Corrective Services Welfare Officers – Parklea & MRRC changes

14 November 2005, CC142/05

That the position taken by Welfare Officers in the Department of Corrective Services be endorsed.

The Department of Corrective Services is presently proposing changes to the way the structured day works in both Parklea CC and MRRC. These changes will make access to inmates for one-on-one work more difficult. As a result Welfare Officers have been asked to take part in conducting much of their work in groups. PSA members expressed their concerns that this was outside their position descriptions and would not work well in these two gaols.

The PSA called representatives of welfare members together to help clarify our position in response to these proposals. As a result of that meeting a bulletin has been issued to welfare officers and the Department has been informed of our position.

The position is as follows:
Welfare Officers should refuse to run programs that are the responsibility of other disciplines (AOD, Psychology or Education). If members run these programs they are undermining their colleagues and ultimately their own positions to do the work they were employed to do.

Welfare Officers' Position Description states that they have a "high degree of autonomy" in determining the priorities of their work. They are therefore able to run programs but should only run those that relate to their own discipline.

Welfare Officers will need to operate differently in Remand Gaols than in Sentenced Gaols because the needs of the inmates will mean that the priorities of the Welfare staff in the two types of gaols are different.

In All Centres/Complexes - Should time permit and should the need be there, members can run and take part in programs such as lifestyle programs, preparation for release programs, parenting programs and the like. Members may also take part in, but not facilitate or co-facilitate the welfare component of programs run by other disciplines such pre-employment programs.

It is also appropriate for other activities to be dealt with by Welfare Officers as long as their ability to prioritise remains.

In Remand and Reception Gaols the priority of welfare officers will be one-on-one work with inmates. Due to the needs of inmates, their length of stay and their family and personal situations, this is more appropriate. In Sentenced Gaols the demand for programs is higher and inmates are more likely to be available to take part in and complete programs. As a result members may wish to run the type of programs mentioned above. Again, it is important that members not take over the running of programs that are the responsibility of other disciplines.

This position has been communicated to the Department and a Bulletin sent to members to advise them. In addition, meetings have been held in both gaols to inform members and to answer questions. The Program Managers in both facilities have also been advised.