Intouch
March 2016
The Kent, Surrey and Sussex CRC partner newsletter
Can you help us develop
provision for veterans?
More on page 4
CRC works with User Voice to
employ current or ex service users
On a journey of transformation
I am delighted, as the new Chief
Executive, to welcome you to the
spring edition of Intouch.
We’ve been on an incredible journey
over the last year, implementing a
new innovative delivery framework
My
Solution
Rehabilitation
Programme, or MSRP for short,
which puts the service user at the
heart of their rehabilitative journey.
We have also crowned our first
anniversary since share sale
with some Butler Trust Awards
and by making good progress
against the end-state targets that
NOMS will start measuring us
against from February 2017 (see
an overview of our performance
below). These targets are set on
a trajectory and challenge us to
uplift our performance to levels not
previously expected under former
probation arrangements.
Keeping our performance high at
a time of considerable transition
for the CRC has been a significant
achievement and I would like
to express my appreciation and
thanks to our staff and partners for
their contribution to our success.
The CRC will continue with its
transformation when, later in
the autumn, we introduce our
innovative IT system, that will
More on page 3
enrich the work our skilled staff do
and help us to tailor our response
to an individual’s needs.
While our staff deliver our solution,
we also recognise the added value
you bring to help us address key
issues that lead to offending in
the first place. I therefore look
forward to forming closer ties with
our key stakeholders who, I know
like me, have a passion
for changing lives,
reducing reoffending
and
making
our
communities safer.
Suki Binning
Performance at a glance
Targets on track
We are already exceeding or are
on track to meet end-state targets
that NOMS will start measuring us
against from February 2017
These targets measure delivery
throughout the service user
journey, including completions,
compliance with the sentence,
delivery of Accredited
Programmes, Unpaid Work and
Through the Gate services.
Data: 1 February 2015 - 31 January 2016
A story behind every statistic
We have published a collection of new case studies on our website showing
how we’ve supported some of the 10,000 service users who completed their
sentences with us last year. To view these stories, click here.
At the end of 2015, we were
exceeding baseline targets for 13
of 14 SLAs.
Commissioning update
supports them to provide feedback
about the CRC’s services directly to
the Chief Executive.
Commissioning of new services to support our work with individuals
on our caseload with the most complex needs will recommence Kamini Sanghani, Director of
following the recent agreement of our funding structure with the Partnerships, said: “We look forward
to resuming the commissioning
Ministry of Justice.
Over the course of the last year we
instigated a commissioning process
across a number of areas. Based on
the fact that KSS CRC delivers the
core contractual services directly,
this commissioning is for ‘nonmaterial’ sub-contractors with the
aim of supporting service users with
the most complex needs. As a result
of this process we have received a
number of excellent responses and
are very grateful to the participating
organisations.
During this period, we have also
been in negotiations with MoJ to
agree our funding structure based on
the weighted annual volume (WAV)
of service users accessing the CRC.
We have now reached agreement
and, as such, have clarity on our
supply chain budget moving forward.
Based on this budget we now need
to reconfirm our requirements and go
back to potential partners to manage
their expectations and provide more
detailed information that they can
bid against.
With this in mind we will be re-
commencing the commissioning
process as soon as possible,
focussing on the following key
strands:
• housing brokerage (now open)
• spot purchase services
We have made the decision not to
commission mentoring services or
support for service users with mental
health needs. We will address these
service user needs by drawing on
the professional expertise of CRC
responsible officers, our pool of
volunteer mentors and case support
workers who are current or recent
service users. We will invest in
training for our staff and volunteers
to be able to meet the needs of the
groups we had specifically identified
in our supply chain strategy.
We are also reviewing our
requirements for a finance, benefit
and debt case resolution service.
In other commissioning, we are due
to start a refreshed contract with
User Voice, an organisation which
engages current service users and
process now that we have clarity
around our budget.
“We received a number of excellent
responses to previous tenders and
we will now be able to advise these
organisations on our requirements
going forward so they can tailor their
bids accordingly.”
We
will
publish
partnership
opportunities on our website here as
well as directly contacting partners
who have previously expressed an
interest in bidding.
If you would like to join our
direct mailing list, please email
[email protected].
gov.uk.
Tender open
A tender opportunity to deliver
housing brokerage services is open.
