Performance-based policy in offender rehabilitation: Limitation or innovation for front-line workers in Liaison and Diversion services?

Paulo Rocha,Ann-Karin Holmen

doi:10.1177/0264550520926578

Abstract

In recent years, the English government has been using competitive elements in the process of allocating public funds through policy. Front-line workers struggle with the limitations imposed by such a model. A qualitative case study was conducted to investigate the impact of a new performance-based policy on front-line workers of a public service called Liaison and Diversion. The findings demonstrated that professionals have been adapting the policy to local circumstances found at the street level. We argued that adaptation is a form of employee-based innovation that optimises the use of scarce resources and customises services to the clients.

Highlights

A large number of vulnerable individuals, that is, people with mental health, learning disability, substance misuse, and other psychosocial vulnerabilities (NHS England Liaison and Diversion Programme, 2014), enter the criminal justice systemIn the context of offender rehabilitation in England and Wales, a public service called Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion (L&D) is one means to promote collaborative interactions between organisations in criminal justice and welfare services
The findings show that adaptation of the national model to local conditions is part of the front-line workers’ daily routine, most of the time such adjustments are a consequence of limitations imposed by scarce resources
Ever since the roll-out of the national model for L&D (NHS England, 2014), there has been an expectation that all L&D sites accomplish the outcomes specified in the policy (NHS England Liaison and Diversion Programme, 2014, paragraph 4)

Summary

Introduction

In the context of offender rehabilitation in England and Wales, a public service called Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion (L&D) is one means to promote collaborative interactions between organisations in criminal justice and welfare services. The service provides prearrest support for vulnerable people as they come to the attention of the criminal justice system. In 2014, a performance-based national model for L&D services pre-empted local policies with the goal to standardise practice across sites nationwide (NHS England Liaison and Diversion Programme, 2014). It attempted to do so by specifying outcomes to be achieved and dovetailing funding for the services to their performance (Glas et al, 2018)

Objectives

Conclusion