Agenda item

COMMUNITY REHABILITATION COMPANY PRESENTATION

A presentation will be given by Cassie Newman (Assistant Chief Officer at London Community Rehabilitation Company).

Minutes:

A presentation was received from Cassie Newman, Head of Strategic Partnerships at London CRC (Community Rehabilitation Company).

 

An outline of the aims of London CRC was given, the primary aims being to reduce re-offending and to protect the public. London was the largest of the new 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies across England and Wales, employing nearly 1,200 staff across London. London CRC had a caseload of between 25,000 to 29,000 offenders at any one time.

 

In 2016, the contract for London CRC was awarded to MTCnovo.

 

The contract for the London Community Rehabilitation Company

was awarded to MTCnovo. MTCnovo was a joint venture involving:

 

·  MTC (Management Training Corporation) – A private company.

·  Novo – a consortium with a number of public, private and third sector shareholders including:

 

·  RISE – a probation staff community interest company

·  A Band of Brothers – a Charity

·  The Manchester College (TMC) – a public sector education provider

·  Thames Valley Partnership – a charity

·  Amey – a private company. 

 

An 800 point action plan had been developed to change the way London CRC worked, and to make it more productive. This was a four year action plan that had commenced in 2016. A new IT system was already up and running, and a restructure was in progress. 

 

Ms Newman referenced IOM (Integrated Offender Management) and explained that it was a cross-agency response to the crime and reoffending threats faced by local communities. Persistent and problematic offenders were identified and managed jointly by partner agencies working together. The big problem was re-offending, and a vigorous cross-agency response was required to break the cycle. The premise was that by changing the behaviour of a small number of people, this would have a big impact on reducing crime and re-offending. She felt that IOM should be modified to reflect the needs of the local community.

 

Ms Newman explained the core principles of IOM and outlined the ‘carrot/stick’ approach. The benefits of participating in the IOM programme would be explained to offenders, and they would be expected to face up to their responsibilities or face the consequences. She felt that it was also important that best use was made of voluntary organisations. The long term aim was to achieve a desistance from crime.

 

Previously, IOM was structured according to cohorts:

 

·  Young Males

·  Adult Males

·  Mature Males

·  Women

 

The new system of case management would be based on geographical areas rather than cohorts.

 

The current number of CRC IOM cases was 83, and these were primarily cases dealing with a high volume of repeat offenders; two police officers were managing the caseload. The 83 cases were the number that met the criteria, not necessarily how many had been accepted into the scheme via the panels.

 

The Chairman asked Dan Jones (Director for Environment) if he would like to comment on IOM and give the IOM sub-group update at this point. The Director explained that he had been tasked to re-invigorate IOM in Bromley and that in the course of this work he had been in dialogue with Haringey and Bexley Councils.  It was the case that LBB now had a MOPAC funded IOM co-ordinator, and that attendance at IOM panel meetings was good. The panel met on a case by case basis as required. It had been decided that the Strategic Board for IOM would act as a virtual board and Mr Jones, as the Chairman, would direct issues identified by the IOM co-ordinator to the relevant senior manager/director within the partner organisation/s to seek resolutions. This would negate the need to hold unnecessary meetings.

 

The Chairman enquired if there was a representative of the Youth Offending Service on the IOM Panel. Betty McDonald responded that currently this was not the case. The Chairman felt that there was a need for the YOS and the IOM panel to be joined up. Ms Newman highlighted that in some boroughs there was a separate IOM panel for young people. A link was needed to enable a smooth transition between YOS and IOM.

 

The Chairman enquired if Ms Newman would remain Bromley’s CRC contact going forward. Ms Newman explained that due to the current restructure, this was unlikely to be the case. LBB’s contact going forward would be a new area manager who would be appointed shortly. 

 

The Chairman thanked Ms Newman for attending and presenting to the Group.

 

RESOLVED that the CRC update be noted.