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<p>The Probation Service currently uses the Workload Measurement Tool (WMT) as an
indicator and as one of several sources of information to support management of workloads.
There are, however, significant limitations with using the WMT to monitor workload
due to its daily fluctuation, capacity for human error and the challenges in accounting
for periods of leave and case support. The WMT is therefore only one element of probation
capacity and should be considered alongside the situational context and other reporting
routes.</p><p>This table shows by region the proportion of POs who are over 100% (as
of the 22 November 2023) on the WMT. To note, the WMT is not considered a reliable
estimate of total staff.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Region</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total
Probation Officers</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of Probation Officers over
100%</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>National </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>3,338</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2,591</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>East
Midlands</p></td><td><p>217</p></td><td><p>165</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>East of England</p></td><td><p>279</p></td><td><p>236</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Greater
Manchester</p></td><td><p>211</p></td><td><p>180</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Kent Surrey
Sussex</p></td><td><p>176</p></td><td><p>133</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London</p></td><td><p>454</p></td><td><p>375</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North
East Region</p></td><td><p>223</p></td><td><p>163</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North West
Region</p></td><td><p>335</p></td><td><p>253</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South Central</p></td><td><p>176</p></td><td><p>141</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South
West</p></td><td><p>234</p></td><td><p>192</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wales</p></td><td><p>272</p></td><td><p>177</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>West
Midlands Region</p></td><td><p>367</p></td><td><p>267</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Yorkshire
and The Humber</p></td><td><p>394</p></td><td><p>309</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Recruitment
and retention remain a priority across the Probation Service and we have injected
extra funding of more than £155 million a year to deliver more robust supervision,
recruit thousands more staff and reduce caseloads to keep the public safer. The Probation
Service is in its second year of a multi-year pay deal for its staff. Salary values
of all pay bands will increase each year, targeted at key operational grades to improve
a challenging recruitment and retention position. Positively, the Probation Service
leaving rate was 9.9% in the 12 months to 30 September 2023, a <strong>decrease</strong>
from the previous 12 months.</p><p>The Probation Service saw an <strong>increase of
2,170 FTE </strong>or 11.8% (Probation Service grades) since September 2022. There
has been an increase across all Probation Service grades such Senior Probation Officer
(13.0%), Probation Officers (6.9%), Other Band 4-6 (16.0%) and in particular Other
Bands 1 to 3 staff saw an increase of 1,260 FTE staff (26.4%), following centrally
run recruitment for key grades supporting frontline staff. We have accelerated recruitment
of trainee Probation Officers (PQiPs) to increase staffing levels, particularly in
Probation Delivery Units (PDUs) with the most significant staffing challenges.There
were 2,185 staff, equivalent to 2,164 FTE, as at 30 September 2023 undertaking the
PQiP training, which we anticipate will start to directly impact on the reduction
of caseloads as they qualify.</p>
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