The deadline for submissions is 5pm
on Wednesday 6 May. Click here for
more details.
Services to improve support for women
Women who offend in Kent, Surrey
and Sussex will receive more targeted
support to help them break the cycle
of crime during their sentence.
We have recently awarded the
women’s co-location and wrap
around support service contract for
Sussex to Brighton Women’s Centre.
They will provide additional support
for women with the most complex
needs to help them to address
their needs, reduce reoffending,
and improve compliance with their
sentence requirements.
Lisa Dando, Director of Brighton
Women’s Centre, said: “We recognise
that women have needs that are not
met when they first enter the Criminal
Justice System.
We are pleased to be working
alongside KSS CRC staff and believe
we can provide an enhanced service
to address these needs, drawing
on our successful track record and
experience of working with women.”
In other parts of KSS our Interventions
team
is
delivering
specialist
programmes for female service users
Intouch: March 2016 The Kent, Surrey and Sussex CRC partner newsletter
and is working with local partners to
identify co-location opportunities and
to share best practice.
Kamini Sanghani, KSS CRC’s
Director of Partnerships, said: “We
are delighted to award the contract in
Sussex to Brighton Women’s Centre,
who bring over 40 years’ experience
of working with women in Sussex.
Our provision of services, both
internal and external, will help us
to tailor our approach to women so
that we can help them make lasting
changes in their lives.”
Page 2
CRC to employ service users
Current or ex service users are
being employed by KSS CRC
as case support workers to
help engage individuals on our
caseload to complete their orders
and licences successfully.
The idea to create these paid
posts follows on from the success
of our Service User Council, set
up in partnership with User Voice.
The Service User Council brings
together CRC staff and service
users to discuss how they think
services can be improved.
The three case support workers
will encourage service users to
attend appointments and complete
activities that will aid their
rehabilitation.
Daniel Hutt, User Voice’s Head of
Policy, said: “We are about to sign
a new contract with KSS CRC and
are really excited about continuing
Project reaches semi-finals
A partnership project has reached
the semi-finals of the NOMS Wildlife
Award for their work protecting
wildlife and natural habitats.
Working with the Swingbridge
Community Project and Surrey Care
Trust, our Community Payback
teams have been maintaining the
towpaths and conservations areas
along the River Wey and connected
waterways.
Elaine Tisdall, Chief Executive of
Surrey Care Trust, says: “Surrey
Care
Trust’s
environmental
conservation makes an important
contribution to the quality of wildlife
habitats along Surrey’s waterways
and to the local communities
who value them for recreation
and relaxation. Disadvantaged
and marginalised local people,
Volunteer with us
We especially need volunteers
from the Maidstone area to help
steer our service users away from
crime.
Deborah Mclening, Volunteer Unit
Manager, said: “We recognise the
value that volunteers can provide
to support our work in making local
communities safer by challenging
including those serving community
sentences, also benefit from
training and volunteering as part
of the project. They are developing
practical and personal skills, a
hands-on understanding of local
environments and have the pride
that comes from being part of a
valued community initiative.”
Dr Phil Thomas, NOMS Sustainable
Operations Team and a member of
the awards judging panel, says:
“We would like to congratulate you
and your team for their committed
efforts in the field of biodiversity. It’s
most heart-warming to see such
dedication and commitment from
those staff and offenders who have
gone beyond the normal working
criteria to enhance their local
environment and benefit both flora
and fauna and the community.”
and changing
behaviour.
service
users’
We need volunteers from all walks
of life. No previous experience is
required.”
If you or any member of your
organisation is interested in
volunteering with us, please
contact [email protected].
gsi.gov.uk.
Intouch: March 2016 The Kent, Surrey and Sussex CRC partner newsletter
the fantastic relationship with them
which puts service users at the
heart of everything that is being
done.”
“The case supporter workers, a
proposal which came from the
Service User Council, is a great
progression opportunity and will
inspire many people to know
that the CRC really believes
rehabilitation is possible.”
Thank you for
your responses
We’d like to thank those who took
part in the NOMS Community
Rehabilitation Company (CRC)
Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey for
KSS CRC.
We received 43 responses from
a wide range of organisations
including local authorities, the
police, courts, prisons and partners
in our supply chain.
