NATIONWIDE TRAINING ON PROBATION DESK MANUAL

The probation service is a mandated component of the criminal justice system that oversees high-risk offenders who have been reintegrated into the community. In Ghana, social welfare officers tasked with advocating for children’s rights in legal settings also provide probation services.

To enhance the effectiveness of probation officers and ensure they are informed of international best practices, UNICEF collaborated with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, along with the Department of Social Welfare, to create a new probation desk manual in 2017.

Regrettably, following the manual’s development, only 20 officers across the nation had undergone training on its contents.

To address this shortfall and expand the pool of trained professionals, the Department of Social Welfare initiated a nationwide training program for probation officers. The first phase of this training took place in September 2023, where 60 officers from the southern sector received skill development related to the probation manual.

In a continued effort to train more officers, the Department of Social Welfare, in partnership with UNICEF Ghana, has conducted the second phase of the nationwide training for probation officers.

The training, structured as a two-day capacity-building workshop, primarily aimed to augment the knowledge and skills of officers regarding the updated probation manual, which provides new directives and guidance on best practices in probation.

Furthermore, the workshop’s objectives include:

– Strengthening the capabilities of probation officers concerning the probation desk manual by ensuring adherence to current legal standards and justice administration protocols.

– Improving the delivery of social services at national, regional, and district levels through effective communication and collaboration.

– Increasing the number of trained probation officers at the community level in preparation for the anticipated enactment of the Community Service Act 2023.

Addressing the participants, Dr. Comfort Asare, the National Director of the Department of Social Welfare (DSW), emphasized that the training on the probation desk manual aims to improve the understanding and knowledge of probation practices, as well as the professional responsibilities outlined in the Juvenile Justice Act and related child justice policies.

She stated that this training is fundamental in ensuring that officers are adequately equipped with the essential tools to execute their duties effectively while maintaining the dignity and rights of those they serve.

Dr. Comfort Asare expressed her confidence that the training would empower probation officers to perform their responsibilities with a high level of excellence.

Additionally, Ms. Hilda Mensah from UNICEF Ghana urged the officers to collaborate closely with the DSW and to provide data on the cases they manage. This initiative is intended to establish a comprehensive record of the work achieved.

She believes that such efforts will lay a robust foundation for more officers to be trained, strengthening the workforce and ultimately leading to significant impacts that prioritize the best interests of children.

The second phase, conducted in the Ashanti Region designated as the Middle Sector, included officers from the Western North, Ahafo, Bono, Bono East, North East, Northern, Savannah, Upper East, Upper West, Oti, and Ashanti Regions.

Overall, a total of 120 Probation officers underwent training and certification, with an equal distribution of 60 from the southern zone and 60 from the middle zone.

Source: MoGCSP