Recurring concern
Unreliable case allocation and resolution of allocation disputes
First reported 20 Dec 2013•Latest report 4 Sep 2025
What this concern includes
Includes failures of a defined case-allocation process, including delayed allocation, unclear allocation responsibility, failure to record allocation disagreements, and failure to resolve such disagreements promptly where these affect the safe progression of cases.
Not included
- Excludes responsibility disputes concerning housing, accommodation or other services where the issue is not allocation of cases within a service process.
- Excludes generic record-keeping, escalation or dispute-resolution deficiencies that are not directly tied to case allocation.
- Excludes delays in case progression after allocation when no case-allocation or allocation-dispute failure is identified.
- Excludes generic service capacity or staffing deficiencies unless they directly cause unreliable case allocation.
- Reports
- 8
- Individual concerns
- 10
- Date range
- 2013–2025
- Stated actions
- 20
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised1
Insufficient resources for timely allocation of police officers to priority cases
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
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Action
Provide increased police funding for 2025–26 settlements, pay awards, employer contributions and officer maintenance.
Stated by Home Office -
Action
Provide £200 million nationally to kickstart recruitment of 13,000 additional neighbourhood-policing officers, PCSOs and special constables.
Stated by Home Office -
Action
Set expectations for forces to reduce inefficiencies and maximise productivity through the Police Efficiency and Collaboration Programme.
Stated by Home Office
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Local Police and Crime Commissioners, Mayors and Chief Constables are responsible for resourcing decisions according to local needs.
Stated by Home Office
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Concerns raised1
Absence of specified prescribed timeframes for intervention, ongoing support and case load allocation for prisoners at risk of substance misuse
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
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Action
Embed agreed intervention, support and caseload timeframes in the revised service specification for future procurement.
Stated by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTM -
Action
Reduce the brief-intervention waiting period to the four-week target through recruitment and improved waiting-list management.
Stated by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTM -
Action
Expand group provision with weekly rolling programmes for people waiting for one-to-one brief interventions.
Stated by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTM
-
Action
Submit a proposal to HMPPS to enhance the clinical substance misuse service at HMP & YOI Parc.
Stated by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTM
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Concerns raised1
Case allocation and deallocation without action or explanatory recording
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Require recorded explanations for case deallocation and provide management oversight of all case closures.
Stated by Westmorland and Furness Council -
Action
Conduct regular case-file audits of chronology and completed actions.
Stated by Westmorland and Furness Council
-
Concerns raised2
Failure to record attempts to escalate internal disagreements over team allocation
Lack of recording arrangements for internal disagreements over case allocation
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Failure of the ACCT Case Manager allocation and oversight system
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
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Action
Implement ACCT version 6 across the prison estate to support multidisciplinary, person-centred care for people at risk.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service -
Action
Provide specific training and require relevant modules for ACCT Case Coordinators before they take up the role.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service -
Action
Implement a database to support allocation of ACCT Case Coordinators using staffing and caseload information.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
-
Action
Introduce an additional safer custody team manager to increase capacity for ACCT assurance work.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
-
Concerns raised1
Delays in allocation of cases within Early Help Services
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
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Action
Review Early Help caseloads and work allocation to identify and reduce allocation delays.
Stated by Tameside Borough Council -
Action
Allocate waiting-list families a worker within one month and have managers monitor families during the waiting period.
Stated by Tameside Borough Council -
Action
Monitor Early Help allocations through a weekly Family Support Panel to support timely responses to children’s needs.
Stated by Tameside Borough Council
-
Action
Submit six-monthly Early Help performance reports to the Safeguarding Children Board.
Stated by Tameside Borough Council
-
Concerns raised1
Delays in resolving disputes over which organisation should treat a patient
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised2
Failure to allocate assessments to officers with sufficient availability for completion within the required period
Lack of a system for referring overdue assessments for reallocation to another officer
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
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Action
Provide six-weekly formal supervision and daily case discussions where required, supported by a systematic approach to reprioritisation or reallocation.
Stated by Bolton Borough Council -
Action
Develop electronic monitoring and trigger functions to alert staff and managers to assessment timescales requiring prioritisation or reallocation.
Stated by Bolton Borough Council -
Action
Communicate staff and manager responsibilities for alerting case managers when assessment timescales may not be met.
Stated by Bolton Borough Council
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
The case did not appear urgent, and the allocated worker should have had sufficient time to complete the assessment.
Stated by Bolton Borough Council
Data last updated 7 September 2026