Restorative Practice

Principles of restorative practice:

1.Restoration – the primary aim of restorative practice is to address and repair harm.

2.Voluntarism – participation in restorative processes is voluntary and based on informed choice.

3.Neutrality – restorative processes are fair and unbiased towards participants.

4.Safety – processes and practice aim to ensure the safety of all participants and create a safe space for the expression of feelings and views about harm that has been caused.

5.Accessibility – restorative processes are non-discriminatory and available to all those affected by conflict and harm.

6. Respect – restorative processes are respectful to the dignity of all participants and those affected by the harm caused.

Restorative Practitioners should make themselves familiar with concepts and how they might apply in everyday work.

Restoration –As a practitioner one should aim to ensure that restorative interventions are aimed at repairing harm that has been caused. An opportunity for addressing issues participants wish to raise in relation to the harm should be given.

Voluntarism – it is imperative that participants come to a restorative intervention of their own free will, having understood the reasons for and methodology of the process. It is the duty of the practitioner to ensure that everyone taking part understands why they are there and their responsibilities in relation to the process.

Neutrality – although as practitioners we human beings and neutrality in a situation where harm has been caused would want to elude us , it is important that every effort is made not to permit biases affect the restorative process.

Safety – practitioners should aim to ensure that processes of restorative practice are safe by undertaking full and proper preparation in relation to each intervention they provide. Risk assessments are paramount whether conducted ‘on the spot’ or via the use of detailed risk assessment spreadsheets. Practitioners should be appropriately trained.

Accessibility – one of the strengths of a restorative process is that it is available to anyone who has experienced harm or conflict with the consent of all parties and where it is safe to do so. One should be mindful of any inherent biases that could affect their ability to offer a neutral restorative process to any person based on their status or background –e.g., race, gender, offending history, disability,

-economic or political background.

Respect – restorative practice must be conducted in a manner which is respectful to those taking part.

If the process, or anyone involved in it, is disrespectful to those taking part, the chances of a successful or positive outcome are significantly reduced. One of the many skills required of a practitioner is the ability to conduct an often highly emotional process in a neutral and measured fashion, and respect is key to delivering restorative interventions in this way.