North and North East Lincolnshire Probation Delivery Unit (PDU) has received an overall rating of ‘Inadequate’ following an inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation.

This is the second inspection of North and North East Lincolnshire PDU since it was established under the unification of probation services in 2021, after being rated as ‘Requires improvement’ in March 2023.

Martin Jones, Chief Inspector of Probation, said: “Since our last inspection, leaders have maintained a strong focus on what they were doing well, including partnership working and developing effective service provision for people on probation. It is therefore particularly disappointing to report a deterioration in the effectiveness of casework, particularly in relation to keeping other people safe.”

Unlike many PDUs inspected over the last 11 months, North and North East Lincolnshire PDU had reasonable staffing levels and comparatively low caseloads and workloads for practitioners – unfortunately, these improvements were not positively impacting the work with people on probation. Staff were positive about the training they were receiving, but this was not being reflected in the casework reviewed during this inspection. In addition, middle managers were found to have very high workloads, which was hindering their ability to provide necessary support and oversight to staff under their supervision.

Inspectors were particularly concerned with the work relating to keeping other people safe, finding assessment did not draw sufficiently on available sources of information and, in too many cases, the assessment focused on the individual, without seeing them in the wider context or considering who was potentially at risk for them. Planning to keep others safe was often let down by a lack of engagement with other agencies, with information from these partners not being utilised fully.

Mr Jones added: “Managers and leaders at North and North East Lincolnshire PDU should be reassured that most of the mechanisms already in place are likely to bring the improvements needed. Ensuring that the link between training and practice is made, and that effective practice is reinforced through consistent management oversight, is fundamental to these changes.”

The report makes seven recommendations, including to ensure middle managers have sufficient capacity to provide the appropriate level of oversight according to the needs of staff members, and for practitioners to access all relevant services and provision for people on probation to address risks of harm.

ENDS

Notes to editor

1. This was the second inspection of North and North East Lincolnshire PDU since it was created in June 2021, having previously been rated ‘Requires improvement’ in March 2023. An inspection of probation services in North and North East Lincolnshire PDU (2023)
2. 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.
3. North and North East Lincolnshire PDU is one of 11 PDUs in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of the Probation Service.
4. The report is available at gov.uk/hmiprobation on 19 December 2024.
5. HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth justice and probation services across England and Wales.
6. 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.
7. Fieldwork for this inspection took place in October 2024.
8. For media enquiries, please contact Louise Cordell, Head of Communications 07523 805224 / media@hmiprobation.gov.uk (E-mail address)