Prologue

Lutheran Community Care Services (LCCS) has been reaching out to youths and their families in schools and community since 2002. Through our 8 years of learning experience, it has taught us the value of restoring relationship to build a sense of hope of love.

LCCS launched the Centre for Restorative Practices (CRP) in 2011. We aim to reach out to institutions, schools and community to educate them about Restorative Practices by providing trainings, sharing, and giving support in conducting Restorative Conferences. Our goal is to make Restorative Practices be a part of their daily approach.

LCCS is an accredited licensee of the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP) to provide Restorative Practice (RP) trainings in Singapore. The establishment and accreditation will help us in further reaching out to the community.

Restorative Philosophy

Punishment is the prevailing mode of social disciplne today, not just in criminal justice but throughout society. Retribution is assumed to be the most appropriate formal or informal response to crime and wrong-doings in communities, schools, families and workplaces.

What would be the first question we ask when someone does something wrong? If we ask the 'why' question, what is the answer we expect to get? Have we ever wondered what is the problem with asking the 'why' question and how putting blame on others impact on learning? These are some of the miscommunication tools that are commonly used.

Restorative means 'to make things new again'.

Let's think about this: What do we need to do when we have hurt someone?

The general aim of Restorative Practice is to encourage the use of restorative approaches to manage conflict and tensions, by focusing upon repairing harm and strengthening relationships. The restorative approach is based on the belief that the people best placed to resolve a conflict or a problem are the people directly involved, and that imposed solutions are less effective, less educative and possibly less likely to be honoured.

Some key elements in the Restorative Practices:

  • Respect (it distinguishes behaviour from person)
  • Fairness (it engages, explains and clarifies expectations)
  • Focus on repairing harm, restoring and building relationships
  • Develop empathy through reflection, insight and learning
  • Enhances responsibility and accountability
  • Promotes positive behavioural change
Circle is a potent symbol that implies community, connection, inclusion fairness, equality and wholeness. The use of circles for meeting and discussing issues has evolved in almost every culture. Circle Process within the context of Restorative Practices is the process that provides an orderly and reflective process that reinforces positive values. The aim is to change one's relationship with oneself, to the community. The key elements of circle process focus on harm and relationship, NOT on blame and punishment. A Circle Process can be applied for small and also big groups depending on the nature of the situation. The Process should encourage trust, respect and confidence among the participants.

There are two sets of Restorative Questions:

  1. When things go wrong
    • What happened?
    • What were you thinking at the time?
    • What are you thinking now?
    • Who has been affected by what you did?
    • What do you think you need to do to make things right?
  2. When someone has been hurt
    • What did you think when you realised what had happened?
    • How have you and others been hurt?
    • What has been the saddest thing for you?
    • What do you think needs to happen to make things right?
These set of questions are neutral and non-judgmental. It focuses about the person's behaviour and requires the person to reflect on who they have affected. This will help in developing empathy for those affected. It actually allowed the person to tell their side of the story and build an understanding rather than t point fingers and push the blame.


CRP Future Plans

CRP in LCCS plans to launch its first Restorative Practices Marketing Project to the school, institutions and community in 2011. This includes RP Facilitators Training and Circle Facilitation Training for our pool of volunteers and teachers.

We aim to be an established one-strop centre for Restorative Practices in Singapore by supporting not just institutions and schools, but also the community. Here in LCCS, we believe in changing stories through transforming lives for building strong relationship in the society.
   @ 2008 Lutheran Community Care Services. All Rights Reserved. | Sitemap