State of the Sector
STATE OF THE SECTOR 2015
This report provides a third annual snapshot of a sector still in flux and faced by multiple challenges. It has the highest level of support so far: 176 respondents to the main community/residential survey and 43 respondents to the prison survey.
The reports find:
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This report provides a third annual snapshot of a sector still in flux and faced by multiple challenges. It has the highest level of support so far: 176 respondents to the main community/residential survey and 43 respondents to the prison survey.
The reports find:
- A continued trend of reduced funding reported by both community and residential services across the last three years
- Funding changes reported as having a significant negative impact on the delivery of core services, workforce development and case-loads
- Dual diagnosis remains a key challenge, with links with mental health services varying
- Passion, innovation and resilience exist in many services across the country
- Increased use of novel psychoactive substance (NPS) in prisons
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Year 2 - State of the Sector 2014 (pdf)
168 respondents took part in the community and residential questionnaire with a further 21 respondents from prison services.
Key findings from the 2014-15 report included:
Year 1 - State of the Sector 2013 (pdf)
167 agencies participated in the online questionnaire.
Key findings included:
168 respondents took part in the community and residential questionnaire with a further 21 respondents from prison services.
Key findings from the 2014-15 report included:
- 53 per cent of respondents reported a reduction in frontline staff and 40 per cent a reduction in back office staff and managers;
- 62 per cent reported an increase in the involvement of volunteer recovery champions and 47 per cent an increase in the use of other volunteers;
- Over half (54 per cent) of community services had been through tendering or contract renegotiation since September 2013; just under half (49 per cent) were expecting this to happen between September 2014 and September 2015;
- The change of funding experienced by respondents was an average net reduction of 16.5 per cent although this masks volatility, with substantial increases and decreases reported;
- Respondents reported that funding changes had a negative effect on service delivery overall, with core services, outreach, education, training and employment support and health services all showing a net deterioration.
Year 1 - State of the Sector 2013 (pdf)
167 agencies participated in the online questionnaire.
Key findings included:
- 35% of respondents reported decreased funding, compared to 20% reporting an increase. Around a third to a quarter of services reporting increased or decreased funding had experienced this change as a result of gaining or losing services through retendering and recommissioning. This is not evidence of widespread disinvestment, but key stakeholders including Public Health England should remain alert to this risk.
- Almost half of participating services reported a decrease in front line staff and six out of ten reported an increase in the use of volunteers. Increased opportunities for volunteering, including as a means to support volunteers closer to paid work is a positive, but the sector must retain the expertise and professionalism it has worked hard to acquire.
- Engagement with two crucial new structures – Health and Wellbeing Boards and Police and Crime Commissioners is mixed. Where it is happening, it appears to be meaningful and constructive, but it is patchy.
