Recurring concern

Insufficient probation officer staffing capacity for safe casework

First to latest report 19 Jul 2019 — 26 Jul 2024

Reports that mention this concern
4
Times this concern has been raised
4
Stated actions linked to this concern
10

What this concern includes

Includes recruitment, retention, establishment, deployment and workload-capacity failures affecting probation officers where they leave the service unable to provide safe supervision and support, including insufficient staffing for complex or demanding casework.

What is not included
  • Excludes generic workforce, funding or pay concerns that are not specifically tied to probation officer staffing capacity or its effect on safe casework.
  • Excludes probation officer training or limited experience where staffing capacity is not the shared unsafe condition.
  • Excludes accommodation, case-planning, release-planning and referral failures unless they directly result from insufficient probation officer staffing capacity.
  • Excludes staffing shortages in other criminal-justice, healthcare or social-care services unless the assertion explicitly concerns probation officer capacity.

Reports and published responses 4 reports

See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response

  1. East London

    AI-generated summary

    Zara Natasha Aleena · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Zara Natasha Aleena died at the Royal London Hospital on 26 June 2022 after sustaining a severe traumatic brain injury during an unprovoked attack while walking home in Ilford. The report identifies concerns about understaffing, risk assessment, information sharing, supervision, recall procedures and coordination across the Probation Service, police and other agencies, as well as concerns about training and reporting of predatory behaviour.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Understaffing of probation delivery units

    Wider context from the report

    “(1) The probation delivery unit responsible for the offender was understaffed at the time of relevant oversight. The staffing levels were 61% in 2022. The staffing levels at the time of the inquest in June 2024 was 58%. The inquest heard that this is a national problem and that there are other probation delivery units that have even lower levels of staffing. The low staffing level had an impact upon quality and depth of assessments; quality of supervision of junior staff (supervision was wholly reactive); excessively high workloads for probation officers and senior probation officers; lack of cover during annual leave for probation officers and poor record keeping. ”

    Source location

    Zara Natasha Aleena · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 3 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Apply the Prioritisation Framework in understaffed probation delivery units and operate its refreshed version alongside Probation Reset.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “1.1. We accept that the Probation Delivery Unit (PDU) responsible for Jordan McSweeney was understaffed at the time. Whilst at a national level, the staffing position of the Probation Service is improving, I acknowledge that raising staffing in this PDU to its full complement remains a significant challenge. Therefore, until such time as the situation improves, in this PDU and others with acute pressure remaining, staff will follow a Prioritisation Framework which we first implemented in January 2022. Those PDUs will also benefit from wider national workload relief through Probation Reset (see below at 1.4) as reflected in a refreshed Prioritisation Framework published in May 2024.”

    Source location

    Response from HMPPS and MoJ
    Page 1 · response
    Published 2 August 2024

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Continue national recruitment and trainee recruitment to increase Probation Practitioner staffing and maintain a pipeline of qualified officers.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “1.2. We continue to prioritise recruitment to put the Service on a sustainable footing and ensure sufficient Probation Practitioner staffing (Probation Officers and Probation Service Officers). As of 30 June 2024, the staffing level of Probation Officers working across the Probation Service was 70%, with 5,136 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Probation Officers in post. This number shows a considerable increase relative to June 2021 (when Community Rehabilitation Companies were dissolved, and the Probation Service was unified) when we had 4,517 FTE Probation Officers in post. London had the highest vacancy rate of all regions as of 30 June 2024 with a vacancy rate of 41%.”

    Source location

    Response from HMPPS and MoJ
    Page 2 · response
    Published 2 August 2024

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Operate Probation Reset measures to prioritise early engagement and end eligible supervision after two-thirds of the licence or order period.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “1.4. As well as the focus on recruitment, in response to the additional demands placed on the Probation Service as a result of measures to address prison capacity, since July 2024 we have implemented a set of measures known as Probation Reset. These measures involve prioritising early engagement at the point where offenders are most likely to breach the requirements of their licence or community sentence and, in eligible cases, end active supervision of offenders after two-thirds of the licence or community order period. In turn, this ensures that staff can maximise the amount of available supervision time on the most serious offenders. Early indications show that Probation Reset has brought capacity into the system and workloads to more manageable levels.”

