Essex North Probation Delivery Unit (PDU) has received an overall rating of ‘Requires improvement’ following an inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation. This is the second inspection of this PDU since it was established under the unification of probation services in 2021, having previously been rated ‘Inadequate’ in 2022.

Martin Jones, Chief Inspector of Probation, said: “Essex North PDU should be proud of the improvements made since our last inspection. Despite the challenges facing the Probation Service, the staff and leaders remain positive and committed, and I wish them every success in driving improvements further.”

The report found a lack of resources continued to impact service delivery at Essex North PDU. At the time of inspection, the service had 41 per cent of its target number of Probation Officers (POs) in post, with most staff working under excessively high workloads. Leaders had introduced initiatives to manage these risks, such as further recruitment of Probation Services Officers (PSOs) and the reorganisation of teams to offer support where possible. It is anticipated that 20 new POs will join the service in the next 12 months, which the service hope will further alleviate the pressure their staff are under.

Inspectors found casework across all four of the Inspectorate’s delivery standards to be ‘Inadequate’, despite the strong strategic approach and direction shown by PDU leaders. Management oversight was found to be missing or insufficient in 83 per cent of the cases examined in this inspection and more work is needed to convert training and staff development into effective practice.

Mr Jones added: “Despite the disappointing overall rating, both staff and leaders should be proud of much that they are doing. There remains every reason to believe that, with continued focus on the most significant aspects of work the service undertakes and improvements in staff numbers, progress will also be seen in frontline work.”

The report makes four recommendations to Essex North PDU, including to ensure the service has sufficient staffing resources in place and to improve the use of interventions and services to help manage the risk of people on probation.

ENDS

Notes to editor

1. Probation Delivery Units (PDUs) replaced Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) and the National Probation Service (NPS), which merged into a unified Probation Service in June 2021.
2. Essex North PDU is one of eight PDUs in the East of England region.
3. The report is available at justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation on 01 August 2024.
4. HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth justice and probation services across England and Wales.
5. The Inspectorate uses a four-point scale: ‘Outstanding’, ‘Good’, ‘Requires improvement’ and ‘Inadequate’. The Inspectorate rates specific aspects of each service and also gives an overall rating.
6. Fieldwork for this inspection took place in April 2024.

For media enquiries, please contact Louise Cordell, Head of Communications 07523 805224 / media@hmiprobation.gov.uk (E-mail address)