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National Probation Service

Bulletin
Issue 40 September 2006

ARTICLES CONTENTS
070/06 NPS Performance Report 21
071/06 Offender Management Phase 2
The Bulletin has been improved for easier on-screen
reading. 072/06 National Standards Contact
073/06 Prolific and Other Priority Offenders (PPOs)
Articles can now be read by either scrolling down the 074/06 C-NOMIS Update
page or by clicking the article titles below:
075/06 Snapshot of Unpaid Work
076/06 Developing our leaders
NPS Performance Report 21 077/06 Appointments
078/06 NPD Diary
Offender Management Phase 2 079/06 Issued Recently

National Standards Contact

Prolific and Other Priority Offenders (PPOs)

C-NOMIS Update

Snapshot of Unpaid Work

Developing our leaders

Appointments

NPD Diary

Issued Recently

National Probation Directorate

UNCLASSIFIED Abell House, John Islip Street, London, SW1P 4LH
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070/06 NPS PERFORMANCE REPORT 21

Performance Report 21 has been published containing information on the performance of the NPS for the first quarter
of 2006-07.

Enforcement

89% of relevant cases were enforced within 10 days in accordance with National Standards during the first quarter
overall. Although performance has dipped below the 90% target for the first time since December 2004, the monthly
performance has touched 90% in May and June.

Compliance

A new compliance target has been introduced for 2006-07, which measures the proportion of arranged appointments
that the offender attends in the first 26 weeks of the order or licence. During April to June 81% was achieved. Using
this as a baseline the target for the remainder of the year has been set at 85%.

High / Very High Risk of harm cases

The target is to complete 90% of risk of harm analyses, risk management plans and OASys sentence plans on high
risk offenders within five working days of the commencement of the order or release into the community. This target is
now being met, with 90% achieved for the period April-June 2006 compared to 81% from the beginning of monitoring
in August 2005 to March 2006.

Prolific and other Priority Offenders (PPOs)

The target is to complete 90% of risk of harm screenings / full analyses (as appropriate) and OASys sentence plans on
Prolific and other Priority Offenders within five working days of commencement of the order or release into the
community. This target is also being exceeded nationally with 91% of cases meeting the target for April to June 2006
compared to 82% for the period August 2005 to March 2006.

Accredited Offending Behaviour Programmes

There were 3,538 completions of offending behaviour programmes between April and June 2006. That represents
81% of the profiled target but only slightly fewer than the 3,557 achieved during the same period in 2005.

Unpaid Work

12,820 successful completions have been achieved in the first quarter. That is 3% above the target and a slight
improvement on the 12,653 achieved during the first quarter of last year.

Drug Treatment and Testing Orders / Drug Rehabilitation Requirements

There were 3,716 commencements of DRRs and DTTOs between April and June 2006 (93% of the profiled target).
This is an 18% increase on the 3,137 starts during April to June 2005.

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There were 1,152 successful completions of DTTOs and DRRs in the period April to June 2006 (92% of target), an
increase of 31% on the 877 achieved during the equivalent period in 2005.

Skills for Life

11,803 offenders commenced skills for life courses during the first quarter of 2006-07, 2% below the target for the
period. This is down by 892 (7%) on the 12,695 achieved a year earlier.

There are no awards targets for probation areas in 2006-07. Data for the first quarter shows that 3,219 awards were
delivered between April and June 2006, a reduction of 20% on the 4,035 awards achieved in the same period last
year.

Accurate and Timely Race & Ethnic Monitoring Data

96% of data on offenders starting community orders was timely and accurate with respect to ethnicity, as was 94% of
data on offenders starting supervision under licence. The total across both types of supervision was 95%.

Sickness Absence

The average days lost per employee per staff year during the first quarter of 2006-07 was 11.2, an improvement on
the average of 12.3 for 2005-06.

Victim Contact

End-of-year figures for 2005-06 for victim contact are now available. These show that 92% of victims were contacted
within the 8-week standard. This exceeds the 85% target.

Court Report Timeliness

New targets were introduced for 2006-07 and this report provides the first set of results. These show that 74% of
reports were delivered on time against the target of 90%.

