Strong leadership and hard work by staff have yet to translate into effective work to protect victims from harm, inspectors found in the Cheshire and Greater Manchester Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC).

Publishing the fourth report in 2018-19 on a CRC owned by the Purple Futures group, Dame Glenys Stacey, HM Chief Inspector of Probation, said it was not surprising to find themes similar to those identified in previous reports.

However, Dame Glenys added: “It is disappointing to learn that so little has improved since our last visit in 2016.

“The CRC’s operating model and organisation structure have been designed to enhance opportunities for rehabilitation and to reduce reoffending… However, despite an ongoing campaign by senior leaders to keep the profile of public protection high, they have been unable to embed a culture that recognises and responds effectively to the need to keep people safe from harm.” Weaknesses in work to protect children were particularly highlighted.

Inspectors assessed that the “risk of harm to others was underestimated in too many cases” and that “the quality of planning was variable; plans lacked important detail, especially about how the CRC would keep people safe.”

Resourcing restraints beyond the CRC’s control had led to structural and policy changes. CRC leaders remained positive and worked hard to introduce and embed change, and drive improvement. “However, many practitioners feel overwhelmed by the pace of change and unable to meet the demands of the CRC’s expectations. There is a growing divide between the strategic aspirations of the CRC and the reality of practice. We have seen this in other Purple Futures CRCs,” Dame Glenys said.

The report noted that staff managed “heavy and complex workloads within an environment of constant change”. Staffing levels have reduced by a quarter since 2014 and some teams across the large and complex CRC were managing “far too many” cases.

Some supervised cases “beyond their competence and without the necessary support”. Some were ill-equipped to handle cases involving complex child safeguarding issues and work to address domestic abuse by men was inadequate. Inspectors found that some were “extremely distressed” by their workloads.

Dame Glenys added: “No matter how good a senior leadership team is, it is the effectiveness of case management that makes the difference to people’s lives. Currently, despite pockets of careful, competent practice, there is too much variation in the quality of case management. The CRC needs to do far more to protect victims and the public and to make sure the individuals with whom it works change their offending behaviour.”
More positively, though, inspectors found the CRC’s work to supervise Unpaid Work Orders imposed by courts to be good, though its ‘Through the Gate’ services for those leaving prison were inadequate.

Inspectors, moreover, had confidence in the leadership and staff to address weaknesses. The report noted: “The CRC has a strong leadership team that demonstrates its commitment to quality probation services, its staff and other stakeholders. The ongoing investment with partners, providers and other stakeholders has helped create effective initiatives and interventions. The quality assurance framework provides a fully comprehensive system for driving improvements in policy and practice.”

Overall, Dame Glenys added:

“This is a hard-working, reflective organisation and I have every confidence that leaders will respond positively to this report to improve service provision.”

-End –

Notes to editors:

1. The report is available at www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation at 00.01 on 3 April 2019
2. HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth offending and probation services in England and Wales.
3. There are 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies across England and Wales
responsible for supervising low and medium-risk offenders.
4. Fieldwork for the Cheshire and Greater Manchester CRC inspection took place in December 2018. The CRC supervised 11,836 people.
5. Purple Futures took formal ownership of the Cheshire and Greater Manchester CRC on 01 February 2015. The five Purple Futures CRCs work collaboratively with one another, sharing learning and resources wherever practicable. The Cheshire and Greater Manchester Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the senior leader of both this and the neighbouring Merseyside CRC.
6. Purple Futures is a consortium led by Interserve. It comprises Interserve Justice (a subdivision of Interserve, a global support service and construction company); 3SC (a company managing public service contracts on behalf of third-sector organisations); P3 (People Potential Possibilities, a charity and social enterprise organisation); and Shelter (a charity focusing on homelessness and accommodation issues).
7. For further information please contact John Steele, HMI Probation Chief Communications Officer, on 020 3334 0357 or 07880 787452, or at john.steele@justice.gov.uk