Community Performance Annual, update to March 2022
Updated 26 August 2022
Applies to England and Wales
© Crown copyright 2022
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/community-performance-annual-update-to-march-2022/community-performance-annual-update-to-march-2022--2
1. Main Points
This publication sets out statistics on Probation Performance from April 2021 to March 2022, incorporating Management Information on Accommodation and Employment outcomes for supervised individuals.
| Probation performance has been predominantly above target | On a national level, 8 [r] out of 16 probation service levels were above or equal to their target at the end of 2021-22. Of the 14 service levels measured quarterly, 13 improved in the January to March 2022 quarter compared to the October to December 2021 quarter. | |
| Employment rates are improving | Employment rates at each of the points measured showed improvements in the year to March 2022 as compared to the year before. | |
| Accommodation rates are stable | Accommodation rates remain at a high level with small increases in positive outcomes in the year to March 2022 as compared to the year before. | |
| Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 | In total 2,396 CAS-3 places have been accepted to date (1st July 2021 - 17th June 2022). Of these places 2,250 (93.9%) were for male residents, and 139 (5.8%) were for female residents (7 were Unknown). For reference males comprise 96% of the prison population, and females 4%. | |
| HMPPS COVID-19 Emergency Accommodation Scheme | Accommodation was secured for around half of referrals to the scheme in Phase 1 (49%), and over half of the referrals to the scheme in Phase 2 (58%). Where accommodation was not secured, this was for a variety of reasons including individuals being found to be ineligible for the scheme after referral; individuals not taking up accommodation bookings that had been made for them; individuals finding alternative accommodation; or individuals being risk assessed by their community probation practitioner as unsuitable for a specific property. The scheme aimed to help individuals to move on to permanent accommodation. Of the accommodated referrals, around a quarter (23% in Phase 1 and 25% in Phase 2) progressed to permanent accommodation. |
2. Introduction
The New Probation Performance Framework
On 26th June 2021 the privatised probation services (the Community Rehabilitation Companies) were returned to public control, and absorbed into the newly named “Probation Service”. The unified Probation Service is now responsible for managing all those on a community sentence or licence following their release from prison in England and Wales. There are now 12 probation regions across England and Wales, introducing 11 new probation regions in England; arrangements in Wales remain unchanged.
A Probation Service Performance Framework supports delivery of the Target Operating Model by the unified service. Probation Service Level SL040 Recording protected characteristics has not been included in this publication due to technical errors.
As part of the reforms to the probation system, some rehabilitative services such as education, training and employment and accommodation, are delivered under contract by Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and specialist organisations. The management of these Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS) contracts is also supported by a performance framework.
The Impacts of COVID-19
Probation acted swiftly in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, adapting systems and processes to rapidly determine the delivery levels possible and mobilising teams to achieve this at pace. This included ensuring face to face contact remained with those people on probation posing the highest risk and introducing new, innovative ways of working to supervise others and to continue to deliver other aspects of probation.
Delivery has continued to adapt in response to restrictions both locally and nationally. The development of Exceptional Delivery Models enabled Regional Probation Directors to take decisions around what services they are able to provide in their regions based on local circumstances, and flex these quickly as the situation changes. The Probation Service has since driven recovery progress forward as quickly as restrictions have allowed, in line with Public Health and Health and Safety guidance. All regions in England and Wales ceased to use their Covid Exceptional Delivery Models on 31st January 2022 and transitioned onto a Prioritisation Framework. This Framework allows Regional Probation Directors to focus on delivering key public protection responsibilities and have flexibility to adjust or pause other delivery areas identified in the framework if needed.
Previous publications can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/prisons-and-probation-statistics#performance
Related statistics on Reoffending are published by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) here: http://www.gov.uk/government/collections/reoffending-statistics
3. Probation Service Delivery of Service Level Metrics
With the introduction of the new probation service performance framework, no regions’ performance should be considered comparable with previously published performance data.