Overall the majority of respondees
(nearly half) felt their relationship
with the CRC had stayed the same
in the last 12 months while over a
third felt it had improved.
Kamini Sanghani, Partnerships
Director, said: “It is pleasing to
read that overall our partners feel
we’ve maintained or improved our
relationship with them during a
period of transition for the CRC.
We have noted all of your
responses and have plans in place
to build on what is working well
and to improve in the areas that
you highlighted for development.
For example we have produced
some information for sentencers
so that they are aware of the range
of interventions that are delivered
by the CRC.”
Page 3
Developing provision for veterans Employees win
We are keen to work with local As a Network Champion Paul can
industry Oscars
partners to develop and identify
ways we can better support exservicemen and women to give
them the strongest chance of
rehabilitation.
link ex-force service users to a wide
range of additional support from
other organisations such as Time to
Talk, Help for Heroes, Service Dogs
UK and many more.
The Ministry of Justice estimates that
3.5 percent of the prison population
are veterans. Their review, Former
Members of the Armed Forces
and the Criminal Justice System,
recommends that through-the-gate
support and better coordination of
veteran-specific services should be
at the forefront of tackling offending
by this group.
Paul says: “Former servicemen and
women can experience difficulties in
adjusting to a new life as a civilian.
They can present with mental health
problems such as post traumatic
stress disorder, social exclusion,
housing problems and substance
misuse.
In KSS CRC, we have staff who are
Champions of the Sussex Armed
Forces Network.
Paul Westbrook is one of these
Champions. He works with his HMP
Lewes Resettlement colleagues to
offer support to service users who
are ex-forces.
The charities and agencies that
are part of the Network can help or
provide advice on a host of issues
specific to these service users.”
If other organisations would like
to share best practice or details
of services our service users
can access, please contact our
partnership team at partnerships@
kss.probation.gsi.gov.uk.
High praise for Community Payback
and Tonbridge & Malling Borough
Council.
Photo: KSS CRC CP staff, Tonbridge and Malling
Borough Council Rangers and the High Sheriff of
Kent at Haysden Country Park
Kent’s
High
Sheriff,
William
Alexander,
was
‘incredibly
impressed’ by work completed on
Community Payback during a field
visit.
Mr Alexander visited Haysden
Country Park in Tonbridge where
the Community Payback team were
removing shrubs and creating a new
natural wildlife habitat from piles of
twigs, branches and foliage.
The project at Haysden Country Park
is a partnership between ourselves
The High Sheriff commented: “The
wonderful thing about Community
Payback is that it uses people’s
skills and helps them develop new
ones, which should enable them to
find suitable employment after their
orders end while also delivering
obvious benefits to the wider
community.”
Councillor Maria Heslop, Tonbridge
and Malling Borough Council,
Cabinet Member for Community
Services, said: “We are really
pleased to be able to work with KSS
CRC in this way - it gives people a
chance to give something back to
their community and it helps our hard
working rangers to achieve more.”
To partner with us, contact
Kamini Sanghani, Partnerships Director
T: 07860 924180
E: [email protected]
Two of our employees have received
the highest accolades in the justice
sector from HRH Princess Royal at
this year’s Butler Trust Awards.
Senior Probation Officer Joanne
Wood won a Butler Trust Award,
one of only ten given each year, for
her outstanding dedication and allround excellence in her work with
persistent prolific offenders in her
former role as a Probation Officer
based in our Crawley Office.
Support Services Assistant David
Morris received a Commendation,
one of only 20 given each year,
for the high level of commitment
and quality he demonstrates in all
aspects of his role in Worthing.
Joanne and David received their
awards from the Butler Trust’s
Patron, HRH Princess Royal at
a ceremony held at St James’s
Palace.
Joanne Wood said: “I’m just doing
my job so it’s a real honour to be
recognised on this grand scale. I
feel incredibly privileged to receive
the award from HRH Princess Royal
at St James’s Palace.”
David Morris said: “To receive
such an honourable award was an
incredible experience.”
The Butler Trust Annual Awards,
now in their 31st year, recognise
outstanding contributions by people
working in UK prisons, probation
and youth justice.
Find out more about us.
Website: www.ksscrc.co.uk
twitter.com/ksscrc
Intouch: March 2016 The Kent, Surrey and Sussex CRC partner newsletter
Page 4