04/10/2013
The MoJ has recently published its Target Operating Model (TOM) which explains how the reformed rehabilitation system will work over the coming years. TOM will become a key source of information for private companies, voluntary sector organisations and Probation Mutuals as they ensure the adequacy of their service delivery models.
The detailed set-up can be divided into 5 key areas:
1. Structure & Scope
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) will oversee both the new public sector National Probation Service (NPS) - dealing with the courts, carrying out risk assessments and managing high risk offenders - and the 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRC's) - dealing with medium and low risk offender management.
2. CRC Services
In an effort to maximise flexibility and freedom to deliver the services, each CRC will be required to provide an outcome based service which meets a set of basic minimum standards contained in the service specifications. The MoJ hopes that this, combined with the payment by results mechanism, will facilitate the development of innovative initiatives that might not otherwise be tested.
3. Interfaces, Integration, Partnership
An emphasis is placed on the role that CRC's will play in providing wider rehabilitation services to Police and Crime Commissioners, Local Safety Partnerships and even the NPS local delivery units. It is envisaged that these local partners will be able to commission CRCs to deliver additional services which in itself raises a number of interface issues not only with these partnering entities but also with the CRCs agreement with NOMS.
4. Monitoring v. Inspection and Auditing
Regulation of this complex hybrid, multi tier system is sure to be a challenge as operation ownership of the CRC's is passed to private sector entities. Although the MoJ has promised not to impose unnecessary reporting requirements, audit and transparency remains high on the agenda. The OJEU, PQQ and TOM all contain references to MoJ having relatively intrusive rights to review all aspects of the CRC's business including having access to internal emails and meeting minutes.
This will need to be developed further as contract negotiations take place but will no doubt be an area of much discussion between the public and private sector.
5. Estate and Personnel Management
As the existing NPS structure is overhauled, we are beginning to
understand where key assets will be re-located. TOM contains
further details about the ICT infrastructure, expectation on people
development and management and how the estate will be used. Of
particular interest to Potential Bidders will be the MoJs initial
plans for NPS and CRC staff to be co-located in existing Probation
Trust offices.
If you are interested in finding out more about the planned
structure of offender rehabilitation, the full TOM is available to download.
