Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Accepted
Set out plans for quality outcomes from rehabilitative services and future commissioning lessons.
Recommendation
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 ‘day one’ of the new unified probation service but a second wave of contracts for a wider range of services, such as finance, benefits and debt support, is still underway. HMPPS holds CRS providers to account against two administrative measures but does not systematically monitor all providers’ activities or offenders’ outcomes. Some providers have criticised the current CRS contracts for being “highly process driven” and focussing too much on inputs, such as whether a prison leaver has been offered an appointment, instead of good quality outcomes. HMPPS’s baseline audit of 28 highest value contracts identified poor performance by both the Probation Service and CRS providers. In 89% of contracts the Probation Service’s referrals to CRS providers did not meet standards in ‘some regards’ or ‘failed’ to meet standards, and in 68% of contracts providers did not sufficiently meet offenders’ rehabilitative needs. We are pleased that HMPPS tried to remove potential barriers to entry for small and voluntary sector organisations, but a 2021 survey of providers found the commissioning process was still “complex, cumbersome and bureaucratic”, with many small, specialist organisations finding it too hard to engage with HMPPS. Recommendation 4a: In its Treasury Minute response, HMPPS should set out how it will ensure good quality outcomes for prison leavers under its existing Commissioned Rehabilitative Services contracts. b) HMPPS should also set out in the Treasury Minute how it will apply the lessons learned from the procurement of these services to its future commissioning exercises. Resettlement support for prison leavers 7
Government Response Summary
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.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented HMPPS intends to apply learning from the procurement of previous Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS) to future commissioning. Based on these lessons, HMPPS has already taken steps to improve the CRS Dynamic Framework to facilitate greater involvement of voluntary, social, and community enterprises (VSCEs); and to introduce a grant process specifically for CRS developed in consultation with third sector representatives. HMPPS is working closely with the third sector to support strong VCSE involvement and delivery in future contracts and is undertaking wider market engagement to capture their insight. HMPPS has made changes to current services including: • enhancements to the digital referral tool; • contract changes to include accommodation and women’s services support to remanded people; and • increased finance, benefit and debt provision in more prisons. HMPPS will continue to inform the next generation of contracts through detailed user and market research to make sure the design of future services fully reflects the breadth of available evidence on user experience, efficacy and cost. An evaluation has been commissioned, looking at process, implementation, impact and value for money. HMPPS will use learning from this between June 2023 and March 2025 to make positive changes to future services. A robust lessons learned exercise has taken place to learn lessons from other major programmes, including the Electronic Monitoring Programme.