UNCLASSIFIEDUNCLASSIFIEDISSUE DATE
– 3 April 20071 of 3
Probation
Circular
PC08/2007 – IMPLEMENTATION OF ACCREDITEDOFFENDING BEHAVIOUR PROGRAMMEPERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT STANDARDS
IMPLEMENTATION DATE:
17 April 2007
EXPIRY DATE:
April 2012
TO:
Chairs of Probation Boards, Chief Officers of Probation, Secretaries of Probation Boards
CC:
Board Treasurers, Regional Managers
AUTHORISED BY:
Sarah Mann, Head of Interventions and Substance Abuse Unit, NOMS
ATTACHED:
Annex A – Performance Improvement Standards ManualAnnex B – Report FormAnnex C – Equality Impact Assessment Form
RELEVANT PREVIOUS PROBATION CIRCULARS
PC03/2004, PC23/2004
CONTACT FOR ENQUIRIES
jo.day@homeoffice.gsi.gov.ukor 02072178999
Philip.mcnerney2@homeoffice.gsi.gov.ukor 02072170674
or
0207217833
PURPOSE
To require Chief Officers of Probation to implement the performance standards for accreditedoffending Behaviour Programmes
ACTION
Chief Officers are asked to: ensure that the performance improvement standards manual isdisseminated to relevant senior managers; to undertake an audit using the standards; andsubmit the results of the audits to the address below by 30
th
May 2007
SUMMARY
The performance standards provide for an interim audit of programmes. This audit is bestdescribed as a ‘snapshot’ and its future use will be dependant on the progress of the jointNPS/HMPS audit development Project. It is envisaged that the new arrangements for audit willbe in place in 2007/08.
UNCLASSIFIEDIntroduction
There has been no formal Accredited Programme audit since 2004 and consequently there isan urgent need to address the audit process and framework. Work is currently being developedon an audit framework which covers all accredited programmes across custody and communityand this work is due for completion in 2007/08.Following discussions with the Delivery and Quality Unit NOMS we have agreed an interimapproach which will ask probation areas to evaluate current performance and identify areas forimprovement. There are two persuasive arguments for this approach:1) Robust and credible information is central to the planned mock contestability ofprogrammes in 2007/08.2) ROMs will want to commission effective programmes. This audit document will enableareas to demonstrate programme integrity which is crucial to an effective programme.Ultimately a weak programme which is unable to demonstrate the standards willundermine integrity and have an impact on completions.
Standards
The standards will align with work being undertaken in the joint NPS/HMPS audit projectdescribed above. This particular audit will establish the critical factors in delivering qualityprogrammes and it should be noted that they are primarily intended as improvement standardsand will not provide a comprehensive audit tool for all aspects of accredited programmes. Theaudit aims to be ‘light touch’ with the themes being based on the critical factors that researchshows are necessary for delivering effective programmes.
Audit process
The Attitude Thinking and Behaviour Team NOMS have developed the attached framework ofself audit of performance for accredited programmes. Areas are required to undertake an auditof programmes for the period April 2006 – March 2007 using the standards set out in themanual. It may prove helpful when establishing the audit process to consider using colleaguesacross the region to undertake and validate the scoring. Senior managers are expected toidentify a named person to link with Lesley SmithLesley.smith@homeoffice.gsi.gov.ukand signoff the completed report by 30
th
May 2007. If required an action plan focussing on areas forimprovements should also be completed and sent to the above address. Details of the scoresand plan should be recorded on the form (Annex A) with one copy submitted to Lesley Smith atATB team NOMS and one to the relevant regional manager by 30
th
May 2007. A national auditreport will be produced once we have received a report from all areas. This will summarise thestrengths and areas for improvement within a national context.The standards and rating system used are also consistent with the performance managementapproach being developed for NPS by the NOMS Performance and Improvement Directorate. Itwill be a requirement for Areas to submit their OBP standards audit score to the NOMSInterventions and Substance Misuse Unit. The Unit will band the audit scores using the formulapresented in the Rating Approach Section of the Performance Improvement Standards manual.Once the OBP bands have been created the information will be communicated to the NOMSPerformance and Improvement Directorate for inclusion within the Integrated ProbationPerformance Framework and the weighted scorecard.
PC08/2007
Implementation of AccreditedOffending Behaviour ProgrammePerformance ImprovementStandards
UNCLASSIFIEDISSUE DATE
– 3 April 20072 of 3
UNCLASSIFIEDProposed Timetable
April 2007 PC published outlining purpose of exerciseMay 30th 2007 Audit completed in areasJune 30
th
2007 Area Report to NPDSeptember 2007 National summary report completed with analysisand Areas contacted re: validation exercise
PC08/2007
Implementation of AccreditedOffending Behaviour ProgrammePerformance ImprovementStandards
UNCLASSIFIEDISSUE DATE
– 3 April 20073 of 3
of 00
UK Home Office: PC08%202007
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