UPW requirements must be completed within 12 months of the initial sentence. If there are outstanding hours after this point, the requirement falls onto a ‘backlog’ and hours cannot be worked until an application is made to the Court for the requirement to be extended or if necessary revoked and resentenced.

To prevent cases falling onto the backlog, there are a number of mandatory actions that must be followed, together with some recommended advice on best practice guidance.

One of these actions requires practitioners to undertake reviews of all cases at the six- and nine-month points in the Order and identify those that are not on track to complete their UPW hours.  I will need to have regular discussions with Head of UPW and Head of Interventions on the best course of action.

To support the completion of these reviews, my region will also be allocated Performance & Quality (P&Q) resource. Where a case is at risk of failing to complete their hours within 12 months, my team will need to take the necessary steps, following consultation with UPW teams. They will either return the requirement to court (with applications for extension identified at the nine month point of the order or earlier if needed, presented to the court before the 12- month expiry date of the requirement to apply for an extension), or to instigate breach action, as appropriate. This will help to ensure a backlog does not develop and that People on Probation (PoP) finish their requirements in line with the expectations of the Court.