Consultation on Best Value System in Probation

Today, David Hanson MP, Minister of State for Justice, launched a public consultation on a Best Value regime within probation.

During the passage of the Offender Management Bill through Parliament last year, the Government signalled a move away from a regime in which probation boards had to outsource a certain percentage of their work, to a model based on the principles of best value.  Under this model, the provider that demonstrated the best value would deliver the service, whichever sector it was from. 

NOMS has developed a proposed framework for how Best Value would work.  This would involve probation boards and trusts reviewing their services, to see how effectively and efficiently they are delivering, and making changes to their service delivery.  Those may involve improvements to in-house service delivery, or they may involve competing the service - the provider which delivers the best value will be the one which delivers the service.  In either case, it would enable boards and trusts to demonstrate and drive efficient and effective delivery.

The consultation seeks views on this proposed framework.  The consultation document and response form can be found at www.justice.gov.uk/publications/cp0608.htm.  The consultation closes on 2 July 2008.