NIPS Annual Report and Accounts 2012-13 - Department of Justice

ANNUAL
REPORT
and Accounts
CJINI Report on Corporate Governance
The December 2010 report by CJINI on Corporate
Governance Arrangements in NIPS highlighted
areas of significant concern about management
and governance across the Service and identified
a number of underlying problems affecting the
Service’s performance, including: lack of clarity in
purpose; poor performance management; absence
of accountability; non-compliance with procedures
and inconsistent and inefficient delivery. In
response NIPS produced an updated Corporate
Governance Framework document. This document
was reviewed throughout the year as the items
listed on the Corporate Governance Action Plan
were implemented. NIPS officials provided a report
on progress to the Justice Committee in November,
and in May 2013.
Management of Life and Indeterminate
Sentence Prisoners
In July 2012 CJINI published their report on the
management of life and indeterminate sentence
prisoners which stated that both types of sentenced
prisoner were well managed in custody and in
the community following their release on licence.
Areas for improvement were identified and
recommendations made, but significant progress
was also noted by the inspectors since their last
report in 2009. Key recommendations include
the re-opening of the Working Out Unit (formerly
the Prisoner Assessment Unit) and an improved
integrated psychology service between NIPS and
PBNI. NIPS have accepted these and all of the other
recommendations and are working towards enacting
them.
Report on Maghaberry Inspection
CJINI published a report on the inspection of
Maghaberry Prison in March 2012. This inspection
was conducted in conjunction with Her Majesty’s
Chief Inspector of Prisons. The inspection made six
main recommendations, 87 other recommendations
and 20 housekeeping points. The six key
recommendations include an effective strategy to
reduce levels of violence and addressing bullying, a
change to medication administration procedures,
and the development of a new pre-release scheme
for lifers, among others. The implementation of the
accepted recommendations is being taken forward
by NIPS and by SET for relevant health related
issues.
NIAO 2011-12 Recommendations
NIAO identified areas for improvement within
procurement in the 2011-12 audit of NIPS. This
became a priority one recommendation in the
“Report To Those Charged With Governance” for the
2011-12 financial year. NIPS has made significant
improvements throughout 2012-13, including the
issuing of new Procurement Guidance in order to
ensure compliance with DOJ delegations and NIPS’
own procedures.
In addition, NIAO identified that an omission had
occurred in the NIPS financial statement with
respect to including a provision for the Injury on
Duty Scheme. NIPS 2011-12 Resource Accounts
were qualified on the basis that the Service was
unable to obtain a full actuarial valuation on
the NIPS element of the NICS Injury Benefit
Scheme. Throughout the year, NIPS worked with
DFP Pensions Branch to provide the Government
Actuarial Department with information to allow
them to carry out this valuation for the 2012-13
Resource Accounts. This valuation has now been
received and NIPS has incorporated this into the
2012-13 accounts.
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