Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 12
12
We were told of several good practice examples where many different agencies worked together to...
Conclusion
We were told of several good practice examples where many different agencies worked together to help women with multiple problems. These include the ‘one-stop-shop model’ that women’s centres try to adopt.29 The Ministry told us about ‘problem solving courts’ where packages of support and oversight are tailored for individual women.30 The Howard 20 Qq 3, 12 21 Qq 4, 5; C&AG’s Report, para 1.9 22 Q 39 23 Q 37 24 C&AG’s Report para 17 25 Qq 38, 40 26 Q 46; C&AG’s Report, paras 3 and 1.8, and Figure 3 27 Q 30; C&AG’s Report paras 2.12–2.14 28 Q 10 29 Q 24 30 Q 31 12 Improving outcomes for women in the criminal justice system League for Penal Reform told us of good work between different services in Avon and Somerset to provide alternatives to stop offending.31 We asked what had been the driver for getting bodies working together there and heard that it was a mix of women’s centres, a committed police and crime commissioner and the police leading it. We were told by the stakeholders that although there were examples of good practice, these were in pockets “that are making things work on a shoestring”32 and Women in Prison said the national picture was poor.33 We asked specifically about joining up drug rehabilitation services for women in the CJS. Anawim told us that it had struggled to work with drugs services, and that it would be ideal to have specialist substance misuse workers located at women’s centres.34 It also highlighted that some statutory service providers were always missing from joined-up working, particularly children’s services but also housing.35 Women in Prison said that key partners from the police, local authority and health were not routinely sat around the table in every area. It told us it thought that greater leadership from the Ministry is needed.36
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
3: PAC conclusion: Effective implementation of the strategy has been undermined by insufficient joined-up working. 3: PAC recommendation: The Ministry should set out how it plans to influence more joined-up working. It should write to the Committee alongside its Treasury Minute response with an assessment of any barriers to local areas implementing ‘whole system approaches’ and how it plans to work with other government departments and organisations to address these barriers. 3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Target implementation date: Summer 2022 3.2 The Female Offender Strategy Delivery Plan will be cross-departmental, led by an inter-ministerial board chaired by the Prisons Minister, which will drive forward action across government and hold individual departments to account. 3.3 A delivery board of senior officials from across government responsible for delivery of the activities outlined in the Delivery Plan will report on progress to the inter-ministerial board. The Women in the Criminal Justice System Expert Group, which brings together stakeholders and criminal justice agencies, will monitor progress, providing oversight, support and constructive feedback on the Delivery Plan and the Concordat on Women in or at Risk of Contact with the Criminal Justice System. 3.4 The department will publish a report setting out progress to date against the actions in the Concordat, with next steps of further expanding local and national partnership working being set out in the Female Offender Strategy Delivery Plan. The contents of this report have been discussed with interested stakeholders during its development and the department has