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Probation service gets 'generally good' report as it faces wholesale outsourcing Probation service gets 'generally good' report as it faces wholesale outsourcing
(7 months later)
The probation service, which faces wholesale outsourcing under government plans, is "doing much good work" with adult offenders but some aspects continue to require improvement, according to the chief inspector of probation.The probation service, which faces wholesale outsourcing under government plans, is "doing much good work" with adult offenders but some aspects continue to require improvement, according to the chief inspector of probation.
Liz Calderbank, the official watchdog, said the "generally good" verdict was based on the findings of a programme of inspections of probation work in managing offenders over the past three years.Liz Calderbank, the official watchdog, said the "generally good" verdict was based on the findings of a programme of inspections of probation work in managing offenders over the past three years.
"The report is being published in the final stages of a consultation period for proposals which could see much of the work currently undertaken by the probation service contracted out to private sector organisations," said the chief inspector. "We therefore hope that it will be of value in providing a benchmark against which all providers can judge their practice.""The report is being published in the final stages of a consultation period for proposals which could see much of the work currently undertaken by the probation service contracted out to private sector organisations," said the chief inspector. "We therefore hope that it will be of value in providing a benchmark against which all providers can judge their practice."
The report based on inspections of the standard of work in all 36 probation trusts across England and Wales between September 2009 and November 2012 shows that work to minimise an offender's risk of harm to others met a sufficiently high level of quality in 75% of the cases looked at in detail.The report based on inspections of the standard of work in all 36 probation trusts across England and Wales between September 2009 and November 2012 shows that work to minimise an offender's risk of harm to others met a sufficiently high level of quality in 75% of the cases looked at in detail.
The inspectors also found that work to make each individual less likely to reoffend was at a sufficiently high level of quality in 74% of cases. Work to ensure that offenders complied with their sentence, and enforcement taken where necessary, met the standard in 79% of cases.The inspectors also found that work to make each individual less likely to reoffend was at a sufficiently high level of quality in 74% of cases. Work to ensure that offenders complied with their sentence, and enforcement taken where necessary, met the standard in 79% of cases.
The watchdog's report said there were considerable gaps between the highest and lowest scores between individual probation trusts on each of these three elements, but no trust received a score which required a re-inspection.The watchdog's report said there were considerable gaps between the highest and lowest scores between individual probation trusts on each of these three elements, but no trust received a score which required a re-inspection.
The poorest performing probation trust was Kent, which scored 64% for minimising risk of harm, 62% in reducing likelihood of reoffending and 69% for enforcement and compliance. Among the best were Durham Tees Valley, Northumbria, Warwickshire, West Mercia and South Yorkshire, which scored more than 80% on all three measures.The poorest performing probation trust was Kent, which scored 64% for minimising risk of harm, 62% in reducing likelihood of reoffending and 69% for enforcement and compliance. Among the best were Durham Tees Valley, Northumbria, Warwickshire, West Mercia and South Yorkshire, which scored more than 80% on all three measures.
"In general, the quality of work with cases assessed as high risk of harm was better than that for all cases as a whole," the watchdog's performance report said. It added that there were no major differences in the quality of work by gender, ethnicity or disability, although there was evidence that some aspects of probation work with older offenders met the standard more often than with young adults."In general, the quality of work with cases assessed as high risk of harm was better than that for all cases as a whole," the watchdog's performance report said. It added that there were no major differences in the quality of work by gender, ethnicity or disability, although there was evidence that some aspects of probation work with older offenders met the standard more often than with young adults.
"The report reflects on much good work currently being undertaken with those who offend," said Calderbank. "It also reveals that some probation trusts are achieving a higher standard of work than others.""The report reflects on much good work currently being undertaken with those who offend," said Calderbank. "It also reveals that some probation trusts are achieving a higher standard of work than others."
She said although the overall findings were good there were some aspects that required improvement: "Further attention needs to be given to managing the risk of harm to potential victims by all trusts and to those cases with child safeguarding concerns," she said.She said although the overall findings were good there were some aspects that required improvement: "Further attention needs to be given to managing the risk of harm to potential victims by all trusts and to those cases with child safeguarding concerns," she said.
The detailed report shows that work to protect actual and potential victims from risk of harm from the offender was only done sufficiently well in 44% of cases, including 53% of serious harm cases. There was management involvement in only 51% of cases where there was a child safeguarding issue, although this rose to 71% of high-risk cases.The detailed report shows that work to protect actual and potential victims from risk of harm from the offender was only done sufficiently well in 44% of cases, including 53% of serious harm cases. There was management involvement in only 51% of cases where there was a child safeguarding issue, although this rose to 71% of high-risk cases.
The justice secretary, Chris Grayling, has published proposals to scale back the probation service and "refocus" its work on specialising in dealing only with the most dangerous and high-risk public protection cases. The majority of low to medium-risk work is to be contracted out on a payment by results basis.The justice secretary, Chris Grayling, has published proposals to scale back the probation service and "refocus" its work on specialising in dealing only with the most dangerous and high-risk public protection cases. The majority of low to medium-risk work is to be contracted out on a payment by results basis.
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