Recommendations & Conclusions
27 items
2
Conclusion
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
We are concerned that government is not doing enough to support prisoners with substance misuse needs before they are released. Despite the previous Committee’s recommendations in 2017, HMPPS and NHS England have been slow to improve the collection and sharing of prison leavers’ data, limiting their ability to provide appropriate …
Government response. The government agrees and states MoJ and DHSC will develop a proposal for metrics to measure end-to-end success in treating substance misuse, which will be agreed by the Cross-Government Reducing Reoffending Board and published routinely.
HM Treasury
3
Recommendation
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
We are concerned that HMPPS is not doing enough to retain the experienced probation workers needed to safely manage its large and increasing caseload. Staff shortages and high caseloads are negatively affecting resettlement support for prison leavers. In 2021–22, 8% of probation officers left the service, the highest level in …
Government response. The government agrees, stating HMPPS will implement additional steps over the next 12-18 months, including continuing its retention strategy, refreshing career pathways, and building on the Prison Officer Alumni scheme. HMPPS has set a target for a year-on-year decrease in …
HM Treasury
4
Recommendation
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
HMPPS is still not getting all the basics right when commissioning resettlement services. HMPPS works with Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS) providers from the private and voluntary sectors who provide tailored support to offenders in areas such as accommodation, employment and wellbeing. HMPPS issued 110 contracts to CRS providers ready for …
Government response. The government has improved the CRS Dynamic Framework, introduced a grant process, made specific contract changes (e.g., digital referral tool, women's services, finance support), and commissioned an evaluation (June 2023-March 2025) to inform future services.
HM Treasury
5
Recommendation
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
It is vital that HMPPS understands more about what works best if it is to get the best outcomes from its limited funds for prisoner resettlement work. Although it received £550 million in the 2021 Spending Review to reduce reoffending, MoJ says that “difficult choices” lie ahead as it looks …
Government response. The government has detailed evaluation plans in place, expecting impact evaluations by summer 2024 and early outcomes data for specific initiatives by autumn 2024, with findings informing future spending reviews.
HM Treasury
6
Conclusion
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
Unprecedented pressures on the prison estate threaten the quality of resettlement services today and in the future. The prison estate is under “exceptional” pressure to meet current demands on capacity. At the end of March 2023, the prison population was at around 99% (84,400) of safe capacity (85,500). MoJ forecasts …
Government response. The government will publish a new annual statement on prison capacity, demand, and build (announced Oct 2023), and HMPPS will then write to the Committee with the requested projections and further information within six months.
HM Treasury
1
Conclusion
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) about the resettlement support provided for prison leavers.1
Government response. The government has created Area Executive Director roles (Oct 2023) to improve collaboration and will agree a plan to enhance short-term resettlement performance for all adult prison leavers by April 2025, committing to provide the Committee with an action plan …
HM Treasury
7
Recommendation
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
HMPPS told us one of its biggest concerns is whether it can consistently deliver its vision for probation services across all corners of England and Wales.13 In 2022–23, an HMPPS review found 14 out of 27 key events in the resettlement process were not routinely happening. For example, essential handover …
Government response. The government accepted the recommendation and committed to agreeing a plan by May 2024 to ensure consistent resettlement services, aiming for an adequate service by April 2025, driven by new Area Executive Director roles. HMPPS will provide an action plan …
HM Treasury
8
Conclusion
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
HMPPS and MoJ monitor how outcomes for prison leavers vary between groups. For example, in 2021–22: 8% of female prison leavers were employed after six months compared with 18% of male prison leavers; 11% of black or black British prison leavers were employed after six months compared with 18% of …
Government response. The government agrees and states HMPPS is planning a programme of work, including assessment and evidence synthesis, to understand disparities in resettlement outcomes for different groups. This analysis, focusing on protected characteristics, will be delivered by April 2025.
