Inspection of Offender Management in West Yorkshire

The latest inspection report on adult offending work in England and Wales was published today.

Sally Lester, Assistant Chief Inspector of Probation, said:
 

'This inspection of offender management work in West Yorkshire took place as part of our second programme of Offender Management Inspections. We have examined a representative sample of probation (adult offending) cases from the trust, and have judged how often the work with each case was done to a sufficiently high level of quality.
 

'Over the trust as a whole, we judged that the work to keep to a minimum each individual’s Risk of Harm to others – i.e. the 'Control purpose' - was done well enough 76% of the time. The work to make each individual less likely to reoffend – the 'Help' and 'Change' purposes - was done well enough 78% of the time. Work to maximise compliance and enforcement was done well enough 83% of the time. A more detailed analysis of our findings is provided in the main body of this report, and summarised in a table in Appendix 1. These figures can be viewed in the context of our findings from the areas and Trusts where we have inspected so far – see the Table below.
 

'We also met enthusiastic offender managers who were keen to develop their skills and who valued the support received from their line managers. There was a strong organisational culture of learning and development. The Trust had responded very well to those staff with individual needs. We saw some good work being done with offenders to reduce reoffending and protect the public, but the Trust will need to continue to develop quality in key areas of assessment and planning, particularly reviews.
 

'Overall, we consider this a very encouraging set of findings and are confident that West Yorkshire Probation Trust is well placed to take forward improvements in the quality of offender management.'

Read the report.

Notes:

1. This Offender Management Inspection 2 programme started in September 2009. Adult offending work is being inspected by visits to all NOMS areas and trusts over a three-year period from September 2009.
2. The purpose of offender management has been usefully characterised as to ‘Punish, Help, Change and Control’ each individual offender, in accordance with the need of the individual case. Although our detailed inspection findings can seem rather technical for the general reader, our headline findings can be related to those ‘plain language’ purposes. We have given particular attention to the ‘Control’ purpose – the Public Protection aspect of the work – since this is where independent inspection can add the most value. Our ‘Risk of Harm to others score’ measures how well this has been done.
3. Sally Lester can be contacted by mobile phone 07917 084763 or by email sally.lester@hmiprobation.gsi.gov.uk.