The National Probation Service (NPS) works with 200,000 offenders to protect the public and reduce re-offending. Under the remit of the Home Office, the NPS is concerned with offenders who are given community services and those released from prison, with responsibility for enforcing the conditions of their court orders and release licenses. In the last few years, basic skills has been addressed more systematically and a number of pathfinder projects were initiated. As a result of the emerging findings, and the Skills for Life strategy, a cross-government working group developed a NPS basic skills framework, implemented from April 2002.
It recommends probation areas to:
- screen all offenders for basic skills needs at pre-sentence report stage
- administer, as appropriate, initial assessment and diagnostic assessment of offenders at the start of community supervision
- refer, as appropriate, offenders to basic skills provision where possible
- support offenders to attend screening, assessment and basic skills provision
Since 2003-04 the service has had targets for basic skills learners and their achievements.
For more information visit
www.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk/output/Page1.asp
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