Recommendation 15

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 for other activities, HMPPS acknowledged that getting both the right number of staff and rate of pay was a “constant balancing act” but insisted that investing in its staff was a priority. HMPPS told us it has recently seen a slight improvement in the rate of retention for probation officers.35 27 Qq 77–79 28 Q42 29 C&AG’s Report, paras 2.6–2.8 30 Q57 31 C&AG’s Report, para 2.8 32 Q35 33 Qq 32, 43 34 Q58 35 Q57, 115 12 Resettlement support for prison leavers Commissioning resettlement support