FURTHER INFORMATION:
For enquiries about any issues relating to this report please contact:
Email: Roger.McGarva2@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
For enquires about the data please contact:
Email: Paris.Mikkides@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

071/06 OFFENDER MANAGEMENT PHASE 2

The date for implementing the next phase of Offender Management has been confirmed. From 6 November 2006,
Offender Management will be extended to include high priority cases with a custodial element: those determinate
sentence prisoners serving 12 months or over who are PPOs or who are assessed as high or very high risk of causing
serious harm.

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Although probation areas have been using Offender Management principles to deal with community sentences and
licences since April, this will be the first time the model has been applied to those in custody. It is an important step
forward.

Offender Management for other types of custodial sentence will be introduced in stages: Phase III is planned to cover
Lifers and other Indeterminate Sentence cases from the second half of 2007 – the precise start date to be determined
– and Phase IV, for other determinate sentence prisoners of 12 months and over, from early 2008. Offender
Management is expected to be extended to YAOs in the first half of 2007.

FURTHER INFORMATION:
If there are any questions on Phase II, or any other aspect of Offender Management, please call or E-mail the
dedicated OM hotline
Tel: 020 7217 595
Email: omqueries@noms.gov.uk or
Email: omqueries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

072/06 NATIONAL STANDARDS CONTACT

This is the first such report for 2006-07 and provides an analysis by region and area of the results of National
Standards monitoring for the period April to June 2006.

FURTHER INFORMATION:
A copy of the Report is available from Epic, navigate from: Home Page> Support Service> Performance Information
http://npsintranet/index/support_service/performance_information.htm
Or by contacting:
Email: Ed.Stradling@homeoffice,gsi,gov.uk

073/06 PROLIFIC AND OTHER PRIORITY OFFENDERS (PPOs)

PPO Toolkit

We are still collating best practice examples of good inter-agency working, useful protocols, and problem solving
procedures. We intend on uploading this information into EPIC mid October. Examples are still more than
welcome. We are happy to receive these by email, or call if you wish to discuss.

Thus far, summary findings show:

1. PSR quality assurance

A number of Probation Areas assisted with a PPO PSR review to investigate how far report writers were following the
guidance contained in PC33A/05. The reports were read by six SPOs from different areas, working in pairs.

• 27 per cent referred to the offender being a PPO, contrary to the guidance
• 23 per cent did not make reference to the offender’s previous disposals
• Three-quarters of cases identified actions to manage and reduce risk; but a quarter did not

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• 31 per cent did not consider both custodial and community sentences
• Where a community order was made, 56 per cent were ‘intensive’, with three or more requirements made

The results of this mini-survey will be reported to the Home Office PPO Programme Board which will decide what
changes to the policy, if any, need to be made.

2. Regional events

The following regional events have been agreed, topics for discussion/themes for the day to be concluded
approximately two months prior to each event.

London 15 December 2006

West Midlands 16 February 2007
South West 5 March or 8 May 2007
North East 13 March 2007
North West 29 March 2007
Yorkshire and Humberside 26 April 2007
South East 1 June 2007
East of England 2 July 2007

Wales and East Midlands have yet to pick their dates. The following are still free: 17 January 2007, 26 January 2007,
11 April 2007, 6 June 2007, 6 July 2007, 1 August 2007.

3. Drug testing quality assurance

53 drug testing sites have been put forward for the quality assurance exercise from 26 areas. The remaining 16 will
be chased shortly.

4. Working with the Prison Service

We have been made aware of problems exchanging information between NPS and HMPS. Leicestershire and
Rutland even employ their own senior prison officer to address this.

We have had an enquiry as to whether there is a list of all prison PPO contacts. NOMS Community Integration Unit
has indicated agreement in principle (subject to the agreement of the Director-General of the HMPS) to publishing this
list in J-Track. This will therefore make it available to probation areas since we are now sending J-Track extracts to
the contacts identified in PC30/06.

