Building a West Mercia Community Justice Sector ‘One step beyond’

1. Building a West Mercia Community Justice Sector ‘One step beyond’ David Chantler WMPT CEO Rob Smith YSS CEO

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. Contact Details • rob.smith@yss.org.uk 07968 991124 - CEO • lorraine.preece@yss.org.uk 07792 749086 – Director of Operations and Development • angela.parton@yss.org.uk 07548 632123 – Operations Director • deb.grantham@yss.org.uk 07989 304695 – Senior Operational Manager • Ann.constable@yss.org.uk 01299 252304 Executive P.A. and Business Support • Tina.ashmore@west-mercia.probation.gsi.gov.uk 07974153798 • www.yss.org.uk • www.clinks.org VCS Criminal Justice infrastructure organisation • www.westmerciaprobation.org.uk – Head Office 01562 748375