24th September 2026
The Highland Council’s Justice Social Work teams in Lochaber and Caithness will be hosting open days in Fort William on Tuesday 6 October and Wick on Friday 9 October 2026.
The open days will provide members of the public with an opportunity to gain an insight into the Justice Service and find out more about the excellent work going on locally.
It is an opportunity for members of the public to learn more about Community Justice Services in Lochaber and Caithness, the support available, and how these services contribute to positive outcomes and safer communities.
People are invited to come along and find out about the work of Justice Social Work and an individual’s journey through the justice system; community sentences in Scotland and particularly in the Lochaber and Caithness areas.
The free public sessions will include:
Discussion and insight into the work of Justice Social Work.
Information on unpaid work.
Overview of the role of social work within the justice system.
The open day session hosted by Highland Council’s Justice Social Work team in Lochaber will take place at:
Justice Services, Unit 4B1 Blar Mhor Industrial Estate, Fort William, PH33 7PT
on Tuesday 6 October 11:00 - 13:00
book in advance via email: cjs.fortwilliam@highland.gov.uk or phone: 01463 644781
The public open session will take place in Wick at:
Justice Services, Unit 27b, Airport Industrial Estate, Wick, KW1 4QS
on Thursday 9 October 10:00 - 12:00 or 14:00 - 15:30
to book a place in advance please email: cjs.wick@highland.gov.uk or phone: 01349 781300
As spaces are limited on the open sessions participants are encouraged to book in advance and to let the organisers know if you cannot attend so the space can be offered to another.
What Do They Do?
The name “Justice Social Work” can make it sound rather vague, but in practical terms Highland Council’s teams are an important part of what happens after someone has come into contact with the criminal justice system.
Highland Council itself says the service is aimed at community safety, public protection, reducing reoffending and social inclusion. Its work covers assessment and reports, community sentences, support for people leaving prison, unpaid work and management of high-risk offenders.
What do they actually do?
1. They prepare reports for courts
Before a court decides what sentence someone should receive in many circumstances, a justice social worker can investigate the person's circumstances and prepare a Justice Social Work Report.
This can include their background, accommodation, employment, family circumstances, substance misuse, previous offending, risks and what support or intervention might reduce the chance of further offending.
It isn't the social worker who decides the sentence. The report gives the sheriff information to consider when deciding what should happen.
2. They supervise people given community sentences
A court can impose a Community Payback Order (CPO) rather than, or instead of, immediate imprisonment.
The person might have to:
undertake unpaid work
attend meetings with a social worker
address drug or alcohol problems
undertake a rehabilitation programme
comply with restrictions on their behaviour or movements
pay compensation
receive treatment where appropriate.
In 2024-25, about 16,500 CPOs were issued across Scotland. Sixty-nine per cent included unpaid work and 67 per cent included supervision.
3. They organise and supervise unpaid work
This is probably the part of the service that the public is most likely to see.
Someone given an unpaid-work requirement might carry out useful work in the local community, rather than simply receiving a fine or going to prison.
That could involve environmental work, maintenance or helping community organisations. Highland Council specifically describes unpaid work being carried out in communities or for individuals in need.
4. They work with people at risk of reoffending
This is the more conventional social-work side of the service.
The objective isn't simply to monitor somebody and catch them breaking the rules. Staff may work on the underlying problems associated with offending, including accommodation, employment, relationships, substance misuse and behaviour.
Highland also runs structured programmes such as Caledonian and Moving Forward to Change, which are intended to address offending behaviour.
5. They work with people leaving prison
Justice social workers provide throughcare and aftercare, helping people returning to the community after imprisonment.
That can involve supervision and helping them deal with the practical problems that can make returning to normal life difficult. The service also prepares reports for the Parole Board and supports people subject to supervised release.
6. They can become involved before someone is sentenced
The service also has a role in bail supervision and, under the latest Scottish arrangements, diversion from prosecution and fiscal work orders. The latter can involve unpaid work as an alternative to prosecution.