Guidance

Probation Service Change Bulletin - Issue 17 - April 2023

Updated 15 December 2023

Phil Copple, Director General Operations for HMPPS

1. Foreword

Welcome to the bi-monthly Probation Service Change Bulletin – keeping you updated on what is happening across the Probation Service. I’m Phil Copple, Director General Operations for HMPPS.

I’ve had a busy first few months in my new role having taken over the responsibility for Probation since February. It’s been great getting to work even more closely with probation colleagues to understand all the great work going on across the service.

It’s fantastic to hear that recruitment targets for Trainee Probation Officers (PQiP) have again been exceeded, with more than 1,500 successful in the last year.

We have the latest update from One HMPPS and also an upcoming event with the chance for individuals and organisations to learn how they can work with us to provide services for people on probation and in prison.

We have exciting developments in a further four regions in Electronic Management and the ongoing fiftieth anniversary of Community Payback celebrations continue across England and Wales.

The latest projects to be featured have had a tremendous positive impact on their local communities as well as helping people on probation turn their lives around. You can read more about projects in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber below and you will hopefully see activity taking place soon in your local area.

Please read on to find out more about our recent news and updates, events, and opportunities.

2. One HMPPS Update

We have launched One HMPPS to make sure our Probation and Prison frontline staff have the right support to be able to deliver the very best services.

This includes:

• a HQ structure that provides a greater focus and support for colleagues working in operations
• an area model that will bring prisons and probation closer together

The benefits of the One HMPPS strategy include:

• a better experience for all HMPPS stakeholders
• the right balance between regional services and national consistency

2.1 Area model latest

A proposed 7 area model (6 areas in England, plus Wales) will bring together Regional Probation Directors (RPDs) and Prison Group Directors (PGDs) under the line management of a new Area Executive Director (AED) for each of the proposed areas.

We are starting to develop how the Area Model will work and the opportunities it affords partners. Throughout the development of the model, we are engaging with a range of stakeholders.

For further information, please speak to your prison and probation regional contacts in the first instance.

3. Providing Services

HMPPS is holding an online event for individuals or organisations who would like to work with us to provide services for people on probation or in prison.

The afternoon event on the 18 May is to provide more information on the opportunities available for those interested.

We are keen to hear from all sizes of organisations, whether individuals or large organisations as long as we can work well together.

The online event runs from 1pm to 4pm with guest speakers taking those attending through the different ways HMPPS can partner with them to deliver services, including overviews of the Prison Education Purchasing System, Probation Grants Application Portal, and Probation Dynamic Framework.

Visit the event site for detailed information and sign-up.

4. Electronic Monitoring

Electronic monitoring as a licence variation was rolled-out to a further four probation regions on 28 March.

Probation practitioners in the North East, North West, West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber, along with those in the East Midlands where it was initially launched, now have the opportunity to vary a standard determinate licence after release to add or vary electronic monitoring licence conditions, including exclusion zones, curfew, monitored attendance and trail monitoring.

This capability is intended to give powers to use electronic monitoring as an additional tool to respond to early signs of non-compliance and to aid the successful completion of the licence period upon release to the community.

5. Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS) Contracts

Probation work with a range of external suppliers and these range from large organisations to Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations and micro suppliers of services. The government Contract Finder contains detailed information on government contracts. Click here to download and view a condensed overview of the current Probation contracts highlighted by Probation Region and Service Category.

6. Recruitment success

The Probation Service has exceeded its target with more than 1,500 trainee probation officers recruited in the last financial year.

In total, 1,514 trainee probation officers (PQiPs) were recruited in the financial year 2022/23 against a target of 1,500.

The Probation Service has recruited more than 1,500 PQiPs in each of the last two years, with recruitment targets met in the last three financial years.

The 2022/23 Financial Year saw the successful introduction of the early onboarding option. All candidates who successfully completed their pre-employment checks for the March 2023 intake, were given the option to onboard early in January 2023 to start their induction.

It takes 15 to 30 months to qualify as a Probation Officer, depending on the course entry route, so a considerable number are still in training and will be qualifying in the coming months.

To find out more about how you can apply to become a Probation Officer, visit the recruitment website.

7. Celebrating Community Payback

HMPPS Leadership team clearing litter and undergrowth in North London with Community Payback teams - part of Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean

Tree-planting, litter picking, and growing and preparing food, are among the latest events and activities marking the 50th anniversary of Community Payback as it continues across England and Wales.

Each month this year a golden shovel – symbolic of Community Payback work – is being passed from region to region as stories of current and historic projects and long-serving staff are shared.

In March, Members of the HMPPS Leadership team helped to clear litter and undergrowth from a roadside in North London with Community Payback teams as part of Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean.

Also in March, an event was held at Rhubarb Farm, near Mansfield, where people on probation are learning skills and helping to grow and prepare food.

Earlier this month (April) the golden shovel was handed across the county border to Yorkshire and the Humber where lunch clubs were celebrated in the south of the county.

Around 300 meals each week are prepared and served to the elderly by people on probation at eight lunch clubs across South Yorkshire. Nine long-serving staff, who have clocked up almost two centuries of service across the region were also celebrated.

In May and June, the activities and celebrations continue in the North-East and North-West.

Caroline Morrison, Community Payback Head of Policy, Projects and People, said: “We’re glad to be able to share some of the fantastic work taking place in hundreds of projects across England and Wales every day.

“These projects are fantastic and make a real difference to lives in our communities. I’ve seen the great work at Rhubarb Farm first-hand and I’m really impressed with the positive impact of the Lunch Clubs and the continuing commitment and hard work of all our staff.”

The public can nominate Community Payback projects in their local area via the nominations page.