Offender Management Why probation services need to take social enterprise on board
Social enterprise could help the probation service
deliver more with less in local
communities, says John Scott (Justice Director at SocialPioneers).
At a recent conference ran by the Probation Association with SocialPioneers, its chief executive, Christine Lawrie, suggested that “social enterprise could help probation trusts deliver what the Offender Management Act had promised four years ago”.
She was addressing the vast majority of the 35 probation trusts in England and Wales – more than 80% of which attended the conference. The agenda was dominated by news that the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) fl agship scheme, Community Payback, is being put out to tender in six large geographical areas, cutting across existing ones.
There was surprise at this, since experience shows visible reparation is best carried out as locally as possible – dovetailing with the government’s current localism mantra.
The introduction of this fi rst competition in the Probation
Service for highlights the
importance of considering social enterprise as an alternative vehicle
prison and
probation service provision – to help remain recognisable and “owned” by locals.
Big
business know-how may bring scale and effi ciency gains but to be effective, more is needed – a smaller approach to a community responsive supply chain.
New partnerships could bring out the
best of the private and public sectors. The possibilities of creating staff mutuals would build on existing probation experience. Local stakeholders can also ensure Community Payback avoids becoming a ‘production line’ process. Surely, it has massive potential to deliver
more than
The specifi cation should include demands for localism so that a spectrum of work placements can provide bridges for different offenders to cross - into training, skills and re-paying society.
just punishment?
Contracts and Procurement
Education
Health and Social Care
Social Enterpri
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