We published, with the Regional Offender Manager, Reducing Reoffending: North East Regional Resettlement Strategy in November 2004. The strategy provides a foundation for an effective and co-ordinated approach, so that offenders have every opportunity to improve their life chances.
We work closely with the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), which
developed and has managed an offender management system since 2004. We
aim to deliver a more joined up support for offenders’ needs in
the areas of skills, employment, accommodation, family links, finances and
altogether to support their resettlement in the community.
Seven pathways originated from the strategy and we lead on three:
- accommodation and support
- children and families support
- drugs and alcohol.
We contribute to the Reducing Reoffending Partnership Board and
until recently we chaired the board meetings. A separate partnerships
unit supports the board, bringing together all regional resources including
ourselves and manages the different projects around reducing
reoffending.
During the negotiation of local area agreements we supported the
inclusion of reducing reoffending targets. We succeeded in getting the
region to adopt a range of national indicators that support reducing
reoffending, dealing with health inequalities and social exclusion.
We led the work on the recently revised North East Housing and Resettlement
Protocol, which makes sure all housing agencies work jointly and share best
practice when dealing with offenders’ accommodation needs.
