Northamptonshire Probation Service Diversity

Overview

Northamptonshire Probation Area recognises the discrimination and disadvantage that many in our society face and our responsibility in both moral and legal terms to address these issues. We wish to promote equality of opportunity for all whether on the grounds of race, disability, gender, sexuality, age or faith. This will encompass those who are members of staff whether paid or unpaid, service users or who work with the Northamptonshire Probation Areas as providers of services and/or partners

Who we are

The Northamptonshire Probation Area (NPA) is one of 42 Probation Areas which is part of the National Probation Service for England and Wales . The area has approximately 300 staff based in a number of geographical locations across the County including the major towns of Wellingborough, Kettering and Corby .

The aims of the service are:

(The 5 strategic aims of the National Probation Service are defined in the Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 as:

			Protecting the public
			Reducing re-offending
			IThe proper punishment of offenders in the community
			Ensuring offenders awareness of the effects of crime on the victims of crime and the public
			Rehabilitation of offenders

The National Probation Service is a law enforcement agency delivering community punishments, and supervising and working with offenders according to the terms set by the Court and the Parole Board.

The headquarters of the National Probation Service are located in the National Offender Management Service based in the Home Office, from where the Director answers directly to Ministers. The 42 Local Probation Boards deliver the National Probation Service business, aims and objectives in the local areas and by doing so are directly responding and working to Home Office aims, specifically:

Aim 3:		To ensure the effective delivery of justice;
Aim 4:		To deliver custodial and community sentences to reduce re-offending and protect the public;
Aim 7:		To support strong and active communities in which people of all races and backgrounds are valued and participate on equal terms.

Ethical Framework

Northamptonshire Probation Area is committed to delivering services within a clear ethical framework through supporting the values of the National Probation Service.

These are translated locally as follows:

Vision and Mission

The Values of Northamptonshire Probation Area are:

			Working at all times with openness and transparency.
			Valuing diversity and treating people fairly and with respect.

The Vision of Northamptonshire Probation Area is:

To be a respected organisation which delivers excellence in the field of public safety whilst serving the people of Northamptonshire.

The Mission of Northamptonshire Probation Area is;

To work in Partnership with the people of Northamptonshire to create safer communities through the proper punishment and rehabilitation of offenders to reduce crime and risk.

Principles

NPA works in partnership with a wide range of organisations. In the spirit of collaboration and mutual understanding the organisation has agreed that with Northamptonshire County Council to adopt a streamlined statement of equal opportunities;

NPA, in tandem with the County Council, believes that the diversity of the people of Northamptonshire is an asset and that:

Discrimination against any person or group is morally and legally unjustified, and: That each member of the community as a citizen, service user, service provider or as an employee of the NPA is entitled to fair and equal treatment at all times.

NPA aims are to:

			Provide accessible services that meet people’s needs, regardless of background and lifestyles, that are delivered in a way that is efficient, effective and of an excellent quality,
			Provide services that are delivered by a workforce that reflects the communities that we serve, at all levels of staff and management,
			I Embraces the diversity of our workforce to improve the organisation as a whole,
			Ensure that we maintain and deliver fair and equal recruitment policies and practices. Providing a work environment that is safe, accessible, and free from harassment and discrimination. A place where individuals values, beliefs, identities and culture are respected,
			Offers services that meet the diverse needs of offenders,
			Inform and engage with the diverse communities in our county and ensure that they benefit from our services be that by through addressing hate crime (Race, Homophobic or Disablism) or Unpaid Work projects
			Ensure fair an equal treatment for all services users and employees

Download our Diversity/Equality Strategy incorporating the Race Equality Scheme and the Disability Equality Scheme.