Context

1. Transforming Rehabilitation: Summary Context The Transforming Rehabilitation (TR) Programme will transform the way we manage offenders in the community and which is designed to achieve a long-term sustainable reduction in the rate of re-offending whilst continuing to protect the public. Vision Transforming Rehabilitation will introduce a new system for the management and rehabilitation of offenders across England and Wales. • creating a new National Probation Service that will be responsible for protecting the public from the most dangerous offenders, and 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies who will focus on low and medium risk offenders; • opening up the market to a diverse range of new rehabilitation providers while introducing a new payment mechanism to focus them relentlessly on driving down reoffending rates; • extending statutory rehabilitation to those offenders who service short sentences; and • reorganising the prison estate to put in place an unprecedented nationwide through the prison gate resettlement service meaning most offenders are given continuous support from custody into the community. There will remain a strong, viable public sector both in probation and in prisons – to guard public interest and to ensure robust and effective public protection is maintained. The public sector will be smaller and will work alongside a larger and more diverse provision of services by private, voluntary and third sector partners to drive innovation and transform rehabilitative outcomes (including Through the Gate provision). These reforms are focused on extending rehabilitation to groups previously not included. How will the delivery structure change? From 1 April 2014, all 35 Probation Trusts will be replaced. Instead there will be: • A National Probation Service (NPS) in England and Wales. (This is part of the National Offender Management Service – NOMS). This will directly manage higher risk offenders to allow for the management of MAPPA 1, 2, 3, provide advice on sentencing and determine allocation of cases. • 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) – The CRCs will manage low and medium risk offenders. By 2015 ownership of these companies will transfer to a new provider following competition.. All existing probation staff from the 35 Probation Trusts will be transferred to either one of the 21 CRCs or the NPS on 1 April 2014. • Staff will transfer to their new organisation effective 1 April 2014, in their current job function and on the same core terms and conditions and with their continuity of service. Staff will transfer to their new organisation effective 1 April 2014, in their current job function and on the same core terms and conditions and with their continuity of service preserved. How will successful bidders take ownership of CRCs? Successful bidders will take ownership of the CRCs via a share sale. The employer remains the CRCs. Any future changes to terms and conditions or employment will need to be consulted on. CRCs will deliver services under contract to NOMS and will work alongside the NPS and will have a proportion of their payment dependent on their success in reducing reoffending.