Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Paragraph: 127
We recognise that newly qualified probation officers and those still in training need training, development...
Recommendation
We recognise that newly qualified probation officers and those still in training need training, development and support, and should have smaller caseloads, but we are concerned that in the interim, caseloads for qualified probation officers will remain high. While we appreciate that many variables make setting a target caseload difficult, it is clear from Inspectorate research that caseloads of more than 50 affect the quality of work, and thus the ability of probation to meet the aims of rehabilitation and public protection. We recommend that the MoJ commit to ensuring that individual caseloads do not exceed a baseline figure of 50. We recognise caseload numbers may fluctuate below this number, but they should not exceed it. The Ministry should also set out what work is being done to reduce caseloads, beyond the recruitment of additional probation officers and what support is available to staff with high caseloads, to ensure they are able to manage risk for all offenders in their caseload adequately.
Paragraph Reference:
127
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Agreed We agree that where cases require ongoing risk management work as part of the delivery of the requirements, they are subject to, a caseload of no more than 50 is reasonable. For Probation Officers, the national average number of cases per full time equivalent stood at 32.5 on 21 April 2021, with 2 per cent of Probation Officers with caseloads in excess of 50. There are cases, such as those where the only element is Unpaid Work, where the requirements of case management are limited, and the activity is more focussed on engagement and enforcement to ensure attendance and completion. For these cases a specific caseload is less indicative of a volume of work. Currently some Probation Service Officers in CRCs holding low risk standalone UPW cases will have caseloads over 50. The case complexity is therefore a key focus for our organisation to understand in respect of resource with resource following risk and need. In May 2021, we implemented a new Unified Tiering Model (UTM) into our current Workload Management Tool (WMT). This provides management with oversight of the work involved in cases resulting from case complexity, which we suggest is more accurate than a fixed value. The UTM is more generous in its provision for timings and therefore caseloads managed at the correct level through the WMT should reduce further. The WMT is currently being redesigned with a new version due to be deployed in December 2021. This will have additional functionality to support the active management of work in teams and increasing the management oversight of work pressures.