Staffordshire and West Midlands probation service told to improve by inspectors

HM Inspectorate of Probation inspected Staffordshire and West Midlands Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) last autumn, and released a report on its findings today.

Inspectors found there had been a “deterioration” in the quality of case management since the last inspection.

They also discovered staff morale was very low, workloads were “unmanageable” and high levels of staff sickness where “the norm”.

Overall the CRC was given an overall ‘requires improvement’ rating.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said he will be working to help address the issues with the service.

'Disappointing'

Chief inspector of probation Justin Russell said: “There have been some signs of progress but the overall rating stays the same, which is disappointing.

"Probation services need to strike the right balance between rehabilitation and public protection.

"We inspected a sample of cases and looked at how staff assess, plan, deliver and review activity with individuals under probation supervision.

"Serious concerns remain about the quality of this work. The management of risk of harm was not good enough at every stage of supervision.

"Therefore, we have rated all four aspects in this area ‘inadequate’.”

Inspectors found staff were ‘demoralised’ and high levels of sickness absence was the norm.

At the time of the inspection, probation staff managed an average of 64 cases each.

Almost 70 per cent of interviewed staff said their workloads were unmanageable.

The strongest area of performance is the Through the Gate service, which supports people as they prepare to leave prison and resettle in the community.

The CRC has helped more than 3,000 people to secure jobs since 2016.

Staffordshire and West Midlands CRC is owned by the Reducing Reoffending Partnership.

The National Probation Service, which will take over the management of all offenders in the community from next year has started work with the Reducing Reoffending Partnership to plan this transition and inspectors noted this relationship is working well.

A spokesman for the CRC said the team was disappointed at the findings but was working hard to improve.

He said: "We are working closely with HMIP to fully understand the findings and have engaged internal and external expertise to ensure we continue to improve our practice and keep people safe.

"Whilst the ratings in relation to public protection are disappointing, we are already delivering activity to improve our offender management, building on the more positive aspects highlighted of our practice, such as the range of services and interventions provided and our strong partnership work. It is encouraging to see that important parts of our operational delivery are rated good and outstanding and we remain committed to ensuring all our service delivery maintains or continually improves to achieve these standards.

"We are also pleased to see specific innovations recognised positively such as our peer mentoring and accommodation projects.

"Nonetheless, we accept the challenge to ensure we balance our success in rehabilitative services with the required quality needed to keep people safe."

'Serious pressures'

After the report was revealed, Mr Jamieson said: “It is clear that there are serious pressures facing Staffordshire and West Midlands Community Rehabilitation Company and I am disappointed to see that it has not improved on its previous inspection. This inspection reinforces the view that nationally the part privatisation of the probation service has been a costly failure

“I chair the Local Criminal Justice Board and I will be working with members to identify what needs to be done to address the issues facing Staffordshire and West Midlands Community Rehabilitation Company.

“I have supported the view expressed by some at government level that this part of the probation service should be placed under the governance of Police and Crime Commissioners so that resources can be used more efficiently and proper oversight can be maintained.

“Despite the ‘Requires improvement’ rating I am pleased to see that good work surrounding the ‘Through the Gate’ programme has been recognised. It is vital that we work to rehabilitate offenders and help them integrate back into the community so they become productive members of society.

“In 2017 I launched the Gangs and Violence Commission and one of the recommendations was to provide those who have committed violent offences and gone to prison with a comprehensive intervention and support package when they leave prison. I have recently commissioned a service to provide this which offers wrap around support to rehabilitate ex-offenders and reduce reoffending.”