§ John McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has evaluated on the completion rates on probation-accredited programmes where case management and programme work is integrated. [178798]
§ Paul Goggins[holding answer 21 June 2004]: The Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS) has evaluated one study that looked at the relationship between case management and accredited programme completion in the Probation Service. The research was conducted by Oxford University and it was managed and published by the National Probation Directorate in 2004. The published findings "Think First in the community: attendance, attrition and outcomes for participants" are available on the National Probation Service website (www. probation. homeoffice.gov.uk)
The research found that completion of the Think First programme was better when case management involved intense supervision before the start of the programme, frequent contact after completion, support with personal problems and help in using what had been learnt.
§ John McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether approval for enhanced community punishment accredited programmes was given on the basis that case management and programme work were integrated. [178800]
§ Paul Goggins[holding answer 21 June 2004]: Enhanced Community Punishment (ECP) was provisionally accredited by the Correctional Services Accreditation Panel and rolled out throughout England 1522W and Wales in October 2003. All Community Punishment Orders are now delivered in the form of Enhanced Community Punishment. The order requires an offender to do unpaid work while maximising the scope for learning in order to change the offender's behaviour.
Integrated case management is a key feature of ECP. It requires there to be structured communication between the people involved in delivering the different components of an order. This structured liaison and integration has been approved by the Accreditation Panel.