Probation supervision as a network of relationships: Aiming to be thick, not thin

Abstract

This article is about the networks of relationships (between people and between organisations) that underpin probation supervision. Drawing on evidence from a study researching these interactions, it develops two models of supervision (‘thin’ and ‘thick’) by taking themes that shape supervision and charting the interplay between them. The article develops these models in the increasingly fragmented landscape that has followed the Transforming Rehabilitation (TR) reforms in England and Wales. The concepts of ‘thin’ and ‘thick’ are used here to describe the supervisory network. Thin supervision describes a minimal and administrative approach to supervision. By contrast, thick supervision requires a network with strong and purposeful links. The article acknowledges the impact of public sector spending cuts on probation services and concludes by reflecting on the challenge of building and sustaining thick supervision in the current context.

The probation service in England and Wales: A decade of radical change or more of the same?

“…A culture of performance has thus detracted from the relationship between practitioners and offenders (HMI Probation, 2019a). Dominey (2019) has conceptualised such relationships through notions of ‘thick’ and ‘thin’ supervision. The former refers to a productive relationship with the offender that is embedded within the community; the latter is predominantly office-based, with poor links to the community.…”

“…The former refers to a productive relationship with the offender that is embedded within the community; the latter is predominantly office-based, with poor links to the community. She concludes that the TR reforms, and the impact of increased caseloads in particular, have pushed probation supervision in the CRCs ‘in the direction of thin supervision’ (Dominey, 2019: 298) – such that telephone supervision of offenders now accounts for some 40% of ‘meetings’ (HMI Probation, 2017a).…”

“…Carr (2020) has suggested that probation practitioners and leaders can learn from the Council of Europe’s ‘Guidelines Regarding Recruitment, Selection, Education, Training and Professional Development of Prison and Probation Staff’, and the emphasis they place on supervisor-offender relationship. This supervision should, therefore, be ‘thick’ (Dominey, 2019), with meaningful contact supported by well-resourced community organisations.…”

Institutional thoughtlessness and the needs of older probation clients

“…At a case level, work to identify criminogenic need has to go beyond traditional concerns, particularly around employment, training and education, or at least, recognition of the double discrimination likely to be found by those who still want or need to work. The use of 'thick' supervision (Dominey, 2019) whereby key workers and probation officers have relationships that provide help, joint work, communication, and community-embedded delivery is fundamental to meeting the needs of older clients, ensuring that resources are available to support clients. Mapping community resources which may support the development of community capital (Best and Laudet, 2010) could support the development of resources to support the needs and interests of older people on probation caseloads.…”

Social media: A challenge to identity and relational desistance

“…There is limited understanding of how social media can be an additional area of navigation for service users, highlighting the minimal acknowledgement or support available through community supervision (Hayes, 2015). To ensure professionals provide 'thick' supervision, which is embedded in the community to help enable service user's build their social capital and relationships (Dominey, 2019), a recognition of social media is important. In addition, society has a degree of responsibility in removing the public stigmatisation attached to service users of the criminal justice system (Seaman and Lynch, 2016), and therefore those subject to community supervision.…”