particular categories of offenders”, „Organizing and conducting group work”, „Dealing with emotional burnout and with professional environment”. During the training activities the probation workers had the opportunity to take an active part by asking questions, making comments, and discussing all important topics related to their professional activity.
Their collegues from the probation services, who were already trained within the frst training period of the project, took the role of lecturers. The outside experts also took part in the activities but having only a supporting role at this stage.
At the end of the training the participants filled in Feedback Surveys with which they asessed not only the logistics but also the programme, its proper implementation, and the lecturers’ qualities.
Individual supervisions of the trainers from Directorate General „Execution of Punishments” were conducted during the training.
The programme has been funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 under Programme BG15 „Correcive Services Including Non-Custodial Sanctions”.
Project “European Standards in Probation Training” was brought to an end
Closing conference under Project “European Standards in Probation Training” was held in the Conference Hall of hotel “Hebar” – Pazardzhik, on 22nd July. Probation workers from Pazardzhik and the whole country took part in it as well as representatives of Directorate General “Execution of Punishments” at the Ministry of Justice, and of institutions related to the subject of discussion.Daniela Yordanova – head of sector “Probation” at Directorate General “Execution of Punishments”, Ministry of Justice, opened the Conference. Throughout the Conference the results from the project implementation and the Efficiency Assessment of the developed programmes were reported while impressions from the trainings were shared by an expert-trainer and feedback was presented by the participants in the project training.
The main goal of the project is improving the practical skills and knowledge of the probation workers in Bulgaria according to the best European standards. The project examined the system for training of probation services personnel in Bulgaria, developed a training model corresponding to the best European standards, and conducted a detailed examination of the training needs in order to identify them. Ten probation workers were specially trained and they subsequently trained another 60 probation workers in terms of how to boost their professional competencies.
Crime Prevention Fund – IGA is the leading organization under the project and Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” is its partner.
The project has been funded by the Norwegian financial mechanism 2009-2014 under Programme BG15 “Corrective services including no enforcement of detention measures”.
Continuing training of probation workers in the country
Continuing training of probation workers under Project “European Standards in Probation Training” took place at hotel “Shato Montan” – Troyan, in the period of 3rd - 10th July. Twenty probation workers from probation services in Kardzhali, Pleven, Kyustendil, Blagoevgrad, Smolyan, Stara Zagora, Haskovo, Sliven, Burgas, Yambol, and Pernik took part in it. The three main expert-trainers in the training had only a supportive role in the working process since three of the probation workers who had already been trained during the first training took the role of trainers.
The probation workers were introduced to several general topics: Contemporary legal aspects of probation activity; Good practices in case planning and case management; Organizing and conducting of group work; Dealing with emotional burnout in professional environment.
During the training each of the probation workers also went through individual supervisions with experts in the field.
Specialists in efficiency assessment also took part in the training. Their aim was to gather and summarize the feedback from the participants and then to work on improving and refining the already developed educational programmes.
The Project has been funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 under Programme BG15 “Corrective Services Including Non-Custodial Sanctions”.
Probation workers enhance their qualification
Training of probation workers for enhancing their professional qualification under Project “European Standards in Probation Training” took place at hotel “Riverside” – Bansko, in the period 26th June-3th July. Twenty workers from Regional Probation Services in Vratsa, Haskovo, Pleven, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Sliven, Kardzhali, Burgas, Blagoevgrad, Yambol, and Sliven took part in the training.
Four probation workers who were trained during the first training under this project took the role of trainers. Three experts, who had only a supporting role in the working process, worked together with them.
The following topics were presented within the framework of the programme: International standards and practices in the field of probation; Contemporary models of case management; Psycho-social characteristics of offenders; Inter-institutional cooperation.
In accordance with the project assignments an individual supervision with the trainees was taking place during the training.
Two specialists in efficiency assessment dealt with gathering and summarizing the feedback from the trainees whose purpose was improving the developed educational programmes.
The Project has been funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 under Programme BG15 “Corrective Services Including Non-Custodial Sanctions”.
Training of probation services trainers
Training of trainers under project “European Standards in Probation Training” was held at hotel “Philadelphia” – Pamporovo from 12th till 19th June. Ten workers from the probation services in Smolyan, Haskovo, Kardzhali, Yambol, Sliven, Sandanski, Sofia, Stara Zagora, and Burgas took part in it. The training was conducted by six lecturers-experts in the respective fields who presented topics such as: Forming and managing teams; Team work; Features of group dynamics and trainer’s processes and skills for increasing the efficiency of the training. There was also a series of trainings for work with educational materials.
