Probation service for Knowsley and St Helens rated ‘Inadequate’

This inspection was one of two carried out in the Merseyside area recently – the other is Liverpool North PDU, which also received a rating of ‘Inadequate’ (published on 29 June 2023). We have completed four inspections in the Probation Service – North West region. The others are Cheshire West PDU and Blackburn with Darwen PDU (both rated ‘Requires improvement’).

Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell said: “A number of factors have contributed to this disappointing rating for Knowsley and St Helens PDU including high workloads, staff vacancies, inexperienced new recruits, and insufficient training opportunities – a similar picture to other services across England and Wales. However, they have additional challenges in accessing vital information about people on probation from the police, and this is hindering their work to keep people safe. There is a long road ahead, but staff and managers have the energy and determination to make this probation service the best it can be.”

We found that the service is improving recruitment – with a falling vacancy rate for Probation Officers at the time of our inspection and no vacant positions at the Probation Services Officer (PSO) grade. The challenge for the service will now be to provide training and development to new staff and help them to gain vital experience of supervising people on probation.

However, we were particularly concerned about the poor quality of work to manage the risks that people on probation may pose to local communities. Only 24 per cent of cases inspected showed sufficient assessment of the potential risk of serious harm posed by the person on probation.

Mr Russell continued: “Like other probation services in the region, Knowsley and St Helens are hindered by delays in receiving vital information – probation services in the Merseyside area were waiting for 1,350 domestic abuse enquiries to be returned by the police at the time of our inspection. Without this information, probation officers do not have a full picture of the person on probation they are supervising, especially the potential risk of serious harm they may pose to actual or potential victims. This isn’t good enough, and the service must work with its police partners and the regional team to improve this situation in order to properly safeguard the public.”

Knowsley and St Helens PDU, the North West regional service and HMPPS received 10 recommendations based on our findings, including that information relating to child safeguarding is obtained routinely and used to ensure risks to children are understood and safety arrangements are in place.

ENDS

Notes to editor

1. *Probation Delivery Units (PDUs) replaced Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) and the National Probation Service (NPS), which merged into a unified Probation Service in June 2021.
2. This probation service sits within the Probation Service – North West region.
3. This report is available at justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation on 29 June 2023 00.01.
4. HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth offending and probation services across England and Wales.
5. The Inspectorate uses a four-point scale: ‘Outstanding’, ‘Good’, ‘Requires improvement’ and ‘Inadequate’. The Inspectorate rates specific aspects of each service and also gives an overall rating.
6. Fieldwork for this inspection took place in March 2023
7. For media enquiries, please contact media@hmiprobation.gov.uk (E-mail address)