Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Accepted
Set out assessment for digital tool rollout, risk thresholds for changes, and monitoring breaches.
Recommendation
We are not confident that MoJ and HMPPS can successfully manage the risks associated with the new probation programme. Over an 18-month period, HMPPS’s new programme - Our Future Probation Service - aims to introduce new digital tools, changes to probation processes and changes to the level of supervision for some offenders. Its plans include implementing over 30 digital initiatives to help reduce the time probation staff need to spend on tasks. For example, Transcribe is an AI tool to help staff capture meeting notes. However, there is a risk that constant changes can disrupt services, contribute to poor outcomes and staff stress. While HMPPS plans to implement new digital tools incrementally, the short time- frame carries a high level of risk and MoJ does not have a strong history of implementing digital change programmes well. Additionally, MoJ and HMPPS are still deciding on some of the changes they plan to make to the level of supervision some offenders receive, which may pose risks to public protection. Given these risks, we are very concerned that MoJ and HMPPS have not yet set clear thresholds for the level of risk they are willing to accept, to help monitor operational and public protection risks. recommendation HMPPS should set out, in its Treasury Minute response: a. how it will assess when digital tools are sufficiently developed to roll out to staff; b. its risk thresholds for rolling out digital and process changes/scope changes; and c. how it will monitor if thresholds are breached.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts all recommendations. It will assess digital tools based on cross-government standards and support models, manage risk thresholds through established governance and OFPS Board scrutiny, and monitor breaches via fortnightly OFPS board meetings and escalation processes.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented All changes, whether digital, process or scope are managed through appropriate governance arrangements. MoJ and HMPPS manage implementation risks through the fortnightly OFPS board. Risks that can’t be mitigated or remain out of tolerance are escalated through governance to the Capacity Delivery Board or HMPPS Leadership Team. In addition, HMPPS uses a range of secondary indicators and through established governance arrangements such as performance, staffing data, staff surveys to monitor wider organisational health.