The aim of the training was developing the probation workers’ professional competencies. At the same time there were individual supervisions with the people being trained.
In line with the activities of the project the workers being trained will start training their colleagues in the system by conforming the features of the training to the features of the profession. They are going to work with programmes for training of probation workers which have been preliminary developed by experts and specialists.
The training was attended by two experts “Assessment of Efficiency” with the aim of getting feedback from the people being trained in relation to the developed educational programmes.
Project “European Standards in Probation Training” has been funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 under Programme BG15 “Corrective Services Including No Enforcement of Detention Measures”.
Seminar with parties concerned within a project for training of probation workers
Seminar with parties concerned took place within Project “European Standards in Probation Training” at the end of February. Representatives of Directorate General “Execution of Punishments” and of its territorial structures in Haskovo, Stara Zagora, and Burgas took part in it. During the seminar the results that had been reached within the project were presented: 10 conducted focus groups, 215 anonymous inquiry cards of probation workers, 40 interviews with people at leading positions in the system, reports on monitoring the programmes for training of probation workers which are used by General Directorate “Execution of Punishments” and programmes for training within different projects that had been implemented during the process of developing probation in Bulgaria. It was also presented the report on monitoring the university programmes for preparing specialists for work in the probation sphere.
Particular attention was paid to the educational programmes developed within the three planned trainings: training of trainers, training of probation workers for increasing their professional competencies, and a continuing training of probation workers.
The participants were given the opportunity to take part in the discussion during the seminar. Everyone expressed a positive opinion on the work that had been done and commented on the conclusions that the experts from the project had reached.
Developing trainings of probation workers
Within Project “European Standards in Probation Training” a survey and assessment of the probation workers’ needs of training were conducted as well as an analysis of the active training programmes in Directorate General “Execution of Punishments”, Sector “Probation”. The survey was conducted through inquiries, focus groups, and structured interviews with workers and managers in the probation offices. There was also an analysis of the active training programmes and the available Master’s programmes preparing specialists for work in the probation field, which are provided by various universities in Bulgaria. On the basis of the received results, the following conclusions were drawn:In the first place, there is a need of actualizing the programme for initial training with subjects which are related to the probation personnel’s work. In the second place, there is a need of developing a complete and consistent system of permanent training related to the specificity of the activity and the workers’ needs, which includes subjects and examples from real life experience as well as exchange of international experience.
There is also a need of developing and endorsing a complete training programme following the workers’ needs with a view to increase their efficiency.
The main goal of the training programme is to provide a systematic, complete, and efficient approach to the training, facilitating the workers in their acquiring knowledge and skills which are necessary for their successful conduction of professional duties and are in accordance with their necessities and the good European practices.
The structure of the complete programme includes 3 separate trainings: Training of people who will subsequently conduct the probation workers’ trainings; Training for increasing the professional competencies of the probation workers; Continuing training of the probation workers.
The target group of the trainings is workers who have done more than 5 years of service in the probation system, who have finished an initial training and a training for increasing professional competencies. The methodology of the training includes various methods consistent with the workers’ needs and with the good practices in the training of adults: presentations, solving cases, discussions, brain attacks, role games, debates, lectures, etc.
Probation workers from the whole country are going to be trained
Project “European Standards in Probation Training” focuses on the creation of educational programmes for increasing the probation workers’ level of qualification. A series of survey and expert activities was conducted. An assessment of the need for trainings was made at the first place. The first report summarized the results from the ten conducted focus groups. After that there was a survey with 215 inquiry cards conducted online among workers from the whole country followed by reports from 27 interviews with managers of Regional Offices “Execution of Penalties” as well as 13 interviews with individuals at leading positions in the system.
There were developed reports with conclusions and recommendations about the active programmes for trainings of probation workers in the General Directorate of Execution of Penalties. On the basis of the received results two major conclusions were reached. The first one is related to the need for improving the initial training which is conducted after the probation workers are employed. The other very important conclusion is that an integral system for a permanent training should be created. This system should include the specific character of the activity and the employees’ necessities and in this way it will help for improving the efficiency of their activity.
