Public Policy: Using Market-Based Approaches - Department for ...

Public Policy: Using Market-Based Approaches
The procurement department at HMPS has invested considerable resources in
trying to measure the different elements of quality provision within prison
management. The result is that the tenders for individual management contracts
outline 30 to 40 performance measures covering different aspects of prison
management quality which bidders have to commit to meet. These performance
measures typically fall into seven broad categories:
● keeping prisoners in custody;
● maintaining order, control, discipline and a safe environment;
● providing decent conditions and meeting prisoners’ needs;
● providing positive regimes;
● preparing prisoners for their return to the community;
● delivering prison services; and
● community relations.
For example security is a key aspect of keeping prisoners in custody and is
monitored according to both a quarterly and an annual performance
measurement system. Penalty points are accrued on a quarterly basis for:
● failure to achieve an agreed percentage of planned searches;
● discovery of serious items smuggled in;
● failure of security procedures laid down in the Prison Service Security
Manual; and/or
● failure to observe key/lock procedures laid down in the Prison Service
Security Manual.
Annual penalty points are incurred for:
● failure to achieve an ‘acceptable’ or higher rating in the Security Audit during
the relevant performance year; and/or
● failure to achieve the agreed Key Performance Target percentage compliance
with local planned preventative maintenance with respect to all equipment.
Credit points can be awarded for a rating above ‘acceptable’ in the Security
Audit. These can be offset against penalty points incurred against certain annual
performance measures, specified in the contract.
The performance-management system is based on points for failing various
performance metrics, such as the occurrence of an assault. As no prison will ever
be without failure, contract negotiations include a threshold number of points
below which no financial penalty is incurred based on the particular
characteristics of the prison. These thresholds apply quarterly. At the end of each
quarter, performance points are summed together and if they lie below the
contractual threshold, no further action is taken. If they exceed this level,
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