5. Casework, legal, drug-testing, information-sharing, licence condition issues?

Got a problem with a PPO? Stuck on something? Contact us. We may not know the answer but we may know
someone who does

FURTHER INFORMATION:
Email: robin.brennan@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk or 020 7217 0916
Email: corinna.griggs.2@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk or 020 7217 0760

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074/06 C-NOMIS UPDATE

The initial go live of the C-NOMIS application at HMP Albany is now planned to take place on 10th December 2006.
The testing of the system in which we have been engaged over the last few weeks gives us confidence in this date as
the starting point for the introduction of the C-NOMIS system.

Further testing of the subsequent 1.1 release of C-NOMIS will form the basis of the next stage of the C-NOMIS roll-out
which should begin in April/ May 2007. Full roll-out will still finish in 2008 as originally planned.

We are keen to formalise the dates of the C-NOMIS implementation schedule and to indicate as soon as possible
when each establishment or area can expect to go live. A workshop is planned on 13th September to progress this. We
are, again, quite confident of announcing an agreed roll-out schedule by November 2006 and I shall be writing to you
then.

Alongside the decision on the go-live date, senior management has developed a new organisational structure for the
C-NOMIS project reflecting our move out of the technology build phase and into business implementation. To take this
forward, John Powls of the NOMS Programme Directorate has been appointed to a new role as C-NOMIS Programme
Director spanning both the technical and business implementation aspects of C-NOMIS and continuing his
longstanding support for the project.

Finally, I should add that there is much that can be done now to ensure a successful transition to C-NOMIS,
particularly in the area of data quality which is an issue of growing importance to the whole of the NOMS community.
Ensuring that data on current systems is accurate, complete and consistently and carefully entered and maintained will
provide a firm foundation for migration to the new C-NOMIS system. C-NOMIS is a superb application but ultimately
only as good as the data it contains.

FURTHER INFORMATION:
Email: george.barrow@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

075/06 SNAPSHOT OF UNPAID WORK 2006

In March 2006, NPD asked Areas (PC11/2006) to complete a snapshot of their Unpaid Work provision, including the
sources of their projects and placements and the extent to which these were made visible to their local communities.

Types of placement:

Identifies that 65% of offenders were placed on a group placement and 35% on individual placements.

Nature of Unpaid Work, by hours worked

Shows the wide range of unpaid work activities. The top 3are Environmental, decorating and cleaning/maintenance,
the bottom 3 are luncheon clubs, NPS workshops and animal work. The top branded projects animal work, graffiti
removal and litter removal.

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Commissioning Sources of Unpaid Work, by hours worked

This highlights the strong links to a wide range of partners including the voluntary sector (45%) and local authorities
(38%) as sources of unpaid work.

Opportunities for Skills/Qualifications (no: of offenders)

Shows the range of skills/qualification obtained by offenders, the vast majority being vocational/basic skills.

Delivery Time

23% weekend, 30%weekday and 47% both.

The results are only a snapshot of work at that time but they show the diverse range of projects and placements,
sourced from a wide variety of partner agencies. They demonstrate how well integrated Unpaid Work is in local
neighbourhoods.

Making Unpaid Work visible by using the materials launched under the Community Payback scheme in November
2005 is becoming an embedded feature in all Areas, as the feedback shows. There is still scope for raising
awareness of Unpaid Work, even in those projects and placements which do not necessarily lend themselves to
visible promotion while the work is actually being performed by offenders.

NPD is planning another snapshot of national Unpaid Work provision early in 2007.

FURTHER INFORMATION:
A copy of the full report is available on Epic, navigate from: Home Page> Service Delivery> Interventions Policy,
Strategy and Supporting Documentation
http://npsintranet/index/service_delivery/interventions/interventions_policy_strategy_and_supporting_documentation.ht
m
Or by contacting:
Email: jill.shaw5@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7217 0653

Community Payback branding information is available from Epic, navigate from Home>Support
Service>Communications Resources

076/06 DEVELOPING OUR LEADERS

The NPD HR Training & Development Team are working with partners in NOMS, HM Prison Service and the Fire
Service Centre for Leadership to deliver an interactive workshop to develop an evaluation framework that measures
the impact of leadership development interventions on organisational effectiveness. This is an opportunity to bring
together Senior HR, Learning & Development Professionals and Operational Leaders; with a strategic responsibility for
leadership development from across the Public Sector to deliver this important piece of work.