On the basis of the summarized reports there was developed a conception of the educational programmes for an initial and continuing training of the probation workers in compliance with the European standards. Three educational programmes are going to be developed: Education programme for a training of trainers for increasing the level of professional competences and continuing training; Educational programme for increasing the professional competences, and Educational programme for a continuing training of the probation workers.
The trainings are going to start at the beginning of next year.
Recommendations for improving the contents of the training programmes
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The analyses made within the project allow us to draw several conclusions in terms of the system and the programmes for training of probation workers in our country. Probation workers in general receive the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills for practicing their profession; The training is conducted by highly qualified staff; Master’s programmes provide a comprehensive training of specialists who can work in the preventive and corrective sphere for children and adults.
These are the recommendations made for the team working on developing the training programme for probation workers.
Introducing the use of individual training paths.
Developing the level of qualification in terms of both workers’ and managers’ personnel.
In the delivered training programmes there is a general lack of purposeful training for work with individuals with psychiatric disorders and intellectual disability as well as with people from various minority groups.
Introducing a training for recognizing different psychiatric problems in clients, for copying with critical situations with mentally ill clients, for efficient engagement and achieving a change in them.
Widening the scope of the training for work with offenders with addiction – (alcohol, drugs) and with the ensuing problems for the clients and their reintegration.
Creating at least one master’s programme in the long term entirely focused on specialists in the probation sphere coordinated with Directorate General “Execution of Pusnishments”.
Introducing e-training – flexible, secure, always available, easy for actualizing, and containing more styles and types of information convenient especially for the new generation.
For a qualitative training the following is needed: ensuing trainings for providing a better effect on the whole training process; methods for checking to what extent the workers having been trained use the competences acquired in the process of training; the results from the training should be measured according to evaluating the knowledge and the skills before and after the respective training; the personal judgement of the direct managers is important when evaluating the effect of the trainings.
The training of the managers’ and the administrative personnel is important for improving the work environment.
Analytical report from all surveys
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After a series of conducted surveys in the Regional Probation Services on the territory of the country – focus groups, thorough interviews, and anonymous inquiry cards, the received information was summarized and analyzed in a report.
There is a system for training of probation workers despite the inadequate material and financial resources for its development. Besides trainings directly related to the activity of the probation workers, however, it is necessary to be organized also current courses for increasing the qualification which are not directly related to their activity but increase their organizational culture and motivate them to work with the separate offenders.
According to the majority of the inquired the work in the Probation Services should be done in a team. It should also be focused on work with a specific kind of people sentenced to probation, for example “people driving after alcohol consumption and without a certificate of offence”, “perpetrators of thefts” and “perpetrators of crimes including aggression”.
The interviewed heads in the probation system believe that it is better to be introduced standards for working with sentenced people and providing the Probation Services with a sufficient number of workers working on an individual case.
The interviewees have rarely taken part or have had no opportunities so far to take part in international trainings and seminars but would like to get to know in detail the existing successful probation models in Europe.
The participants believe that they have very good and excellent theoretical knowledge and practical skills but it is necessary to continue to develop and when there is an opportunity – to take part in additional trainings. These are the topics for further training: Managing the team in conditions of financial deficiency and limited rights; Limitations in free movement through electronic monitoring: work with high-risk offenders; Approaches and techniques for increasing the work motivation of workers. Organizational behavior and supervision. Human resources management; Topics related to the work with drug and alcohol addicts; Topics related to work in critical situations (such as professionals and individuals) and many others.
To a huge extent the results from the interviews with representatives of the leading personnel correspond to those from the inquiries among the workers. The results from the anonymous inquiry lead to the conclusion that at national level there is a lack of permanent training of workers in the probation services in the country which does not satisfy their needs to maintain good professional standards at work. There is a strong focus on the probation workers’ need for communication and exchange of experience among themselves with a view to equalize approaches for working and copying with specific cases from the practice.
In general the discussions in the focus groups are constructive. The following conclusions can me drawn: the initial training of the probation workers which is obligatory by law and implemented by the training centre in Pleven is useful but insufficient. Significant part of the probation workers who have taken part in the focus groups have done various additional qualification courses and trainings for increasing their professional qualification but it is apparent that all these are rather an outcome of their personal initiative and not a purposeful and systematic policy on behalf of Directorate General “Execution of Punishments”.
As a general conclusion the need for a thorough training and understanding of the European practices for jurisdiction and probation activity stands out. It is also clearly outlined the need for creating and developing a system for a long-term training and qualification of the probation workers which is characterized by regularity, good thematic structure, and adequacy of their needs and necessities.
