Our Head of Professional Standards, Stephanie Glasscoo, explains how high standards are developed and maintained in our programmes to tackle stalking. 

 

Interventions are only effective if they’re delivered in the right way. Our tackling stalking intervention – the Compulsive and Obsessive Behaviour Intervention (COBI) – is a specialist programme to address stalking behaviour, reduce risk, and create lasting change. To make sure it achieves these aims, we build in our commitment to quality at every stage of delivery.

 

A Strong Foundation 

 

Quality begins with the right people. COBI is delivered by Behaviour Change Practitioners (BCPs) who are recruited for their experience, values, and professional skills. Our recruitment process ensures the right match for the role.

 

Once on board, new practitioners complete a specific training plan, developed and managed by our professional standards team. This takes place before they deliver any sessions with our participants. The training builds deep knowledge of our approach, the concepts we use and the tools we expect our participants to use, like their daily diaries. It also prepares practitioners to adapt the programme to individual needs, while staying true to the core model.

 

Practitioners receive ongoing clinical supervision from an independent specialist — creating a confidential space to reflect on cases, spot bias, and identify training needs. This keeps delivery sharp and responsive.

 

Acting Quickly to Support Change

 

In behaviour change work, timing matters. Delays can harm motivation and risk management. That’s why we track that we are assessing people referred to us and allocating them a practitioner within two weeks. Interventions must start promptly after assessment.

 

If someone misses a session, we follow up quickly. Engagement is essential — not just for attendance, but for creating the conditions for change.

 

Specialist Oversight for a Strong Start

 

Our forensic psychologist reviews and signs off assessments to make sure they meet agreed standards. Once practitioners consistently meet those standards, they move to lighter oversight — but only when quality is proven. Strong assessments set the tone for the whole intervention, giving every participant the best possible opportunity for sustained change.

 

Checking Quality Throughout

 

Our Quality Assurance Framework sets the standards for delivery, and we check against them at every stage. This includes:

• Case audits — at least four times a month, reviewing session delivery, quality of records, adherence to the COBI manual, and responsiveness to individual needs, using independent inspector’s “inadequate” to “outstanding” scale.

• Treatment management  — at least four times a month, with managers observing recorded sessions and rating performance using independent inspector’s “inadequate” to “outstanding” scale.

• Local quality inspections  — larger reviews focusing on specific themes, bringing in more cases and more reviewers for a broader view.

• Independent checks – carried out internally by the Professional Standards and Development Team.

 

Listening to Feedback 

 

Quality isn’t just about internal checks. We also gather insight from those who experience the intervention first-hand:

• Participants complete pre- and post-programme “distance travelled” forms to track shifts in thinking, often showing reductions in victim-blaming attitudes.

• Referring professionals, including police and probation, share feedback on participant engagement and progress.

• Focus groups with participants giving us deeper insight into how the programme works in practice.

This feedback helps us refine delivery, respond to participant needs, and identify areas for improvement.

 

Commitment to Excellence

 

For us, COBI isn’t just about facilitating sessions. It’s about making a measurable difference in risk and behaviour. Our quality processes — from training and audits to participant feedback and specialist review — are designed to make sure the programme is delivered to the highest standard, every time.

 

By combining skilled practitioners, thorough oversight, and constant learning, we make sure that COBI addresses stalking behaviours and helps our participants build safer, more positive futures.