Clinks' response to the HM Inspectorate of Probation’s consultation on the inspection of probation providers

Clinks responded to HM Inspectorate of Probation’s consultation on the inspection of probation providers. Our response provides two overarching priorities that we recommend are embedded into the inspection standards for probation providers:

1. The role of the voluntary sector in supporting probation services - we recommend that the inspectorate include in its standards a clear focus on the role of the voluntary sector,  underpinned by key principles for probation providers to support and communicate with relevant voluntary sector organisations working with people under probation supervision.

2. Meeting the needs of people protected under the Equality Act (2010) – we recommend that HMI Probation proactively look at how probation providers are working to address disproportionality and unequal outcomes with a particular focus on black, Asian, and minority ethnic individuals, women and young adults.

We also respond to specific questions from the consultation focussing on those where we have knowledge and evidence from the voluntary sector to contribute, including; unpaid work; how to monitor progress when geographical boundaries and providers of probation will be changing; and engaging service users in inspections. We urge the inspectorate to engage with the voluntary sector to monitor the continuity of services during the review of probation and for its expertise in service user engagement.