Award for Inverclyde Community Service staff

The Community Service Team has been given a top award in recognition of its work providing the Scottish Criminal Courts with a reliable community-based alternative to custody.

The team was named Best Service Team in Social Care at the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Service Awards 2010.

APSE is a local government body working with more than 300 councils throughout the UK promoting excellence in front line services.

Inverclyde health and social care convener Councillor Joe McIlwee said: “This is a fantastic achievement for a team that works incredibly hard to serve the needs of local communities and provide them with a high standard and quality of unpaid work. The service is well known for motivating offenders by providing worthwhile work placements and training while listening to the needs of local communities. In many cases the service has enabled communities to complete projects that otherwise would not be done.”

Inverclyde Community Service Team is highly respected by the Sheriffs at Greenock Sheriff Court who give positive feedback at regular meetings. There are also regular meetings with Criminal Justice Social Work Services who have highlighted the extremely high standard of management and service delivery.

Councillor McIlwee added: “There is no doubt the Community Service Team make a big difference in Inverclyde. Not only were more than 100 projects delivered in 2009/10, but every single offender who was placed on a Community Service Order said it was a worthwhile experience. That can only be good news in the drive to prevent re-offending.”

More than 300 submissions were received for the prestigious APSE awards which recognise those councils and service providers that have delivered excellence in frontline services.