HM Treasury
9
Conclusion
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
In 2017 this Committee recommended that HMPPS and NHS England (NHSE) improve information-sharing arrangements between health, prison and probation staff following concerns that healthcare records do not follow patients as they enter or leave prisons.18 The NAO found that HMPPS and NHSE have been slow to improve the collection and …
HM Treasury
10
Recommendation
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
The continuity of prison leavers’ drug treatment in the community has remained low for many years. In 2021–22, 37% of prison leavers in England with a substance misuse treatment referral were engaged in community-based treatment three weeks after release (38.1% in 2020–21).23 We questioned whether HMPPS was providing enough support …
Government response. The government accepted the recommendation and committed to developing a proposal by Summer 2024, in collaboration with DHSC, to identify and address critical gaps in substance misuse treatment metrics. This proposal, including plans to fill gaps and routine publication of …
HM Treasury
11
Recommendation
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
Substance misuse is the only area where the Cross-Government Reducing Reoffending Board—made up of senior representatives from 12 central government bodies, and with a remit to identify opportunities to reduce reoffending—has not set out the main departments which have a role. The Board has also not set out a detailed …
Government response. The government accepted the recommendation, committing to developing a proposal by Summer 2024 with the Department for Health and Social Care to identify and address critical gaps in substance misuse metrics and define success. This will be reported through cross-government …
HM Treasury
12
Recommendation
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
We asked MoJ and HMPPS about how successful outcomes for prisoners with substance misuse needs are measured. HMPPS told us there is range of things that could 18 Committee of Public Accounts, Mental health in prisons, Eighth Report of Session 2017–19, HC 400, 13 December 2017 19 C&AG’s Report, para …
Government response. The government agrees that more can be done to clearly define success in substance misuse outcomes and commits that the MoJ and DHSC will develop a proposal by Summer 2024 to address critical gaps in current metrics and outline plans …
HM Treasury
13
Recommendation
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
When speaking about the recent decline in the quality of resettlement services, HMPPS told us that it needs “good staffing levels to deliver the best services”.28 Although the number of probation officers increased following the service’s unification in June 2021, the number of unfilled roles has also increased and pressure …
Government response. The government agrees and states HMPPS will take several additional steps over the next 12-18 months to retain and incentivise experienced staff. These actions include refreshing career pathways, creating a Probation Alumni scheme by January 2024, piloting a prison officer …
HM Treasury
14
Recommendation
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
MoJ explained that people join the prison and probation services to make a difference but HMPPS told us that staff who are leaving “consistently” blame workload pressures which leave them feeling unable to do a good job.30 HMPPS’s audit of 98 cases and feedback from 15 service managers confirmed many …
Government response. The government accepted the recommendation, outlining several specific actions HMPPS will take over 12-18 months to retain and incentivise staff, including refreshing career pathways, developing alumni and transfer schemes, and setting a target for year-on-year retention improvement by 2024-2025.
HM Treasury
15
Recommendation
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
HMPPS told us it is seeking to improve the conditions of service for existing staff to assist with staff retention. It has implemented a new three-year pay deal and increased its focus on staff development and wellbeing. We asked whether pay increases would reduce the amount of resettlement funding available …
Government response. The government accepted the recommendation, detailing a multi-faceted plan by HMPPS over the next 12-18 months to retain and incentivise experienced staff through initiatives like refreshing career pathways, developing alumni and transfer schemes, continuing brand campaigns, and setting a retention …
HM Treasury
16
Conclusion
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
Probation staff can draw on specialist support from Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS) providers from the private and voluntary sectors to help support the resettlement of prison leavers. HMPPS issued 110 contracts to CRS providers ready for ‘day one’ of the new unified probation service in June 2021, covering accommodation; employment, …
Government response. The government agrees and states HMPPS is reviewing its approach to ensuring good outcomes, highlighting actions taken such as digital referral tool enhancements, working with providers, and making contract changes to expand support. HMPPS also commits to gathering and using …
HM Treasury
17
Recommendation
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
We asked HMPPS what it had done to remove potential barriers to entry for small and voluntary sector organisations. HMPPS told us it “worked hard” to remove barriers. For example, it reduced the IT standards CRS providers must demonstrate in applying for funding. HMPPS told us its historic requirements had …
Government response. The government accepted the recommendation and stated it's implemented, outlining several steps HMPPS has taken or will take. These include applying lessons learned to future commissioning, improving the CRS Dynamic Framework for VSCEs, introducing a grant process, and commissioning an …
HM Treasury
18
Recommendation
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
HMPPS holds CRS providers to account against two administrative measures (their timeliness in holding appointments and their production of action plans for service users) but does not systematically monitor all providers’ activities or offenders’ outcomes.41 In written evidence to us St Mungo’s—a CRS provider for housing advice and support— criticised …
