Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Accepted
HMPPS's commissioning process remains complex and bureaucratic for voluntary sector organisations.
Recommendation
We asked HMPPS what it had done to remove potential barriers to entry for small and voluntary sector organisations. HMPPS told us it “worked hard” to remove barriers. For example, it reduced the IT standards CRS providers must demonstrate in applying for funding. HMPPS told us its historic requirements had been identified as barrier to entry, particularly by the women’s sector, and lowering the threshold had not exposed it or prison leavers to any additional cyber security risks.39 However in its written evidence submitted to us, Clinks—the national infrastructure organisation supporting voluntary sector organisations working in the criminal justice system—described how its survey of 241 voluntary organisations and interviews with eight organisations between May and July 2021 found that HMPPS’ commissioning process was “complex, cumbersome and bureaucratic”. Clinks told us that many small, specialist organisations were unable to engage with the commissioning process due to the financial thresholds set by HMPPS, the geographical footprint of contracts, and the amount of information HMPPS required.40
Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation and stated it's implemented, outlining several steps HMPPS has taken or will take. These include applying lessons learned to future commissioning, improving the CRS Dynamic Framework for VSCEs, introducing a grant process, and commissioning an evaluation whose findings will inform future service changes by March 2025.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4.6 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 4.7 HMPPS intends to apply learning from the procurement of previous Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS) to future commissioning. 4.8 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. 4.9 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. 4.10 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. 4.11 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. 4.12 A robust lessons learned exercise has taken place to learn lessons from other major programmes, including the Electronic Monitoring Programme.