This newsflash is intended to bring Clinks Members up to speed with the developments of the last fortnight and highlight where actions might be needed.
It might be worth quickly reading my Glossary of Transforming Rehabilitation terms blog to familiarise yourself with some of the new (and often confusing) language now in use.
Planning on working with Tier 1 (Primes)?
MoJ have announced that Tier 1 providers will sub-contract service provision to Tier 2 providers and grant fund Tier 3 providers.
What do you need to do?
If you have already registered on the MoJ's PIN, and are considering bidding to be a Tier 2 or 3 provider, you will now need to register on another MoJ database. You will need to provide details of your existing services, comment on any plans for expansion and give consent for your information to be shared with potential Tier 1 providers.
Why do I need to do that?
This new database will contain more detailed information, and will be circulated to Tier 1 providers that make it through the current PQQ stage. Registration on this new database will mean that if Tier 1 organisations include you in their supply chains they will have to use a standard partnership agreement and won't be able to ask you to partner with them exclusively. This will provide some protection in your contracting arrangements.
When do I need to do it by?
The deadline for registering on this new database is 31st October, 2013. Register here
What we've said so far
Clive wrote a blog on Friday last week that summarised his initial reaction to the announcements and the possible implications for the Sector.
Clive also wrote a short article for the Guardian's Comment is Free site, in which he spoke about his concerns and issues for the Sector relating to Transforming Rehabilitation
Timescales
The originally proposed timescales haven't changed hugely as a result of the announcements. The competition process has been launched, Tier 1 providers will build their supply chains towards the end of this year, the results of the competition will be announced in Autumn next year, and contracts will be awarded and commence delivery in Spring 2015.
Russell Webster wrote a really informative blog post specifically about the timelines, and kindly allowed us to reproduce his graphic here:
Also of interest....
Information for Tier 1 providers
Prime providers have been invited to complete a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ), which allows the MoJ to filter out organisations that they feel are unsuitable to become Tier 1 providers. For the majority of Clinks Members, this is good to know, but not really relevant, and shouldn’t affect you.
Probation service
There was a lot of press last week about the impact of the reforms on probation, with staff staging an informal mass walk-out on Thursday lunchtime at protest to the reforms. NAPO have useful context on their site as part of their 'Probation under threat' campaign. The Target Operating Model gives more detail about how probation will be split. This is useful information for Clinks Members to be aware of, as most of you will work with probation staff.
Stay informed
Clinks has a number of ways you can stay informed:
Policy Briefings | our Policy Team are working on a briefing for Member's that will look more in depth at the various documents that came out last week and the implications for the Sector.
Light Lunch | our weekly ebulletin, will publish details of significant or relevant developments. Subscribe here
Website | our dedicated Transforming Rehabilitation page gives you an up-to-date, constant resource to refer to for all things TR
Twitter | our Twitter account, @Clinks_Tweets, will provide live information on TR. Hashtags to follow include #TransformingRehabilitation and #t2t3
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