Action Plan

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Priority 44 Progress Report for? What is a Partnership Action Plan?

A: This work stream has recently developed a higher profile because of the concerted effort by the Home Office to support partnerships in delivering the current PSA1 target- to reduce crime by 15% and by more in high crime areas (HCAs). 44 areas have been identified as being of highest priority to delivery due to the potential impact of their performance on PSA1.

The Priority 44 Progress Report consists of the 44 individual Partnership Action Plans. It also contains the Calendar of Events and Guidance on how to complete individual Action Plans.

The purpose of the Priority 44 Progress Report is to provide us with a consistent tool to capture key information about the actions being planned and delivered by each of the priority CDRPs and the impact these are having. By collating information centrally, we aim to improve partnership working, identify and share best practice, support effective joined-up delivery on the ground and be able to monitor progress of delivery of PSA1. This information helps us capture an overall picture of action, highlighting areas of success, as well as identifying where there are problems so these can be addressed and support offered.

The Partnership Action Plan is a summary of the problem solving approach taken in each partnership and the resulting actions and estimated impact.
The Action Plans are intended to help you (GOs, WAG, partnerships) measure your own confidence in delivery as well as affording us an overview of progress, effective practice, barriers and where support is most needed. We also need to focus sharply on the quality of the plans at this stage, only five months from the key target date.

Q: Who reviews Partnership Action Plans, and why?

A: Support Managers within PPSU and other PCSD officials review each Action Plan in detail and will be working closely with GO colleagues to identify the gaps and where more support may be needed. PPSU reviews the Action Plans on a fortnightly basis at the Partnership Action Plan Review meeting with PMDU. Information from the Action Plans is also included in a monthly report for the Prime Minister.

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Completing the Partnership Action Plans

Q: Who should update Partnership Action Plans?

A: The person updating the Action Plan will usually be the GO Delivery Manager for the particular partnership or the Community Safety Manager of the Partnership (or even the two working together). Whoever completes the update must have hands-on, up-to-date knowledge of the partnership's strategy and activity.

Please provide the name, contact details, role and agency of the person completing the plan at the top left hand side of the Action Plan. This means we can add the relevant people to the distribution list.

Q: What information should be contained in a Partnership Action Plan?

The purpose of the Action Plans is that they reflect the problem-solving approach taken by the partnership to the question of "what can be done to achieve a 6% reduction in BCS comparator crime by September?" and an outline of the current and proposed actions to drive delivery of the target and any risks to success.
The aim is that the writer and reader have confidence that the plan is logical, credible and will deliver what is needed for that area to reach the target.
The aim of the Action Plan is not that GOs or partnerships record every single activity that is being taken, but only the major actions and milestones.
An Action Plan should not simply be about ‘Weeks of Action' either, although they should be recurring significant events throughout a plan.
Action Plans should also contain significant actions relating to DIP / PPO performance and other events that you have assessed will have an impact on PSA1.
Information should also include activity underway to strengthen the overall effectiveness of the partnership e.g. re-structuring or leadership coaching/ training.
The Action Plans will in many cases be a distillation of the information from the more detailed plans. Delivery Managers will already have developed with their partnerships.
Once completed fully the first time, subsequent updates may be as simple as adding any new actions and changing the status of others.

Q: How much detail is required for a Partnership Action Plan?

A: There is no need for Action Plans to be running commentaries of all actions taking place. The format of the Action Plan is designed to encourage succinct summaries of relevant actions, rather than long descriptions. (See ‘What information should be contained in a Partnership Action Plan? ' for more detail on relevant information and field by field Guidance for completion on Page 1 of the Priority 44 Progress Report).

Q: What information should go in the ‘Definition of Problem' box? How important is it?

A: The ‘Definition of Problem' box is where you should record what the problem is that has been identified in your area, how it is manifest and to what degree. You should also include what problem solving methodology has been used and who has been involved in reaching this conclusion.

Each of the Action Plans must have the problem analysis, and risk assessment part of their plans completed. Having the main issues defined is a key aspect of evaluating Action Plans and helps us identify where support can be offered or key problems tackled. It is essential that problems are properly identified - otherwise how will partners know that their activity is appropriately targeted?

Q: What information should go in the ‘Risks' box?

A: In this section you should describe the risks to the plan and its delivery (those things that might blow you off course such as the loss of key personnel, the lack of a particular skill, the non co-operation of a key partner) and the contingency plans that you have to fight these risks, including how to move from red to amber to green.

Q: What information should go in each field?

A: Guidance on how to complete individual Action Plans can be found on Worksheet 1 of the Progress Report, on the tab marked Guidance. This will provide you with a field by field description of what is required to complete the plan. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask your PSM or contact ali.hewison@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Q: Should I record past actions as well as future actions in my Partnership Action Plan?

A: Both past and future actions should be included in the Action Plan. Updates to the Action Plans are requested on a fortnightly basis. Action Plans are intended to be working documents tracking the activity that has taken place and will take place in the future. There is no need to delete actions that have taken place but please make sure that the actions are up to date in terms of their status i.e. complete, ongoing, evaluation, estimated impact etc.

Q: I cannot give an exact figure for the impact of an action taking place, what should I do?

A: The Action Plan requires you to indicate ‘Estimated Impact' of an event. This can either be the predicted impact of an event or, once the event has taken place and an evaluation has been conducted, the impact you assess the action has had in your area.

It is understood that estimating the impact of an action is not an exact science but your Action Plan should be able to show what impact is expected from the action and what demonstrable effect is anticipated otherwise why would you be doing it. In broad terms, you are simply saying "We are doing A because we think that B will happen as a result". This might include for example, work to improve partnership effectiveness through training as well as crime or area specific actions.