Inspectors say that delays in the vetting of job applicants are creating serious staff shortages in the Probation Service and, in some cases, causing successful candidates to withdraw before appointment.
Mr Jones, Chief Inspector of Probation, commented:
“Regions cannot resolve these issues alone. National action is needed to stabilise the workforce, strengthen information-sharing and support practitioners to make full and confident use of the information available to them.
We also need the right responsibilities sitting in the right place: clear national consistency where it matters most, alongside room for regions to use their initiative, where our evidence shows the best outcomes are delivered. If our recommendations are adopted, the foundations for sustained improvement will be in place.”
This comes at a time where Probation is currently under increased scrutiny in light of the tranche of early releases due over the coming months.
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