Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Acknowledged
Our Future Probation Service' programme faces concerns about further disruption and staff pressure.
Conclusion
Crest Advisory and the Rehabilitating Probation Project Team also highlighted concerns that the programme will cause further disruption to the service, exacerbating pressures on already over-stretched staff.39 HMPPS told us that it was conscious that the service had been through successive structural changes and that it therefore needs to be more careful than usual as it rolls out changes. It explained that changes including new digital tools would be introduced incrementally over the next 18-months and that it is not taking a “big-bang” approach.40 We asked HMPPS whether the OFPS programme was on track. It explained that there had been some movement from its original timetable as it has had to manage several uncertainties, including financial allocation decisions, which it had hoped would have been resolved at this point.41 We asked if some of this slippage was due to difficulties delivering digital change. HMPPS acknowledged that previous digital change programmes had not always gone as planned within MoJ, but explained that this had not been an issue for its current programme. It stressed that it is focused on ensuring that the digital aspects of the programme are not seen as digital projects but as business change initiatives that result in tools that staff see value in and can use.42
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the Committee's recommendation and states it will adhere to cross-government standards relating to risk management and digital delivery with governance to ensure the risk profile of all digital, process and scope deliverables is scrutinised.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
4.4 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 4.5 MoJ and HMPPS adhere to cross-government standards relating to risk management and digital delivery. 4.6 The established governance arrangements for OFPS ensures that the risk profile of all digital, process and scope deliverables is scrutinised by OFPS Board prior to implementation to ensure risk is manageable. OFPS governance includes Regional Probation Director representation to help assess front line risks and preferred options. 4.7 Any risks identified will be escalated through senior digital and operational boards which oversee implementation across operational, change and digital delivery.