Recommendation 23

HM Government Acknowledged

Agreed The Probation Workforce Programme workforce strategy creates a commitment for the Probation Service to enhance our recruitment approach to attract people with lived experience of the criminal justice system. A significant step towards this will be taken on 26 June 2021 when the formal unification of probation service delivery is implemented and we expect to transfer in a large number towards our target of 150 through former CRC staff with lived experience transfer to permanent roles as Civil Servants in the newly created Probation Service. Extensive work has been undertaken to plan for the vetting process that all transferring staff will need to complete, to ensure that for this staff cohort any barriers to them continuing their roles can be removed. As part of a separate initiative we are introducing the Cabinet Office’s “Going Forward into Employment” (GFIE) programme in Probation. The GFIE programme is open to individuals within two years of finishing their sentence and allows applicants to access a two-year contract in a civil service role. The trial cohort will test the application of this scheme in the Probation Service and will aim to recruit to between 20–30 vacancies by April 2022. We are aware of the many benefits that those with lived experience can bring to roles within the Probation service. We also are cognisant of the unique issues that may arise for applicants with lived experience working in a Probation context. In order to ensure the best experience possible for applicants we are working with Regions to ensure candidates are supported and feedback on the programme is captured. Findings and lessons learned from this trial cohort will be used to inform future strategies to increase the recruitment of those with lived experience into the Probation Service. A key aim of the GFIE scheme in Probation will be to encourage the retention and progression of those with lived experience within the service. We will therefore be providing support for participants to apply for permanent positions following the scheme.