Thames Valley Sex Offenders' Groupwork Programme (TVSOGP)

This page gives details on the Thames Valley Sex Offenders' Groupwork Programme run by probation staff, in conjunction with partner agencies, for sexual abusers throughout the Thames Valley.

Programme aims:
The overall aim of the programme is the reduction of risk in future sexual offending.

Specific goals:

• To increase awareness of the way an offender's attitudes and behaviour has affected the victim and those close to the victim
• To confront sex offenders' denial by encouraging them to take full and active responsibility for their sexual behaviour
• To obtain a detailed analysis of the offending behaviour to assist in making an accurate assessment of risk
• To teach offenders ways of interrupting their offending behaviour patterns and increase their ability to lead an abuse-free, new life
• To identify and examine the perceptions and attitudes of group members towards women, children, men and sexuality, which may have contributed to their offending.

Who is suitable?
Male sexual offenders who:

• Are convicted of any sexual offence including non-contact sexual offences
• Are aged 21 or over
• Are assessed as suitable for the programme in the Pre-Sentence Report (PSR) and Assessment for Suitability of Treatment Report
• Are subject to a condition of attendance in a community sentence or post-custodial licence.

It is not suitable for:

• Female sexual offenders
• Sex offenders with an IQ of less than 80
• Men with severe alcohol/drug misuse behaviours
• Men with current mental health problems
• Men assessed as psychopathic
• Men who are unable to speak/understand English
• Men in total denial of their sexual offending.

The programme involves:

• Assessment by psychometric measures for deviancy and to determine which blocks of the programme need to be undertaken
• Structured pre-groupwork to build on an offender's motivation to do the programme.

The four programme blocks are:

• Foundation - requires full-time attendance, 9am-5pm for 2 consecutive weeks
• Victim Empathy - requires twice-weekly attendance for 4 weeks
• Lifeskills - requires twice-weekly attendance for 10 weeks
• Relapse Prevention - requires weekly attendance for 24 weeks.

The National Probation Service - Thames Valley operates a strict enforcement policy in relation to TVSOGP.

The Case Manager supervising the offender is responsible for the conduct of the order and for enforcement decisions in accordance with National Standards.

When an offender fails to attend a group session of the programme, programme facilitators will make a judgement on the reasons given and will consult with the Case Manager. The Case Manager retains responsibility for enforcement resulting from absence.

Two unacceptable absences result in exclusion from the programme and breach action.

NPS - Thames Valley operates a race equality scheme. Efforts are made to ensure that ethnic minority offenders are not required to attend groups in which they would be a lone participant in respect of their race.

The National Probation Service will carry out its responsibility to provide access and facilities for the physically disabled.