3 May 2012

Corrections unifies structure

The Department of Corrections is proposing to bring together its three service arms - prisons, rehabilitation and probation - to work as one team and be responsible for the day to day management and rehabilitation of all offenders across the country.

The Department’s Chief Executive Ray Smith has been developing the proposed structure over the last six months.

“Our aim is to make our communities safer by lifting our performance. To do this I need a clear line of sight to my staff on the front line and I need to empower them to make good decisions, after all they know their communities best.

“To achieve this there will be changes in the management structure here in Head Office and in some regional offices. Front line staff will not be affected.”

Consultation with affected staff starts today.

“The proposed new structure will enable us to work together to co-ordinate the management of each offender at every stage and address the underlying causes of their offending.”

At the moment Prisons, Community Probation and Rehabilitation & Reintegration each has its own processes, infrastructure and support staff.

“This creates replication of work, is inefficient and has resulted in an overly layered structure.”

Last year Mr Smith introduced a new “Creating Lasting Change” strategy within Corrections with the goals of reducing re-offending, improving public safety, strengthening leadership and delivering better public value.

“To achieve our priorities we need a shared vision and to do this we need to better share our resources.”

While nearly all services currently being delivered to offenders occur regionally, decisions often require referral to the National Office.

“This is inefficient and does not give senior managers the accountability and authority they need to make decisions locally."

The proposed structure would see one joined-up service delivery group established in each region working under a Regional Manager Corrections Services. They would have accountability for the effective operation of all service delivery in their region. It’s proposed a new fourth region will be created in the lower North Island to ensure engagement with the local community will be enhanced.

It is anticipated that 140 positions, or two percent of the workforce, would be disestablished if the proposal is accepted. These roles are primarily within National and Regional Office management and support functions.

Once through the consultation process Corrections’ timetable currently provides for recruitment and reassignment processes to occur during June/July, with staff taking up their new roles from August 2012.

As well as achieving the objectives within “Creating Lasting Change” the proposed structure will save $10 million in direct employee costs compared to the 2012/13 financial year.

ENDS

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