Two probation services have been rated as inadequate in damning reports due to concerns over potential domestic abuse risk.
HM Inspectorate of Probation carried out two recent inspections in the Merseyside area - one on the Liverpool North Probation Delivery Unit (PDU) and another on Knowsley and St Helens PDU. Both services were classed as inadequate, with concerns raised about the delay and access to vital information on matters including domestic abuse.
Justin Russell, chief inspector of probation, said: "The lack of information to keep people safe available to Liverpool North PDU is worrying. At the time of our inspection, probation services in the Merseyside area were waiting for 1,350 domestic abuse enquiries to be returned by the police - there must be urgent action to improve this situation. Without proper information, probation services cannot effectively manage the risk people on probation may pose."
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The report noted the merging of services in May last year brought together staff with mixed experience of supervising people on probation considered to be a high risk of causing harm. The Liverpool North PDU also has high workloads and a significant number of vacancies.
The result has been poor quality work in terms of keeping people safe and we were concerned about the service's ability to protect actual and potential victims of crime, the inspectorate said.
The inspectors noted similar concerns in the Knowsley and St Helens PDU. Speaking regarding domestic abuse concerns, Mr Russell said: "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." The inspectors said only 23% of cases inspected showed sufficient assessment of the potential risk of serious harm posed by the person on probation.
The inspections both noted the high workloads, staff vacancies, inexperienced new recruits and insufficient training opportunities were similar to services across England and Wales. Mr Russell said: "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."
Liverpool North PDU, the North West regional service and HMPPS received nine recommendations based on the findings. This includes a recommendation to managers to ensure they have the capacity to provide full oversight – at the time of our inspection, unmanageable caseloads meant some managers were having to support overwhelmed staff by providing substantial direction on cases for some practitioners.
Knowsley and St Helens PDU, the North West regional service and HMPPS received 10 recommendations based on the inspection, 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.
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