Guidance

Windrush Lessons Learned Review progress update: terms of reference

Updated 21 October 2021

Aim

1. To provide an independent assessment of the Home Office’s progress in implementing the 30 recommendations set out in the Windrush Lessons Learned Review (WLLR) report, published in March 2020, in accordance with the department’s stated ambition (set out in its comprehensive improvement plan published in September 2020) “to build a Home Office fit for the future, one that serves every corner of society”; with “a long-term focus on wholesale and lasting cultural change”.

Objectives

2. In line with recommendation 2 of the WLLR report, the objective of the independent progress update is for the Independent Adviser to provide the department with a draft report by mid-February 2022 (for fact checking) and a final report by the end of March which establishes:

• (i) the adequacy of the comprehensive improvement plan in relation to achieving the WLLR recommendations
• (ii) how well the plan has been implemented to date in relation to the recommendations of the WLLR
• (iii) to what extent implementation of the plan is leading to the wider cultural and systemic change within the department that the WLLR identified as being necessary

Recommendation 2 – The department should publish a comprehensive improvement plan within six months of this report, which takes account of all its recommendations, on the assumption that I will return to review the progress made in approximately 18 months’ time.

Outcome

3. The Independent Adviser will provide a final report by [date TBC] addressing the aim and objectives set out above to the Home Secretary, who will publish the report on gov.uk within 48 hours, subject to unforeseen circumstances. Publication will be synchronised with any pre-publication briefings by the department or wider government. While the conclusions of the report will be those of the Independent Adviser, the department will have had a chance to fact check the draft report and propose any factual amendments to the Independent Adviser prior to submission.

Timing

4. The active fieldwork will commence on 29 September 2021 (1 year on from the publication of the Comprehensive Improvement Plan) and the report will be provided to the department for fact checking by mid-February to allow for any representations to be made from individuals and the department, as required, ahead of the final report being published. The aim is that the Home Secretary will publish the final report by 31 March 2022, subject to unforeseen circumstances.

Approach and conduct of the review

5. The Independent Adviser will independently lead the progress update and the department will provide the Independent Adviser with the necessary resourcing (including additional specialist support from GLD, communications, etc.) to carry out a robust revisit in accordance with this Terms of Reference. Resources in the core team undertaking the work will not be depleted during the course of the progress update and any changes to the review team will require prior agreement with the Independent Adviser.

6. The department will provide the Independent Adviser with a detailed self-assessment evidence document, which identifies the progress it has made, details of any gaps and the reason for those gaps, timescales for completion and whether it considers it has achieved the overall objective of the recommendation and/or theme. This document will include links to relevant evidence documents to support the department’s self-assessment.

7. The Independent Adviser and the department will agree a list of suggested current and former Ministers and internal staff for the review team to interview as part of the fieldwork process – interviews will be conducted on a voluntary basis. The department will be responsible for endeavouring to accommodate these requests by providing the Independent Adviser (and the review team) with a scheduled workplan of interviews. In addition, the review team will conduct external engagement with a variety of stakeholders.

8. The Independent Adviser, through the review team, will be able to request access to additional policy, operations, and casework documents and any other information, subject to the requirements of the law, national security and any pre-existing constraints with information management. The principles underpinning information sharing will be established through a formal memorandum of understanding between the Independent Adviser and the Permanent Secretary which will be agreed and signed before the Independent Adviser begins work on the review.