Connecting Practice, Evidence and Lived Experience
Effective practice is where we see our standards delivered well in practice. The purpose of Effective Practice is to identify, develop and share examples of effective practice across probation and youth justice services, making it easier for practitioners, managers and leaders to learn from what works and improve outcomes for people under supervision.
One of the best places to start is our Effective Practice Library. The library brings together a growing range of resources, including case studies, guides and examples of innovative practice from across the sector. Whether you are looking for ideas to improve a particular area of work or simply interested in how others are approaching common challenges, the library provides practical learning that can be adapted to local contexts.
We know that effective practice is not just about processes and data. It is also crucial to understand how services are experienced by the people who use them. That is why we established our Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG), which helps ensure that the voices of people with direct experience of probation inform our work. Members provide valuable insights into inspection standards, guidance and products, helping us better understand what makes a positive difference in practice. If you work with people on probation who may be interested in contributing to this work, we would love to hear from them. The group welcomes a diverse range of experiences and perspectives. Please encourage interested individuals to contact us by emailing HMIProbationLEAG@HMIProbation.gov.uk to find out more about taking part.
We are also keen to strengthen connections between research, inspection findings and frontline practice. Our Research and Effective Practice Network will launch later in the summer and will bring together colleagues from across probation, youth justice, academia and partner organisations who share an interest in evidence-informed practice. The network provides opportunities to learn about new developments, share ideas and stay informed about our publications. If you would like to join the network, you can sign up here.
We hope this blog becomes a helpful space to support improvement by making effective practice more visible, accessible and useful to those working across probation and youth justice services. Please do share it with colleagues who may find it useful and consider how you could use it in your own roles to promote effective practice resources.