Short Sentence Function – Manager

From June 2022, regions will start to introduce Short Sentence Functions (SSF). These will provide an enhanced, prompt and responsive service to adults, including women, serving short sentences (of ten months or less) to sustain any existing community-based services such as accommodation, engagement with substance misuse services, tenancy agreements and bank accounts.

Community offender managers will manage the case, with support provided by a POM (prison offender manager). (This is applicable to legacy NPS cases only – legacy CRC cases will continue to be managed by the prison until 12 weeks pre-release, until OMiC levels up). My team will play a vital role in supporting the SSF by;

• Working with those on remand, sustaining community ties, where possible, and starting the plan for release. This will ensure a better connection with a hard to reach/engage group with high levels of recidivism.
• Completing identification of immediate resettlement needs – via (Basic Custody Screening Tool) BCST
• Sustaining services already in place – e.g., supporting access to DWP to claim housing benefit, support contacting landlords to inform them that their tenant is in custody and potential release dates, support in contacting substance misuse providers in community to sustain engagement, including those unconvicted.
• Supporting people in prison held out of area to maintain contact with their Probation Practitioner.

If my team is attached to a women’s prison, they will be responsible for delivering short sentence support work for women, and will provide the link between the woman in prison and her Community Offender Manager as well as the Commissioned Resettlement Service provider in her home area.

My Region will implement this enhanced service as and when staffing allows and will liaise with me in the communication of the local model and expectations to my team. Our focus on improving engagement with this cohort, should help to address the above average probability, , of this cohorts likelihood of committing further offences or being recalled. I will need to familiarise myself with the guidance on SSF which is located within the Pre-release guidance document and ensure that my team are familiar with this.