ANNUAL REPORT - CEP, the European Organisation for Probation

Strategic objective:
Enhance the professionalisation of the sector of probation in Europe
Brian Stout
tion of the Framework Decision on
probation and the implementation
of the Bachelor/Master structure at
higher education level, the possibilities
for working in the probation
sector in another European country
are increasing. Therefore there
was a need for CEP members, to
join together to discuss and learn
more about training across Europe.
According to Dr. Stout, who through
his work is involved in the teaching
of probation students and the shaping
of the probation curriculum in the
UK, it is of great importance to create
a common training framework.
“The framework could contribute
to the achievement of a consolidating,
effective and humane probation
service in Europe. It would also be
of great benefit to those countries
where probation work is in an early
stage of development, providing a
strong foundation for developing a
common training programme, an
opportunity for the sharing of learning
and best practice.”
The presentations during the conference
made clear that probation is
delivered in a wide variety of ways
in EU member states. In some countries
probation training is located in
social work, in others it is located
in the prison service, and in others
it is stand-alone. There are national,
political reasons for these differences
and it is difficult to imagine
those changing. “In my view, greater
unity is the correct aim, rather than
standardisation,” says Dr. Stout.
In the main the discussions
focussed on debate as to how
greater unity could be achieved
and how complex standardisation
might be. Dr. Stout thinks there are
three potential obstacles in obtaining
a European Curriculum: “One
obstacle is that national training
providers will tend to develop curricula
with a view to national considerations.
Another obstacle might
be a temptation to focus on points
of difficulty or difference, rather
than to look positively at what
could be achieved together and the
benefits of a European Curriculum.
A third obstacle is that change is
always difficult; countries where a
curriculum is already established
may be disinclined to reflect on its
content. Nonetheless greater unity
is achievable through setting some
clear principles and benchmarks,
and by promoting best practice.”
Dr. Stout concludes that the general
conclusion of the conference
was that a European Curriculum is a
significant goal and one that would
be possible to achieve. In addition
everyone left the conference with a
greater sense of what is happening
in other European countries. Some
participants met towards the end
of the conference and agreed on
the need to start a project group
with several clearly defined tasks.
“It is important to build upon the
successes of the conference and
strengthen an enduring network. In
continuation, CEP could be driving
the agenda of curriculum development,
and reminding all of us of the
importance of the European element
of probation training.”
CEP ANNUAL REPORT 2009 10