The work has been commissioned by The Public Services Leadership Consortium, which was formed in 2005 and is
chaired by the Cabinet Office. The Consortium brings together a number of the key leadership academies across
public services to drive cross-service collaboration and coherence on leadership. The Consortium's focus is on
achieving smarter working and efficiency, and developing flexible, customer focused leaders able to work effectively

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across the traditional boundaries between public services. Key elements in the Consortium’s current work
programme include; value for money in the leadership development market and the development of a learning
framework for customer focussed leadership.

FURTHER INFORMATION:
The workshop will be held on Thursday, 23rd November 2006 at the Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh.
Further details and a booking form will be distributed towards the end of September and places will be strictly limited.
Email: Helen.Smith2@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

077/06 APPOINTMENTS

This is to inform you that Richard Baldwin has retired from his role as Chief Officer for Hertfordshire.
Steve Collett (Chief Officer for Cheshire) will be covering Richard’s post, until a permanent replacement is appointed.

078/06 NPD DIARY

October

2nd – 3rd NPRIE conference, the Royal York Hotel, York

3rd North Leadership Meeting, 10am – 4:30pm, York Moat Hotel, North Street, York, YO1 6JF
4th – 5th National Consortia Directors’ Forum, venue tbc
5th – 6th Core Generic tutor skills training, East of England Region, venue tbc
6th Middle Manager Risk of Harm Improvement Workshop, West Midlands
10th South Leadership Meeting, 10am – 4:30pm, Jolly Hotel St Ermins, Caxton Street, London
10th North Yorkshire Probation Area & North Yorkshire Forum for Voluntary Organisations conference:
'Working together to do things differently'’, Mount View Business Park, Scarborough
10th – 11th Core Generic tutor skills training, Yorkshire & Humberside Region, venue tbc
12th 6th Annual Criminal Justice Management Conference, QEII Conference Centre, London
12th Alcohol Strategy Implementation Event, the Menzies Waterside Hotel, Bath
12th North Yorkshire Probation Area & North Yorkshire Forum for Voluntary Organisations conference:
'Working together to do things differently', Disability Action Yorkshire, Hornbeam Park, Harrogate
13th North Yorkshire Probation Area & North Yorkshire Forum for Voluntary Organisations conference:
'Working together to do things differently', Priory Street Centre, Priory Street, York
16th NPS Domestic Abuse Reference Group, 10am – 1pm, venue tbc
17th Chairs Meeting, 11am- 3:30pm, York Moat Hotel, North Street, York YO1 6JF
17th – 18th Core Generic tutor skills training, East Midlands Region, venue tbc
18th Alcohol Strategy Implementation Event, the Marriott Hotel, Sheffield
19th – 20th Core Generic tutor skills training, North West Region, venue tbc
20th Pricing for Commissioning Project: Presentation of Unit Cost findings, West Midlands Probation Area
HQ, 1 Victoria Square, Birmingham
20th OASys and the Life Sentence Plan Conference, Newbold Revell, Rugby
24th – 25th Core Generic tutor skills training, London, venue tbc
26th Pricing for Commissioning Project: Presentation of Unit Cost findings, Chadwick Street Recreation
Centre, 1 Chadwick Street, Westminster, London

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079/06 ISSUED RECENTLY

Probation Circulars 2006:

PC33 The Development of Sub-contracting Plans

PC34 Disability Monitoring
PC35 Preventing Deaths of Approved Premises Residents

Other Publications:

NPS Performance Report 21

HMI Probation Plan 2006 – 2007
Working with Alcohol Misusing Offenders – a strategy for delivery
A Five Year Strategy for Protecting the Public and Reducing Reoffending
CJS in Brief Issue 9

To submit items for the NPS Bulletin, or to be added to the distribution list contact:
NPSBULLETIN@HOMEOFFICE.GSI.GOV.UK

Bulletins are posted on the Epic Intranet and the NPS Website at: www.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk, navigate from
Home>News & Updates>Bulletins

Issued by NPD Communications Unit

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