Government response. The government accepted the recommendation, stating it is implemented and HMPPS is reviewing its approach to ensuring good quality outcomes and evidence. HMPPS has already enhanced its digital referral tool, made contract changes, and is committed to gathering and analysing …
HM Treasury
19
Recommendation
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
HMPPS audited 28 of its highest-value CRS contracts between June and September 2022, which identified ineffective early performance against service standards and contractual requirements. HMPPS rated the quality of the Probation Service’s referrals to CRS providers as ‘amber/red’ or ‘red’ in 25 contracts (89%), with problems including a lack of …
Government response. The government accepted the recommendation, stating it is implemented and HMPPS has already enhanced its digital referral tool and made contract changes. HMPPS is also reviewing its approach to outcomes, committed to gathering better evidence, and assessing options for improved …
HM Treasury
20
Conclusion
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
In the 2021 Spending Review, MoJ secured £550 million over three years to reduce reoffending. MoJ allocated this funding to HMPPS, with £484 million assigned to support adult offenders. However, this funding is subject to change as MoJ considers the potential impacts of the government’s Efficiency and Savings Review.46 MoJ …
HM Treasury
21
Recommendation
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
Good evaluation practice emphasises the importance of understanding how a new intervention is expected to achieve the intended outcomes and the need to plan evaluation at the design stage before implementing it.48 But the NAO found that HMPPS does not yet have a mature evidence base for the impact of …
Government response. The government accepted the recommendation, stating it is implemented, with detailed evaluation plans now in place for HMPPS investments. Impact evaluations are expected to be complete by Summer 2024, and interim findings from outcomes data will inform early findings by …
HM Treasury
22
Recommendation
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
MoJ told us it is working with HMPPS to better understand what works best on accommodation support for prison leavers.52 Outcomes have remained stable in recent years despite HMPPS’ investments, with 76% of prison leavers from April 2022 to February 2023 in settled accommodation after three months, compared with 75% …
Government response. The government agrees and states that detailed evaluation plans are now in place to assess the effectiveness of HMPPS investment in resettlement, with impact evaluations expected to be complete and findings available by summer 2024 to inform future planning. For …
HM Treasury
23
Recommendation
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
HMPPS told us it is proud of the progress made on employment support initiatives with 25% of prison leavers from April 2022 to February 2023 employed after six months, compared with 17% in 2021–22.57 But HMPPS’s plans to evaluate its employment initiatives are still in the early stages and as …
Government response. The government agrees and states that detailed evaluation plans are now in place to assess the effectiveness of HMPPS investment in resettlement, with impact evaluations expected to be complete and findings available by summer 2024 to inform future planning. For …
HM Treasury
24
Conclusion
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
MoJ told us several times that the prison estate is under “exceptional” pressure to meet current demands on capacity.60 At the end of March 2023, the prison population was at around 99% (84,400) of safe capacity (85,500).61 While projections are uncertain, the MoJ expects significant increases in the prison population …
Government response. The government agrees with the committee's observation and commits to providing projections for the prison population, plans for six new prisons, and resettlement service demand. They will also publish an annual statement on prison capacity, future demand, and a scrutinised …
HM Treasury
25
Recommendation
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Deferred
MoJ told us it has multiple options to increase prison capacity, including building new prisons and refurbishing the existing estate. MoJ told us it plans to increase prisoner capacity by 20,000 places at a cost of £3.8 billion, but it will need more funding after 2024–25 to bring its planned …
Government response. The government accepted the recommendation in principle and committed to responding to the Committee by May 2024 with projections for prison population, new prisons, and resettlement demand. They will also publish a new independently scrutinised annual statement on prison capacity, …
HM Treasury
26
Conclusion
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Accepted
We asked MoJ how it would protect against unsafe spaces being reopened to provide increased prison capacity. MoJ told us it has clear safety standards for cells that it would never go below, and HMPPS added that these standards are “absolute” and it would not bend these to improve overall …
Government response. The government agrees with the committee's observation and commits to providing updated prison population projections, plans for six new prisons, and resettlement service demand. They will also publish an annual statement on prison capacity, future demand, and a scrutinised build …
HM Treasury
27
Recommendation
Seventy-Eighth Report - Resettlement su…
Deferred
As these additional prisoners progress through their sentences, there will be higher demand for resettlement services. MoJ’s central estimate in its recent modelling work on forecast volumes of prison leavers starting their supervision in the community shows that, while projections are uncertain, the Probation Service may need to supervise around …
Government response. The government agrees and will respond to the Committee by May 2024 with projections for the prison population and demand for resettlement services. They will also publish a new annual statement on prison capacity and update on prison build, and …
HM Treasury