New probation system must resolve fundamental issues
Russell Webster
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Russell Webster
Independent consultant, researcher and writer on drugs and crime at RussellWebster.com
Prospects for success not clear for two years at least
That was the overall conclusion of today’s National Audit Office report on the new probation system. The report, entitled simply “Transforming Rehabilitation” examines the progress of the new split probation service to date and seeks to assess what value it provides for public money.
Surprisingly it found that the newly privatised Community Rehabilitation Companies are performing better in some key areas than the still public National Probation Service.
The NAO says that it is too early to make a definitive judgement about the success of the TR project but does identify five fundamental issues which need addressing:
- CRC business volumes are much lower than the Ministry modelled during the procurement, which, if translated into reduced income, would affect the ability of CRCs to transform their businesses. The volume reductions vary greatly, from 6% to 36%.
- CRCs are paid primarily for completing specified activities with offenders rather than for reducing reoffending, which also risks hindering innovative practice.
- The NPS has higher than predicted caseloads and faces a difficult further period of change if it is to play a fully effective role in the new Transforming Rehabilitation model.
- Arrangements to resettle offenders ‘Through the Gate’ are still in their early stages.
- The Ministry has more work to do to sustain the supply chain of mainly voluntary sector bodies now working to CRCs and the NPS.
For a full summary of the report, check out my blog post here.
Human Resources Business Partner at ISS Facility Services UK
8 年Excellent.