HM Inspectorate of Probation has appointed User Voice to work with us to ensure people on probation have a greater say in our inspections. The contract started on 01 February 2022 and runs for three years.

Last year, probation services across England and Wales were unified into a single service and put back into the public sector. The Inspectorate has started inspecting the new Probation Service, and User Voice will seek the views of people on probation in each area to inform our findings and recommendations.

Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell said: “We think it is important that people on probation should have the opportunity to tell us what does and doesn’t work for them in terms of their supervision. I’m very pleased to be announcing this new partnership with User Voice and we look forward to working with them to ensure the views of people on probation are at the centre of all of our local inspections.”

Mark Johnson, CEO of User Voice said “User Voice was set up specifically to drive lived experience to the centre of the system, and this opportunity is the culmination of our vision to work closely with the Inspectorate.

“This partnership will ensure the independent user-led voice is heard and remains at the heart of the work of both User Voice and the Inspectorate. Our model of user-led research conducted by peer researchers will ensure engagement is measurable and make sure that service user voices are heard and included in affecting change that will benefit not just the person on probation but the probation service as a whole.”