    Source location

    Response from HMPPS and MoJ
    Page 2 · response
    Published 2 August 2024

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Review London processes, practices and operating models to identify a refined approach for managing acute pressures and caseloads.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “2.2. As outlined in response to concern (1), whilst Probation Reset has provided us with a workload reduction, the need to prioritise work and make effective decisions remain central to what we require of probation staff. In accordance with the Prioritisation Framework, Probation Regions are assigned a red, amber, or green categorisation depending upon the degree of prioritisation required. This Framework was reviewed in June 2024 to reflect Probation Reset, given the implications for operational delivery. London Probation moved to the Prioritisation Framework at its outset in 2022. London is operating within red/amber site status, which is regularly reviewed. Alongside this, there is a specific project being run by the London Area Executive Director to review processes and practices alongside operating models.”

    Source location

    Response from HMPPS and MoJ
    Page 3 · response
    Published 2 August 2024

    Open published response

  2. Manchester South

    AI-generated summary

    Elizabeth Sarah Jayne McCann · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Elizabeth Sarah Jayne McCann was raped and murdered on 25 August 2022 at the home address of her murderer. The report identifies failures in risk assessment, information sharing, safeguarding, and management of a high-risk offender by the Health and Wellbeing College, Probation, and Greater Manchester Police. It also identifies concerns about excessive caseloads, inadequate staffing, supervision, recording, and organisational learning.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Insufficient probation staffing capacity

    Wider context from the report

    “1. The inquest heard evidence that the probation staff were carrying significant caseloads. This was due to challenges in recruiting sufficient staff. The evidence was that there is still a national shortage of probation officers. Steps have been taken to recruit and train further probation officers which provides some assistance but means that overall, a significant number of probation officers are young in service and experience. ”

    Source location

    Elizabeth Sarah Jayne McCann · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 3 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Continue recruiting and training probation staff to increase staffing and maintain a pipeline of qualified Probation Officers.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “The Inquest heard evidence that the probation staff were carrying significant caseloads. This was due to challenges in recruiting sufficient staff. The evidence was that there is still a national shortage of probation officers. Steps have been taken to recruit and train further probation officers which provides some assistance but means that overall, a significant number of probation officers are young in service and experience.”

    Source location

    Response from HMPPS
    Page 1 · response
    Published 31 May 2024

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Apply the Prioritisation Framework and provide wider national workload relief through Probation Reset in pressured Probation Delivery Units.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Whilst at a national level, the staffing position of the Probation Service is improving, it remains the case that raising staffing in some Probation Delivery Units (PDU) to a full complement remains a significant challenge. Until such time as the situation improves, in PDUs with acute pressure remaining, staff will follow a Prioritisation Framework which was”

    Source location

    Response from HMPPS
    Page 1 · response
    Published 31 May 2024

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent position was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Probation staffing, supervision, referral risk management and information-sharing matters are primarily for the Ministry of Justice to address.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “These four matters are primarily for the Ministry of Justice to reply to on behalf of the Probation Service, however, to promote effective communication between agencies and improve awareness of any challenges, the Head of Public Protection at Greater Manchester Police and the Head of Public Protection at Greater Manchester Probation service commenced monthly meetings in 2023.”

    Source location

    Response from GM Police
    Page 2 · response
    Published 31 May 2024

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent position was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Most concerns fall to the Ministry of Justice, Home Office and Greater Manchester Police, which will respond to the report.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Most of the concerns you have raised are matters for the Ministry of Justice, Home Office and Greater Manchester Police and I understand that these organisations will be responding to your report.”

