Offender Management in Custody – post-release
Readers will recall the HMI Probation Inspection of OMIC Pre Release in 2022, when it was found that the OMIC model was not working as expected and indeed failing in many case. HMIP have completed a follow up Inspection of OMIC Post Release and have published the report this week.
The following extract from the introduction, acknowledging the current pressures, from the points toward the findings which are important to read. In the report there are some examples of good practice making use of partnership arrangements.
Extract from the introduction:
"Work to reduce the risks posed to other people after release fell well short of our expectations. Domestic abuse checks were completed in just under half of the cases where they were required, and child safeguarding checks were completed in only six out of every 10 cases in which they were needed. In many cases, there were delays in receiving information from the police and children’s services. Some practitioners lacked the professional curiosity to understand the prison leaver’s personal circumstances and who they were in contact with.
Probation services face several challenges, including a significant shortage of staff. On average, probation regions have 30 per cent fewer practitioners than they require to carry out resettlement work with prison leavers. This situation is compounded by shortages of probation services officers and administrative staff. As a result, there is insufficient capacity to build relationships with prisoners before they are released, or to complete timely referrals for housing support.
Some referral processes are lengthy and require practitioners to complete the same information repeatedly. For example, referrals to approved premises and community accommodation services are time-consuming to complete, and do not necessarily result in a successful outcome. This has a direct impact on the time available for overstretched practitioners to engage with people on probation, which, as our lived experience consultants found, is key to successful resettlement."