The majority of the inquired believe that the trainers should be professionals with experience in the probation sphere with preference for psychologists, criminologists, and therapeutists.
Results from the semi-structured interviews conducted in the probation services
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Within Project “European Standards in Probation Training” it was conducted a survey in the probation services in the country through a series of semi-structured interviews with people in leading positions. The main goal of the activity was to study the existing system of training of human personnel. There were conducted interviews with all 27 heads of probation services and with other 13 people in leading positions in the system. As a result from the survey a report was made summarizing the results and drawing the following conclusions.
The heads of the probation system are contented with their activity with which they support and motivate the offenders to change themselves, to change their attitude towards the world and not to conduct antisocial acts anymore. They are aware that they are part of a non-standard occupation, that they can work with highly educated specialists, and that they can constantly develop and be innovative in order to achieve the best results.
According to the majority of the interviewees it is apparent that there is good communication with the other institutions in the community but they believe that it is necessary for the mechanism of work with the Labour Bureaus to be improved. In order for this to be done a coordinating mechanism should be built so that those sentenced to probation would be privileged to take part in the courses for professional qualification organized by the Labour Bureau. It is also necessary to think about a special work regime with those sentenced to probation or those having served a term of imprisonment.
As a whole the interviewed heads in the probation system think that their professional training is enough in order to perform their work duties. There is a system for training of the workers from the probation services in the country but they will only gain if additional trainings made by organizations not part of the system are conducted. It is good for all probation workers to be included in the trainings. Those trainings should be most of all practically orientated as almost all inquired individuals point out the need for solving various cases, role games, and training forms. Not a few of the interviewees think that the training should include both a theoretical and practical part with a priority for the practical one by giving specific cases. It is also good if these trainings focus more on the individual work with the clients by giving them more information on the organization and conduction of group work with the clients.
Project “European Standards in Probation Training” has been funded by Support Programme of NGO in Bulgaria under the Finance Mechanism of the European Economic Space 2009-2014.
The Focus Groups for probation workers have ended
The ten focus groups within Project “European Standards in Probation Training” have ended. The activity was conducted under a specially developed for this purpose methodology. The aim of the activity is to examine the needs for trainings of the probation workers in the country. The focus groups were conducted in five cities in northern Bulgaria and five cities in southern Bulgaria where the Regional Probation Offices are located. In each focus group there were twelve workers.
The subsequent report-analysis from the survey concluded the following: the initial training of the probation workers, which is obligatory by law and conducted by the training centre in Pleven, is useful but insufficient for those working in the penitentiary system. Its untimely or belated conduction after the employment of the probation worker is considered a major problem. This creates prerequisites for the workers’ hindered orientation and adaptation to the organization especially in the critical initial period. A huge number of the probation workers who have taken part in the focus groups have done different additional qualification courses and trainings for increasing the level of their professional qualification but they are more or less a product of their personal initiative and not a purposeful and systematic policy implemented by the General Directorate of Execution of Penalties. Trainings directly related to the probation activity nature or to the contingent peculiarities are rather rare. The prevailing trainings are focused on foreign languages and computer literacy.
The need for a thorough training and understanding of the European practices for law enforcement and probation activity can be considered as the general conclusion of the report. A huge number of the workers share that they have never been in contact with the foreign experience in this field.
It is necessary to be built and developed a system for a continuing training and qualification of the probation workers which is characterized by regularity, a good topical structure, and adequacy of their needs and necessities.
In terms of the initial and continuing professional training the participants in the focus groups point out the necessity for including topics related to the work with drug addicts, individuals who are carriers of radicalism, and people with mental disorders and intellectual disability. They also point out the necessity for preparation for the sphere of the organization and conduction of an individual and group work with conditionally released individuals, trainings for social skills, and psychology of criminal behavior.
Two major conclusions can be outlined. First, the efficiency of the initial training which is conducted after the probation workers are employed should be improved. Second, an integral and consecutive system of a permanent training which is related to the specific character of the activity and the workers’ necessities should be built.
Project “European Standards in Probation Training” has been funded by the Norwegian financial mechanism 2009-2014 under Programme BG15 “Corrective services including no enforcement of detention measures”.
