SSPT Sweeps Board at Probation Awards
16/09/2011
Surrey & Sussex Probation Trust (SSPT) swept the Board at the national Probation Awards on Wednesday (September 14), scooping three gongs.
Kate Knight, a probation officer in Worthing, won the Offender Management Category and was also chosen by Michael Spurr, chief executive of the National Offender Management Service, as Probation Champion of the Year 2011 at the event in Crewe.
SSPT's Surrey Substance Misuse Team also won Team of the Year at the event, which is sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, Probation Association and Probation Chiefs' Association and celebrates excellence in the 35 Probation Trusts in England and Wales.
SSPT Chief Execuitve Sonia Crozier said: "It's an amazing achievement to win three awards at this event and a great boost for the Trust. Kate's enthusiasm for offender engagement and willingness to share her expertise is truly impressive. Her commitment to helping offenders change direction and move on in their lives has long been known in SSPT and has now been recognised nationally.
"The Substance Misuse Team is providing a superb service to local communities by managing and rehabilitating some of the most entrenched and troubled offenders in society and fully deserves this recognition."
Hove resident Kate, whose role as a Quality Development at the Worthing office involves managing offenders but also supporting colleagues in improving their practice, said: "I'm speechless and I'm not often speechless. I'm so honoured and so proud to have won and very, very surprised. There are some fantastic people here tonight and I'm thrilled to be part of it."
Mr Spurr said: "Kate Knight is a terrific probation officer. The work that she does with offenders is outstanding one of the offenders she had worked with was so glowing in his praise saying he wouldn't be where he was today without the work she'd done. That is amazing work that merits this award she really is a champion for probation."
The 16-strong Surrey Substance Misuse Team is contracted by the county's multi-agency Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) to deliver drug and alcohol treatment to offenders sentenced by the courts to undergo rehabilitation. In July this year the team won a London Excellence Award for its commitment to service users.
The Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR) and Alcohol Rehabilitation Requirement are six-month treatment programmes delivered over five days a week, where offenders are required to address their substance misuse and associated problems through attendance at group and one-to-one sessions. Those offenders on DRRs are also subject to weekly drug testing.
The team has won plaudits for delivering good results and working with other agencies to deliver services to offenders. That includes an innovative partnership between SSPT, Surrey County Council and Guildford College provides offenders with computer and work skills qualifications with the aim of steering them away from a life of crime.
Pictured top: Kate Knight receives her award from Michael Spurr
Pictured below: The Substance Misuse team collecting the award.
