3821_Enhanced Thinking A4.
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Enhanced Thinking Skills (ETS)
Information for Sentencers
What is ETS?
ETS is a General Offending
Groupwork Programme – one of
several independently accredited
programmes for use in England
& Wales.
Accredited Offending Behaviour
programmes are part of the Probation
Service’s What Works initiative, which
aims to reduce general reconviction
rates by providing types of supervision
for offenders which are based on
research and sound evidence. These
approaches or ‘programmes’ are
effective in changing the way
offenders think and behave.
The ETS programme was originally
developed by the Prison Service and
has been extensively researched
and evaluated.
Evidence from the evaluation of ETS
within the Prison Service has shown
that the programme can lead to a
15% reduction in reconvictions.
Who is it for?
ETS is aimed at offenders within the
medium/high risk of reconviction
group because available evidence
indicates that it is most effective
with these groups.
NPD/045/2002
Programme content
ETS is a cognitive skills programme
consisting of 20 group sessions,
each lasting 2 – 21/2 hours. The
programme is based on the premise
that thinking is the basis of all
behaviour, so in order to affect
or change criminal behaviour the
underlying thoughts and attitudes
of offenders must be addressed.
Research shows that many offenders
have not acquired the skills of
thinking in certain areas such as
problem solving and critical reasoning.
Offenders may not always see things
from other people's points of view
and can also have a poorly developed
sense of values.
The ETS programme addresses all
these areas. However, there are
many other factors which also
influence behaviour such as
motivation, opportunity and personal
circumstances. These are also
addressed within the programme and
during individual work as part of the
Community Rehabilitation Order,
Community Punishment and
Rehabilitation Order or Licence.
It is an intensive and demanding
programme. National Standards
enforcement procedures will apply
in the normal way.
Offenders being referred to the
Programme also undertake a series
of assessments and psychometric
tests, pre- and post- programme.
These are designed to measure
change at the end of the programme.
Diversity
The National Probation Service
recognises that women, minority
ethnic offenders, those with a disability
or other special needs may have
additional issues. These issues will be
fully addressed in order that they
derive maximum benefit from ETS.
The programme is approved as an
additional requirement of a Community
Rehabilitation Order or a Community
Punishment and Rehabilitation Order in
accordance with the Powers of Criminal
Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000. Supervision
of the order will begin immediately and
commencement of the groupwork
programme will be with the first available
place following appearance in court.
Attendance at the 20 groupwork
sessions is monitored in accordance with
Home Office standards. Any breach of
attendance or conditions will be dealt
with appropriately and may see the
offender returned to court.
National Probation Directorate
National Probation Service
for England and Wales
This programme has been accredited by the
Correctional Services Accreditation Panel (CSAP)
for use in England and Wales (2000).