BUILDING A WEST MERCIA COMMUNITY JUSTICE SECTOR ‘ONE STEP BEYOND’

David Chantler WMPT CEO

Rob Smith YSS CEO

AIMS OF THE DAY

Strategic direction of West Mercia Probation Trust and Probation Trusts nationally

Introduction of the 1 Step Beyond concept The role of YSS as the strategic/preferred partner of West

Mercia Probation Trust Highlight business needs of each Probation LDU and other

key stakeholders Examples of current activity Agree next steps

YSS

West Midlands regional charity supporting young people, adults and families at risk of social exclusion in a wide range of settings

Significant experience of delivering bespoke services to those at risk of offending in partnership with Youth Offending Services, Probation Trusts, NOMS, Police, MoJ, DWP and Local Authorities

Originally established as a multi-agency project aimed at providing community based interventions for young people at risk of being sent to custody

YSS – STRATEGIC PARTNER ROLE WITH WEST MERCIA PROBATION TRUST Delivering directly commissioned services by

WMPT based against a business proposal where required

Commissioning services on behalf of WMPT to VCS organisations

Joint business development activity with WMPT and influencing of local commissioning and policy

Developing the VCS capacity to deliver services that meet the needs of offenders across the reducing re-offending pathways creating a ‘1 Step Beyond’ Community Justice sector

Ensuring service user voice

THE COMMISSIONING MODEL FROM THE ‘BOTTOM UP’ No ring fenced pot of cash or a developed specification to go to the

‘market’ Identify the business needs of Probation first - invite innovate solutions

from the VCS and other partners – multiple outcomes ‘Dragons den’ style meeting of stakeholders with the relevant VCS

agency/agencies involved Identify initial resources to pilot an activity Resources could be a wide mix of cash, seconded staff, contracts,

income generation activity, grants, equipment, office space, volunteers, matched funding, etc.

Agree a service specification and include in a standard contract template Evaluation model built in at the start (action research) to use as a

business case for attracting resources, sustaining the service or scaling up investment from Probation and/or other stakeholders

KEY FEATURES Co-location arrangements Skills and Knowledge sharing – breaking down barriers Potential access to specific criminal justice training Resource sharing & joint commissioning arrangements Direct access to Probation I.T. systems in YSS offices and

also now at Willowdene. Further work being undertaken to establish a VCS web

based system Seconded staff arrangements

KEY FEATURES

Access to strategic forums including LCJB partners, IOM strategy groups, PCC

Shared research and evidence base Redesign of services - Influence local commissioners and

policy makers Joint business development activity with YSS and WMPT

who have access to the ‘target groups’ i.e. YSS Bradley Mental Health project

Multiple income streams that are strategically aligned Enterprise/Commercial approach using activity to generate

income wherever possible

PROJECTS BEING DELIVERED THROUGH 1 STEP BEYOND ARRANGEMENTS Offender Mental Health – Lloyds TSB Health Prevention Trainers project & draft Counselling

Service T2A with Barrow Cadbury Trust AIM partnership (WMPT, YSS, Ubique, BES, Fry Housing)

Accommodation Mentoring with WMCA and RYMCA Specified Activity requirement by Willowdene Senior Attendance Centre’s aimed at 16-24 year olds in

Worcester and Shropshire with Willowdene Care Farm YSS social enterprise activity – café, eco furniture making

and employment agency

PROJECTS BEING DELIVERED CONT. Mentoring for non statutory Shropshire IOM offenders and

potentially in Telford and Worcestershire Enhanced Work Programme for short sentenced prisoners

with ESG and Ubique (PBR) Next Steps IAG through Ubique Flexible Support grant from DWP with The Fold, BES and

YWCA Women's service provision in Worcester with ASHA and a

pilot women’s programme in Telford run by AIMCare Farm Placements for employment/training, drug rehab support and a specified activity programme with Willowdene, Rite Enterprises and The Fold

SUMMARY - A NEW PARADIGM

A big claim 3:1 return on investment to date WMPT – core Offender Management (Courts, Reports,

Risk, Breach, Enforcement) Community Justice Partners do majority of ‘Offender

Supervision’ Bottom up commissioning arrangements Joint business development activity & policy influencing Building a virtual ‘networked community justice

organisation’ Win/win/win - funding pots aligned, local priorities met,

social enterprises established, VCS capacity enhanced

WHAT NEXT?

Local LDU level meetings or area wide if appropriate ‘Dragons Den opportunities’ via YSS

VCS partners to develop business proposals for pilot projects based on identified local LDU needs by working in partnership, identifying shared resources and income generation opportunities

Jointly influence local commissioners - the new PCC’s, Local Authorities and key forums like IOM

CONTACT DETAILS

rob.smith@yss.org.uk 07968 991124 - CEOlorraine.preece@yss.org.uk 07792 749086 – Director of Operations and Developmentangela.parton@yss.org.uk 07548 632123 – Operations Directordeb.grantham@yss.org.uk 07989 304695 – Senior Operational ManagerAnn.constable@yss.org.uk 01299 252304 Executive P.A. and Business SupportTina.ashmore@west-mercia.probation.gsi.gov.uk 07974153798www.yss.org.uk www.clinks.org VCS Criminal Justice infrastructure organisationwww.westmerciaprobation.org.uk – Head Office 01562 748375