The Culture, Community Safety & Environment Scrutiny Panel was scheduled to discuss the strategy for Haringey Adult Learning Service, alongside significant reforms to rehabilitation and probation services. The panel was also set to receive updates on the progress of the Integrated Gangs Unit and the management of leisure centres.

Transforming Rehabilitation - A Strategy for Reform

The panel was scheduled to consider the government's 'Transforming Rehabilitation - A Strategy for Reform' document, which outlines proposed changes to rehabilitation and probation services. The reforms aim to extend supervision and rehabilitation services to offenders with sentences of less than 12 months who do not currently receive statutory supervision. To fund this extension, offender management services for low to medium-risk offenders are to be subject to competition, with the majority of services commissioned from Community Rehabilitation Centres (CRCs) by private and voluntary providers, who will be paid based on results in reducing reoffending. A new National Probation Service will be established to supervise high-risk offenders and handle breaches of licence or community orders by lower-level offenders. The reforms also include realigning the prison service to designate new local resettlement prisons.

The report highlighted concerns regarding the commissioning of probation and rehabilitation services from private sector and voluntary providers at a national level. It was noted that future CRC providers would have significant freedom in designing their programmes, with payment by results and short-term contractual milestones. Concerns were raised about potential a lack of local accountability for these new providers, the risk of cost shunting or reduced delivery, and the possibility of commissioned providers seeking recall of problematic clients to meet short-term targets, which could place an unsupportable and unfunded resource pressure on Probation and local authorities. The report also indicated that the current methodology for defining the offender management cohort in London, based on an Offender Group Reconviction Scale (OGRS) threshold, might not align with Haringey's local Integrated Offender Management (IOM) model, which targets young people at risk of gang affiliation, female offenders, and other individuals who may not score highly on the OGRS. This could potentially lead to a significant withdrawal of resources and place a considerable cost and resource burden on Haringey.

Integrated Gangs Unit Haringey

Progress in developing the Integrated Gangs Unit (IGU) as part of the Offender Management delivery model was scheduled for discussion. The IGU is intended to coordinate relevant agencies and disciplines to provide a holistic, wrap-around service, co-located within the Wood Green Custody Suite. The full team was expected to be in place by 24 February 2014. The unit aims to build on existing practices to further integrate tactical approaches to enforcement and intervention in relation to gangs.

The report detailed the expected benefits of co-ordinating these strands, including improved data, intelligence, and analysis sharing; single systems for offender and case management; streamlined referral processes; a collaborative strategy with joint ownership; maximum use of resources through joint commissioning and reduced duplication; and the development of local success measures and evaluation. The co-location of the IOM and Gangs teams is considered best practice by the Home Office and MOPAC. The IGU will work with individuals identified on the Police Gangs Matrix, prioritising them for enforcement action and intervention. The Gang Exit Team within the unit will provide case management to gang members identified as a multi-agency concern, particularly those struggling to engage with current services, at a transitional point in their support, due to be released from custody, exhibiting escalated gang-related behaviour, or scored on the Police Gangs Matrix. The three Gang Workers are expected to work with a cohort of up to 70 gang-affected individuals, with the age range encompassing 11-25 to enable early intervention.

The report identified up to 11 gangs, several peer groups, and organised crime networks (OCNs) within the borough, with gang activity predominantly found in parts of the east of the borough, including Wood Green and Tottenham. Tensions between gangs, both within and outside the borough, were noted. The report highlighted that the most vulnerable victims for assault with injury and serious violence tend to be young people aged between 15 and 22. Achievements to date included the establishment of the IGU, effective support for victims and witnesses, the Gang Action Group (GAG) for multi-agency action, and the Gang Exit project, which reported a 76% reduction in reoffending for a specific group. Challenges identified included the lack of a comprehensive gangs profile, insufficient information-sharing protocols, and the need for more timely interventions to prevent young people from becoming involved in gangs at an early age.

Haringey Adult Learning Service (HALS) Strategy

The panel was scheduled to review the strategy for the Haringey Adult Learning Service (HALS), which offers skills and training opportunities to adults and young people. In the academic year 2012-13, 2,459 learners enrolled on HALS provision. The report noted a significant cut in the Adult Skills Budget outcome-based funding for 2014-15. The service receives grants from the Skills Funding Agency, Education Funding Agency, and Prospects Careers Service, with a substantial portion of this funding now being outcome-based and reliant on learner enrolment and achievement.

The report outlined national policy changes, including a greater focus on the unemployed, increased outcome-based delivery, and a requirement for greater local responsiveness. It also detailed the value for money controls in place through drawdowns against outcomes and minimum standards for learner success. For the borough, HALS adds value through positive outcomes for residents in finding or maintaining employment, additional support for parents and carers, maintenance of health for learners, and support for Third Sector projects and Children's Centres. The report also highlighted that there is currently no overarching policy governing a strategic approach to skills and training delivery across all providers within the borough, which is to be addressed in the overarching Skills and Regeneration Strategy.

The report detailed the profile of HALS service users, indicating that a significant proportion are unemployed, new to learning, from deprived areas, and from BME communities. Learner satisfaction with the service was reported as very high. Strengths of HALS include its strong profile in meeting the needs of deprived learners and high achievement rates in Skills for Life courses. Areas requiring improvement, as identified by Ofsted, included learner success in achieving full qualifications, the quality and consistency of teaching, learning and assessment, and the monitoring and reporting of learner destinations. The report also mentioned the NIACE review of adult learning services, which recommended that Haringey take on a strategic leadership role in drawing together key providers, employers, and agencies to ensure provision meets local needs, has strong progression routes, and supports adults furthest from the employment market.

Management of Leisure Centres

The panel was scheduled to receive a report on the council's contract for the management of its leisure centres and progress with the programme of improvements. The previous minutes indicated that the leisure contract with Fusion was over a year old and that refurbishment works were to commence as part of a significant investment programme.

Community Safety and Mental Health

Progress with the Panel's project on Community Safety and Mental Health was also on the agenda. Evidence received in previous meetings included input from Gareth Llywelyn-Roberts, Integrated Offender Management (IOM) Strategic Lead; Mark Landy, Assistant Director of Forensic Integrated Community Services at Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust; and Dr Luke Sullivan, a clinical psychologist and founder of Men's Minds Matter. Discussions covered the prevalence of mental health issues among offenders, co-morbidities with drug and alcohol misuse, and the challenges faced by offenders in breaking the cycle of offending. The IOM scheme's scoring system, referral pathways, and the carrot and stick approach were discussed, along with the importance of early intervention and the role of primary schools in identifying at-risk behaviour. Dr Sullivan highlighted the work of Men's Minds Matter in addressing mental health issues affecting men and boys and expressed concerns about the criminal justice system's focus on punitive measures. Mr Landy provided an overview of mental health services in prisons and custody suites, and the challenges of interventions due to short remand periods and reduced prison officer numbers. The development of Liaison and Diversion services and the focus on identification, assessment, and referral were also discussed.

Cabinet Member Questions

An opportunity was scheduled for the Committee to question the Cabinet Member for Communities, Councillor Richard Watson, on his portfolio.

Other Business

The panel was also due to consider any deputations, petitions, presentations, or questions received, review the minutes of previous meetings, and discuss issues raised by Area Committee Chairs. The panel's work plan was also to be noted.