UNCLASSIFIED

National Probation Service

Bulletin
Issue 53 27 April 2007

The Bulletin has been improved for easier on-screen reading. It now summaries new content placed on Epic
(http://npsintranet.probation.gsi.gov.uk/index.htm) in the previous week and significant messages that have been
circulated on the Chief Officer gateway. Articles can now be read by either scrolling down the page or by clicking the
titles below:

081/07 IMPORTANT – Revisions to PC08/2007: Implementation of accredited offending behaviour programme

performance improvement standards
082/07 Roll out of Parole Board oral hearings by video link
083/07 Prince’s Trust and Offender Engagement
084/07 Community Penalty Warrants-Handling, Reviewing and Withdrawal
085/07 NPS Health and Safety Guidance – Fire Protection
086/07 National LGBT Conference 2007
087/07 Issued Recently

081/07 IMPORTANT – REVISIONS TO PC08/2007: IMPLEMENTATION OF ACCREDITED

OFFENDING BEHAVIOUR PROGRAMME PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT
STANDARDS

The timetable requirement for the audit to be completed by Probation Areas by the 30th May 2007 no longer applies.

The report including action plan (either hard copy or e-mail is acceptable) must now be completed and forwarded to
Lesley Smith (details below) and a copy must also be sent to the relevant Regional Manager no later than the 31st
July 2007.

The revised guidance and templates will appear on Epic shortly.

Epic: Navigate from Home>Service Delivery>Interventions>Programmes

Email: Lesley.smith@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
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082/07 ROLL OUT OF PAROLE BOARD ORAL HEARINGS BY VIDEO LINK

Following a successful pilot, agreement has been reached for the Parole Board to conduct oral hearings from any
prison establishment that has appropriate video link technology. The national roll-out will go live from 1 May 2007.

UNCLASSIFIED
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April 2007

Due to the increasing number of oral hearings, NOMS have been working with prisons (public and contracted), the
Probation Service, HM Courts Service and the Parole Board to establish arrangements whereby the Parole Board
can conduct some oral hearings (on whether or not to release offenders) via video links.

Details have been posted on EPIC, including a list of establishment where video links are available.

Issued to Chief Officers and Chairs via the Chief Officer Gateway – 26 April 2007

Epic: Navigate from Home>Service Delivery>Public Protection>Pre and Post Release

Email: simon.greenwood3@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
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083/07 PRINCE’S TRUST AND OFFENDER ENGAGEMENT

The Prince’s Trust and Dorset Probation have developed an initiative to include an ex-offender to be involved in the
advising the Board. Further joint work with the Prince’s Trust is anticipated and a probation circular is currently being
finalised regarding work with the Trust and other good examples of offender engagement.

A Prince’s Trust press notice will be posted on Epic

Email: george.barrow@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
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084/07 COMMUNITY PENALTY WARRANTS-HANDLING, REVIEWING AND

WITHDRAWAL

Draft guidance on the handling of community penalty warrants has arisen from work completed by Her Majesty’s
Court Service (HMCS) and the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) in supporting Local Criminal Justice
Boards (LCJBs) delivering the end to end enforcement targets and in ensuring that consistency is achieved in this
aspect of the enforcement process. Via chief officers, comments are invited on the contents and “workability” of the
guidance prior to it being issued in a final version by the end of May 2007.

Email: Liz.holden@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Issued to Chief Officers via the Chief Officer Gateway – 24 April 2007

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085/07 NPS HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDANCE – FIRE PROTECTION

The revised National health and safety policy arrangement for Fire Protection in the NPS has been issued; it
provides advice and guidance in relation to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which was introduced
October 2006. It is recommended to Areas by the National Health and Safety Forum.

Issue 53 UNCLASSIFIED NPS Bulletin

April 2007
 Issue 53 UNCLASSIFIED NPS Bulletin
April 2007

Issued to Chief Officers via the Chief Officer Gateway – 24 April 2007

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086/07 NATIONAL LGBT CONFERENCE 2007

The National Gay Prisoners Support and Advisory service is holding the first ever conference looking at the needs of
Lesbian, Gay Bi- Sexual and Transgendered offenders, either in custody or in the community. The conference is
being held in Manchester on the 7th September 2007.

Applications for delegate places at the conference can be made on online at the National Gay Prisoners Support and
Advisory Service website (www.ngpss.org.uk/home/index.php) or contact 0161 661 1261.

Diverse would also like to hear from any service provider that would like to exhibit their services at the conference. If
your organisation is interested in doing so email Kevin@ngpss.org.uk

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000/07 ISSUED RECENTLY

Probation Circulars 2007:

PC07 Introduction of New Service Level Agreement for 2007-08 between NOMS and Langley Issued 30 March
House Trust
PC08 Implementation of Accredited Offending Behaviour Programme Performance Issued 3 April
Improvement Standards (please see item above on amendments to annexes and
changes in deadlines for submitting audit results).

PC09 Definition of Programme Completions for Accredited Offending Behaviour Programmes Issued 20 April

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To submit items for the NPS Bulletin, or to be added to the distribution list contact:
npsbulletin@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Bulletins are posted on the Epic Intranet http://npsintranet.probation.gsi.gov.uk/index.htm (navigate from

Home>News & Comms>Newsletters>Bulletins) and the NPS Website www.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk,
(navigate from Home>News & Updates>Bulletins)

Issued by the NOMS Communications Unit

Issue 53 UNCLASSIFIED NPS Bulletin

April 2007