    Source location

    Response from DHSC
    Page 1 · response
    Published 31 May 2024

    Open published response

  3. Inner South London

    AI-generated summary

    Master Alex Malcolm · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Master Alex Malcolm, aged 5, died on 22 November 2016 from a head injury and was found to have been unlawfully killed; a perpetrator was convicted of murder. The jury identified concerns including the perpetrator’s misclassification, failures to share information and safeguard the deceased’s mother, inadequate probation supervision, failure to secure approved premises, and failures to respond to licence breaches. Further concerns included shortages of approved premises, domestic-violence safeguarding arrangements, and recruitment and retention difficulties among probation officers.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Difficulties in recruitment and retention of probation officers

    Wider context from the report

    “3. A senior NPS divisional head said that there were still difficulties in recruitment and retention of probation officers, one factor in which was low pay. It is understood the matter is under review but details of what steps have since been taken and their adequacy were not heard by the coroner. ”

    Source location

    Master Alex Malcolm · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Introduce and operate modernised probation pay structures, including pensionable pay awards and competency-based progression.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “You refer to difficulties in recruiting and retaining probation officers and the steps being taken to address these. HMPPS introduced a new pay structure with effect from 1 April 2018 for the National Probation Service (NPS) to recognise the professional nature of the work of its staff and the significant contribution they make. As part of this process, pay for the NPS was compared against other public sector employment, to ensure that it was competitive.”

    Source location

    2019-0344-Response-by-HM-Prison-and-Probation-Service
    Page 1 · response
    Published 17 November 2019

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Introduce beneficial pay-on-promotion arrangements to support career progression and vacancy filling.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “NPS Pay Modernisation included a two-year pensionable pay award (2018-19 and 2019-20) for all staff. Approximately 9,500 staff received a minimum pay award of 3 per cent in each year (instead of a contractual 1 per cent pay award if the pay reforms had not been implemented). The new pay structures also recognised staff at the maximum of their grade and provide a framework for pay progression for all staff through a competency-based framework. New arrangements, such as a more beneficial pay-on-promotion policy, were also introduced to support career progression and to assist the filling of vacancies on a temporary and permanent basis.”

    Source location

    2019-0344-Response-by-HM-Prison-and-Probation-Service
    Page 1 · response
    Published 17 November 2019

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Pay market-forces allowances to probation staff in specified locations to address local recruitment and retention difficulties.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “NPS staff based in London also receive a London Allowance of £3,889 per annum. In addition, a ‘Market Forces Allowance’ of £1,100 to £3,100 is currently being paid to”

    Source location

    2019-0344-Response-by-HM-Prison-and-Probation-Service
    Page 1 · response
    Published 17 November 2019

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Continue monitoring recruitment and retention and assess implementation of the new pay structure.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “HMPPS continues to monitor recruitment and retention, and to assess the implementation of the new pay structure. I hope that the measures I have described above demonstrate the continued work being done in this area.”

    Source location

    2019-0344-Response-by-HM-Prison-and-Probation-Service
    Page 2 · response
    Published 17 November 2019

    Open published response

  4. Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen

    AI-generated summary

    Cherylee Yvette Shennan · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Cherylee Yvette Shennan, a 40-year-old woman, was murdered on 17 March 2014 by a former offender who had subjected her to domestic abuse, including serious violence. The report raised concerns about inadequate inter-agency communication and management of the perpetrator, including the absence of a mandatory process for sharing information when an offender with a known history of domestic abuse was managed at MAPPA Level 1.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Insufficient probation staffing capacity for complex and demanding casework

    Wider context from the report

    “2) Evidence was further heard regarding the Report of the Chief Inspector of Probation 2019 and in particular the finding that "Many individuals were drifting through their supervision period without being challenged or supported to change their prediction for domestic abuse" and that "The number of probation professionals is now at a critical level. There is a national shortage of professional probation staff and especially those mainly responsible for more complex and demanding casework". It was agreed by those senior probation witnesses that staffing and workloads had been an issue in this matter, as found by the jury, and furthermore continued to be so. ”

    Source location

    Cherylee Yvette Shennan · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.

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Data last updated 7 September 2026