National delivery by the Probation Service against Service Levels has risen over the period of monitoring. Of the 14 service levels measured quarterly, 13 improved in the January to March 2022 quarter compared to the October to December 2021 quarter. The most significant increase was for SL004 which increased by 6pp in comparison to the previous quarter. Service Level SL006 was the only metric to decrease in the final quarter, by -2pp.
At year end, 8 [r] probation performance measures were above or equal to the expected target and 8 [r] were below target.
Table 1: Probation Service Performance of all available service levels for Performance January to March 2022 (%), England and Wales (Source: Table NAT).
| Performance Measure | Performance January to March 2022 (%) | Target January to March 2022 (%) | Percentage point change since last quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| SL001 - Judicial engagement | 67.0 | 70.0 | [x] |
| SL004 - Initial appointment for community sentences | 78.6 | 83.9 | 6pp |
| SL005 - Initial appointment for releases from custody | 92.2 | 95.0 | 2pp |
| SL006 - Initial sentence plan for community sentences and releases | 85.0 | 95.0 | -2pp |
| SL010 - Timely risk management plans (recall reports part B) | 91.6 | 90.0 | 2pp |
| SL011 - Timely parole reports | 85.8 | 90.0 | 1pp |
| SL012 - Completion of targeted interventions for people convicted of sexual offences | 49.3 | 48.2 | 3pp |
| SL014 - Housed on release from custody | 77.6 | 83.4 | 1pp |
| SL015a - Settled accommodation at 3 months post release | 71.0 | 74.6 | 3pp |
| SL015b - Settled accommodation at 3 months post community disposal | 80.8 | 77.2 | 2pp |
| SL016 - Employed at 6 weeks post release from custody | 12.7 | 12.4 | 1pp |
| SL017a - Employed at 6 months post release | 19.8 | 16.3 | 3pp |
| SL017b - Employed at 6 months post community disposal | 38.9 | 35.0 | 3pp |
| SL020 - Persons engaged | 74.6 | 75.0 [r] | [x] |
| SL027 - Unpaid work starts within 15 business days of sentence | 33.6 | 43.5 | 5pp |
| SL029 - Unpaid work completions within 12 months | 36.4 | 35.0 | 3pp |
4. Employment
In the year to March 2022, 13.0% of prison leavers were employed 6 weeks post release (excluding cases where the status was unknown), this is up from 9.6% [r] in the previous year.
In the year to March 2022, 17.3% of prison leavers were employed 6 Months post release (excluding cases where the status was unknown), this is up from 14.0% [r] in the previous year.
Employment rates following a release from custody for 2021-22 by month can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-rates-following-release-from-custody-ad-hoc-release
In the year to March 2022, 38.8% of persons sentenced to a community order were employed 6 months post their sentence (excluding cases where the status was unknown), this is up from 36.7% [r] in the previous year.
Compared to other groups lower employment rates were seen among: women; persons aged over 40 or under 20; Black or Black British persons. Additionally, high variation was seen between different regions and offence type. Lower rates of employment 6 months post-employment were seen among: persons on short custodial sentences (<12 months).
5. Accommodation
In the year to March 2022 86.8% of prison leavers were housed on the night following release (excluding cases where the status was unknown), this is up from 85.5% in the previous year.
In the year to March 2022 75.3% of prison leavers were in settled accommodation 3 Months post release (excluding cases where the status was unknown), this is up slightly from 74.4% in the previous year.
In the year to March 2022 84.8% of persons sentenced to a community order in settled accommodation 3 Months post their sentence (excluding cases where the status was unknown), this is up from 82.5% in the previous year.
Compared to other groups lower accommodation rates were seen among: persons on short custodial sentences (<12 months); persons aged 40-49; Black or Black British persons. Additionally, high variation was seen between different regions and offence type. No difference was found between Men and Women.
6. Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 (CAS-3)
From 19 July 2021, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) launched a new transitional accommodation service, CAS-3, providing up to 12 weeks’ basic accommodation and support for those leaving prison at risk of homelessness in 5 probation regions (Yorkshire and the Humber; North West; Greater Manchester; Kent, Surrey and Sussex; and East of England). This service will roll out across England and Wales in 2022/2023.
