Northamptonshire has been using ECINS as its case management system for all IOM cases across the county since September 2014.

Suzanne Andrews, IOM Process and Performance Co-ordinator for Northamptonshire Police spoke to ECINS about the ways ECINS has helped make a positive difference to partners and the people they are supporting.

“Before ECINS we used email and held face to meetings but only between the IOM team and probation, other partners did not see the updates. ECINS has proved very beneficial to us as we now get to see information from all different partners about our clients so that we can make sure we are supporting them in a multi-agency approach to try and break that cycle of offending.

“We share information with Probation both NPS and CRC, S2S (Drugs mentors) and prisons. It was a challenge to start with for most but they soon came round when they realised what they could see and how secure the reports can be to make sure they only go to the people that need to see them. We currently have HMP Woodhill and HMP Peterborough on board with plans to sign up HMP The Mounts soon.” said Suzanne.

The entire IOM team use ECINS on a daily basis in order to log their interactions, help their relationships with partners and get up to date information as they are going into meetings. The use of ECINS has enabled the team to engage more frequently with some partners “We are now linking in with S2S on a regular basis and also the prison as they can get a fuller picture of client’s backgrounds before they came into the system. They then share information with us about the client’s situation and progress whilst they are in prison which helps us plan and prepare specific and appropriate arrangements for the client’s release.”

Another key benefit for the IOM team is that they can make use of ECINS reporting and analysis tools “I use the Profile and Daily Intel reports on a regular basis and also the User Reports to see what actions and progress has been undertaken by the team i.e. when people last logged on, numbers of reports etc.

“By using ECINS as our case management system we have found that it allows us to work with partners more and as long as ISO’s are in place the movement of information is so much quicker and enables you to have the details at your fingertips to update other teams in the organisation.” said Suzanne.