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| Version | Date | Prepared By | Summary of Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 02/02/2015 | Ian Notman | |
The Department of Home Affairs has a statutory responsibility to supervise offenders on Court Orders operating in the community and upon those coming from prison on post custodial licences including parole licences. One of the methods of meeting that requirement is through the provision of a Rehabilitation and Resettlement Centre (RRC) in conjunction with the Probation Service
The Department of Health has now confirmed that Tromode House in Cronkbourne Village is now surplus and the Department of Home Affairs wishes to utilize the premises as office accommodation and meeting rooms on the ground floor for the probation Service and to utilize the first floor accommodation as a Rehabilitation and Resettlement Centre
This planning application is to allow for a joint facility for the relocation of the Probation Service Administration and to create a replacement Rehabilitation and Resettlement centre at Tromode House
Currently the Probation Service is located in Prospect House in central Douglas and is split over two floors which does not promote an effective or efficient use of space or operational requirements
The current RRC is owned by the Salvation Army and is run by them in partnership with the Isle of Man Prison and Probation Service. The Department of Home Affairs provides an annual financial contribution towards the running
The existing RRC, David Gray House, is old, in need of extensive repairs, rendering the building unfit for purpose
As well as issues with the condition of the existing building, the Department proposes that a new facility would be bigger and offer more training and rehabilitative facilities than the existing centre. This supports the objectives of the Criminal Justice Strategy which was unanimously accepted by Tynwald in December 2012.
Following unsuccessful attempts to secure alternative funding, the Department previously concluded that a Government capital project was the best way forward and submitted a capital business case.
Over the past few years the Department has examined a number of options to provide a replacement facility both from a new build prospective and the potential re-use of an existing Government owned building
Tromode House has been used as a Children’s Centre with accommodation and catering facilities for the past 15 years and prior to that it was used for young person’s secure accommodation
Tromode House consists of a ground floor that has offices and meeting rooms as well as a large kitchen and dining room
The first floor consists of bedrooms, bathrooms
Given its recent use, Tromode House would make a very suitable RRC and also provide further savings and opportunities for relocation of the Probation Service Administration with no alteration to the external areas of the building and minimal internal alteration
The Government’s Agenda for Change has protection of the vulnerable as one of its overarching priorities.
The work of the Department of Home Affairs is committed to making the communities within our Island a safe place to live, work and visit. The Rehabilitation and Resettlement Centre (RRC) is key facility to protecting the vulnerable
The development of a new, larger and more bespoke RRC is therefore directly linked to this objective of protecting the vulnerable.
In December 2009 the Council of Ministers sanctioned a policy (minute 683/09 refers) which provides that:
The present centre is a mid-terrace house laid out over 4 floors, providing accommodation for up to 9 residents. The physical layout and constraints of the existing location precludes the facility being run effectively and efficiently. There are numerous health and safety issues. The accommodation would fall short of any disability discrimination legislation and is not suitable for housing all types of clients costs
The proposed new facility is therefore driven by a combination of critical factors:-
There have been many occasions previously where clients have not been able to be housed at the centre due to the facility being full and alternative arrangements have had to be made. Therefore in order to allow a fully integrated offender management system which would be better able to address offending behaviour and better protect the public, larger more suitable premises are required which would incorporate improved rehabilitation and resettlement services.
The objectives for an enhanced replacement for David Gray House and Probation Service Administration would therefore be:
The RRC will operate 24/7 and will be staffed at all times Office and Administration will operate 9 to 5 Monday to Friday. Maximum Number of Clients 10
Hours of operation Monday to Friday 09.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs Staff Numbers 8-10
Average Client daily visits 7 to 8 per day NB The majority of clients travel by public transport
Tromode House is located in its own grounds in Cronkbourne Village Braddan.
| DHA requirements for new facility | How Tromode House addresses this |
|---|---|
| Located within walking distance of, or on a short bus route to, central Douglas (for work, benefits, and access to support groups which are largely Douglas based) | Tromode House is locate on a regular bus route with the bus stop being locate within 50 metres and therefore meets the requirements of the Probation Service Clients and the clients of the RRC |
| Have reasonable access to both employment and educational facilities | Tromode House is located within 2 Kilometres of central Douglas |
| On a site large enough to incorporate both rehabilitation and resettlement services and provide offices and meeting rooms | Tromode House has the required space and could provide the resettlement facility and provide Offices and Meeting rooms at minimal cost alteration cost. |
| On a site with sufficient size to increase current clients numbers with the potential for future expansion | Tromode House is large enough to increase the client numbers and (up to 12 David Gray House is 8) at the same time provide space for other Probation functions |
| A cluster type construction where groups of clients can be housed in discreet units, meaning the facility can be used for a greater number of clients and can house both male and female clients. The flexibility given by the unit concept also gives the management of the project more flexibility. | The design of Tromode House lends itself to the segregation of male and female clients on the first floor within a semi secure environment at minimal alteration cost. Accommodation for disabled clients can be achieved on the ground floor |
| Off Road Car Parking | Tromode House has sufficient Car paring within the Grounds to accommodate Probation Staff and for the operation of the RRC |
| Possibility of relocating the Probation Service to Tromode House | This would release high value office space in central Douglas. The Strategic Asset Management Unit has confirmed their support for this. Provides a better and more appropriate environment and the opportunity for greater joined up working. |
| Disability Access compliant and be well maintained and structurally sound | Tromode House can accommodate disability access and is well maintained and structurally sound The Building will be maintained by the Department of Infrastructure |
| Discreet units, meaning the facility can be used for a greater number of clients and can house both male and female clients. The flexibility given by the unit concept also gives the management of the project more flexibility | Tromde House layout can be adapted to allow segregation of male and female clients |
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