Results from an anonymous inquiry among probation workers
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In relation to the implementation of Project “European Standards in Probation Training” focused on improving the knowledge and skills of the probation workers in Bulgaria according to the best European standards an anonymous inquiry was conducted among 215 workers in the Regional probation services in the country in the period June-August. 55% of the inquired were men and 45% were women from which 82% had a higher education and a medium age of 41 years. The inquiry card had 13 questions altogether. The analysis led to the following important conclusions. At national level there is lack of permanent training of those working in the probation services in the country which generally does not satisfy their needs to maintain good professional standards for work and high motivation in the implementation of their duties.
Although their general education and additional qualification are at a high level they very often correspond to various professional spheres different from the sphere of work with offenders.
Especially characteristic is the probation workers’ need for communication and exchange of experience among themselves with a view to equalize approaches in their work and cope with specific cases in practice.
In this sense there is an indisputable need for developing a system for a current training of the workers from the probation services in the country especially in the strictly professional sphere of work with offenders with specific problems – addictions, psychiatric disorders, illiteracy, and people from minorities as well as getting to know practically working individual and group programmes with sentenced people – skills for communication and stimulating a change in their behavior.
An advisable form and method within the system for training of probation workers is the group training work with the participation of specialists from different regions and services in the country which has a practical purpose and is under the form of working in small groups and solving practical cases.
Survey of the training models within the Confederation of European Probation CEP
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Experts from Fund – IGA made a comparative analysis between the active programmes for training of probation workers in Bulgaria and the European practices with the aim to identify the main differences and discrepancies between the existing training programmes and the ones in the developed European member states. The system for training of probation workers in Bulgaria has two components – in the first place it requires a specific education for the probation inspectors and in the second place – there is an obligatory entrance into office in Directorate General “Execution of Punishments”. Since the latter is a basic and obligatory training its contents was also a subject of comparison with the basic “clusters” of competences drawn from the other European member states.
In terms of contents the training of probation workers in Bulgaria to a big extent corresponds to that in the developed European member states. Despite this, however, there are some conspicuous basic elements that are scarce: training for recognizing different psychiatric problems with clients, training for copying with critical situations among clients with psychiatric disorders, training for efficient engagement and achieving a change with them; a bigger scope of the training for work with drug addict offenders and the ensuing problems for the clients and their reintegration; training focused on the probation workers themselves – copying with stress at the work place, improving psychological stamina, preventing occupational burnout.
The survey has been implemented within Project “European Standards in Probation Training”. The analysis is focused on achieving one of the specific goals of the project – survey of the existing system for training of the human personnel in the probation services in the country.
Focus Groups evaluate the needs of training for the probation workers
The Focus Groups conduction started within Project “European Standards in the Probation Training”. The project has been funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 under Programme BG15 “Corrective Services Including No Applying of Imprisonment Measures” and it has been implemented by Crime Prevention Fund – IGA. The Focus Groups are going to be conducted in 10 regional cities – five in Northern Bulgaria and five in Southern Bulgaria. 12 probation workers are going to take part in each one of them. Special methods and questionnaires have been prepared for their conduction. They aim at evaluating the needs of training for the probation workers and the relevant topics are going to underlie the future programmes.
Focus Groups have already been conducted in the Regional Office for Execution of Punishments in Pazardzhik, Plovdiv, Varna, and Sliven. After that come Burgas, Ruse, Lovech, Pleven, Sofia, and the last one is going to be on 17th August in Veliko Turnovo.
The main goal of the project is to improve the practical skills and knowledge of the probation workers in Bulgaria according to the European standards.
Project for training of probation officers has started
An opening conference under project “European Standards in the Training of Probation” was held on 29th May at the Press Club of the Bulgarian News Agency – Pazardzhik. The Project has been implemented by Crime Prevention Fund – IGA in partnership with Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.Among the participants in the conference were Mitko Dimitrov – deputy senior director of Directorate General “Execution of Punishments” with the Ministry of Justice, Daniela Yordanova – head of sector “Probation”, associate professor Dr. Bozhidara Kriviradeva from SU “Kliment Ohridski”, representatives of regional institutions, media and the team of the project.
The main aim of the project is to improve the practical skills and knowledge of the probation officers in Bulgaria according to the best European standards. The specific needs of training are going to be identified by means of a detailed study of the necessities.
The project presents an integral approach to inspecting and improving the mechanisms and the programmes for training of probation officers in the country. Increasing their capacity will significantly improve the skills for efficient work with the people charged with probation: adequate assessment of the necessities and risks in this group, management of cases and positive effect of the measures for rehabilitation and integration provided in the sentences.