In total 2,396 CAS-3 places have been accepted to date (1st July 2021 - 17th June 2022). Of these places 2,250 (93.9%) were for male residents, and 139 (5.8%) were for female residents (7 were Unknown). For reference males comprise 96% of the prison population, and females 4%.
7. HMPPS COVID-19 Emergency Accommodation Scheme
As part of its response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Ministry of Justice provided up to 56 nights’ accommodation to individuals released from prison at risk of homelessness in England and Wales, and help to move on to permanent accommodation, through regional Homelessness Prevention Teams (HPTs) set up by Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
The scheme operated in two phases, during lockdown arrangements, in England and Wales. Phase 1 operated between 18th May-26th October 2020 and Phase 2 operated between 22nd October 2020- 26th May 2021. The data presented in this publication cover the entirety of the scheme in Phases 1 and 2.
Data from Phase 1, and Phase 2 up to and including 31st March 2021, were previously published in the Community Performance Annual publication for the year ending March 2021. This publication updates the previously published data with the remaining Phase 2 data from 1st April 2021 to scheme end on 26th May 2021.
An accommodation referral, in accordance with Section 10 of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 in England 1 (referrals in Wales were made in accordance with the Housing Wales Act 2014 2 ) was completed for around half (51%) of all initial referrals to the HMPPS COVID-19 emergency accommodation scheme in Phase 1, and for almost all (95%) of the referrals in Phase 2.
Accommodation was secured for around half of referrals to the scheme in Phase 1 (49%), and over half of the referrals to the scheme in Phase 2 (58%). In both phases, the majority of accommodated referrals were provided hotel/B&B accommodation.
Where accommodation was not secured, this was for a variety of reasons including individuals being found to be ineligible for the scheme after referral; individuals not taking up accommodation bookings that had been made for them; individuals finding alternative accommodation; or individuals being risk assessed by their Offender Manager (community probation practitioner) as unsuitable for a specific property.
The scheme aimed to help individuals to move on to permanent accommodation. Of the accommodated referrals, around a quarter (23% in Phase 1 and 25% in Phase 2) progressed to permanent accommodation, provided either by the Local Authority or by the private rented sector.
1 Since 1 October 2018, prison and probation staff in England have had a statutory responsibility to refer homeless individuals (or those at risk of homeless within the next 56 days) to a Local Authority. This is under Section 10 of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
2 A similar responsibility applies in Wales under the Housing Wales Act 2014.
8. Further Information
Accompanying files
As well as this bulletin, the following products are published as part of this release:
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a set of data tables, covering each section of this bulletin
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appendices
Explanatory notes
Data in this report are drawn from administrative IT systems; largely National Delius (nDelius), the current probation case management system.
Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the information collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system. While the figures shown have been checked as far as practicable, they should be regarded as approximate and not necessarily accurate to the last whole number shown in the tables.
Where figures in the tables have been rounded to the nearest whole number, the rounded components do not always add to the totals, which are calculated and rounded independently.
Reported percentage point changes and performance figures are calculated on unrounded figures, however rounded to the nearest whole percentage for presentation in this document. Performance figures accurate to one decimal place can be found in the accompanying tables, published alongside this document.
Symbols and conventions
The following symbols have been used throughout the tables and text in this bulletin:
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| [x] | not available |
| 0 | nil or less than half the final digit shown |
| [z] | not applicable or unreliable (less than 30 observations) |
| [p] | Provisional data |
| [r] | Revised data |
Future publications
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Contact
Press enquiries should be directed to the Ministry of Justice press office:
Tel: 020 3334 3536
Email: newsdesk@justice.gov.uk
Other enquiries about these statistics should be directed to Data and Analysis at the Ministry of Justice: communityperformanceenquiries@justice.gov.uk
General enquiries about the statistical work of the Ministry of Justice can be e-mailed to: Email: statistics.enquiries@justice.gov.uk
General information about the official statistics system of the UK is available from www.statistics.gov.uk
Next update: 27 July 2023
URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/prison-and-probation-trusts-performance-statistics
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