3rd Report: Coronavirus (COVID-19): The impact on probation services

The government acknowledges the committee's praise for the probation service's pandemic response but then, instead of responding to that, expresses its own concern about inconsistencies in probation delivery models and makes a recommendation to itself regarding guidance and monitoring.

The government states that guidance to CRCs was issued through Exceptional Delivery Models and Cabinet Office Public Procurement Notices, and HMPPS is monitoring delivery via a comprehensive recovery dashboard, a National Recovery Board, 12 regional recovery boards, and specific recovery workstreams.

The government acknowledges backlogs in unpaid work and accredited programmes due to social distancing, noting that case lists may continue to grow. It is considering options for unpaid work and has developed and received approval for an Alternative Delivery Format (ADF) to maximise programme delivery, alongside issuing guidance for completing commenced modules.

The government details steps to address probation backlogs and ensure sentence completion, including considering options for unpaid work (UPW) and developing an approved Alternative Delivery Format (ADF) for accredited programmes. It also issued guidance to allow completion of commenced programme modules via one-to-one delivery, despite acknowledging ongoing challenges due to social distancing.

HMPPS has developed a programme to capture and share learning from the Covid-19 response, integrating data, staff and service-user perspectives, and international practice, with a focus on remote supervision, alternative delivery models, and staff wellbeing. The government commits to updating the Committee on the progress of this work.

The government accepts the recommendation, committing to increase recruitment with a minimum of 1000 new probation officers in training by January 2021. It details a Covid-19 Staff Wellbeing Plan, a forthcoming wellbeing toolkit, and a comprehensive wellbeing action plan in the Probation Workforce Strategy, including Mental Health Allies and a new Recovery Workstream.

The government details several measures put in place for prison leavers during Covid-19, including providing phones, discharge packs, requiring Through the Gate providers to focus on resettlement needs, and establishing Homelessness Prevention Taskforces.

The government has not decided to increase the Discharge Grant during the pandemic, stating that options for its future are being considered and that updates on this work will be provided.

The government states the Covid-19 Accommodation Upon Release Scheme was extended until 31st August and will be kept under review. For the longer term, HMPPS is considering how to continue the work of the Homelessness Prevention Taskforces and use lessons learned to develop improvements in probation services.

The government states that Annex 1 provides the detailed timeline for the probation service transition and outlines ongoing oversight by an independent challenge panel and the IPA, with a further IPA review in late September 2020.