In order to assess the overall effectiveness of offender management and rehabilitation and release planning, HM Inspectorate of Prisons works against published criteria in relation to assessment, planning, interventions and outcomes, and HM Inspectorate of Prisons’ Expectations.

The primary purpose of this work is to assess the quality and effectiveness of offender management and rehabilitation and release planning services with prisoners, which are designed to reduce their likelihood of reoffending and the risk of harm they pose to others. This also includes public protection arrangements.

HM Inspectorate of Prisons has been working closely with HM Inspectorate of Probation since 2009 in developing its criteria. Changes have taken place in recent years to reflect the Government’s Transforming Rehabilitation agenda and a greater emphasis is now placed on issues of rehabilitation.

Inspectors evaluate the effectiveness of provision at all announced and unannounced inspections of adult and young adult prisons. As part of the inspection we:

• inspect a sample of case files, both in and out of scope of the offender management model, along with cases of prisoners due to be released
• interview specific prisoners whose case files have been examined, in order to make judgements about their engagement with sentence planning and with Offender Management Unit and rehabilitation and release planning staff, and the effectiveness of support provided
• meet operational and strategic managers and other practitioners working within the areas of rehabilitation and release planning, public protection and offender management.

At some inspections HM Inspectorate of Prisons is joined by inspectors from HM Inspectorate of Probation who work jointly in reviewing services and provision. In other establishments inspections are undertaken by HM Inspectorate of Prisons staff only.

A summary of joint provisional findings forms part of the feedback to prison senior management at the end of the week and is reflected in the published prison inspection report. This may include recommendations for improvement, as well as highlighting examples of good practice.