My Prescription

Some weeks ago I wrote a particularly bleak piece outlining 10 reasons why I felt probation was 'finished'. It attracted a couple of comments basically agreeing the hypothesis, but also a challenge to come up with an alternative prescription for an improved service. In all honesty I'd rather be optimistic and constructive so in that spirit, here is my personal prescription for a new look Probation Service able to make the most of suggestions contained in the recent government Green Paper.

1. In a period of government spending reductions, it's vital that each Trust re-evaluates the allocation of resources with possibly a reduction in accredited programme provision in favour of more individual casework. With hindsight too much was invested in the former at the expense of the latter.
2. There must be a move towards returning discretion and judgement to probation staff in how they manage cases. Basically we need to roll back on rigid standards and performance targets in order to encourage innovation once more. 
3. The probation unions need to come up with a sensible response to the idea of Payment by Results beyond mere condemnation.
4. Each Probation Trust needs to actively review any office closure plans and re balance resources between Head Office and field teams. There is a general feeling that Head Office bureaucracy has mushroomed at the very time the service has all but retreated from the communities we are supposed to be serving.
5. A slimmed down NOMS must establish a clear and distinct Probation identity and in particular a national champion or spokesperson for the Service. There is a distinct difference, ethos and role between probation and the prison service and this must be acknowledged.
6. There is an urgent need to seek a simpler replacement for the unwieldy and ineffective OASys offender assessment programme. It is simply not fit for purpose and counter-productive in being able to deliver quality assessments.
7. We need to halt the current trend of replacing SDR's with FDR's, especially at Crown Court. It is vital to re-establish the full Standard Delivery Report as a professional sentencing document prepared by qualified probation officers. 
8. The role boundaries and responsibilities between Probation Services Officers and Probation Officers is becoming increasingly blurred and there is an urgent need to clarify which tasks are appropriate for each grade.
9. It is vital that each Probation Trust enters into strategic partnerships with third sector groups in order to bid for work that the MoJ insists must be tendered out.
10. At a time of budgetary restraints, the whole Service needs to recruit, train and utilise a significant number of volunteers and in particular try to re-engage those disillusioned colleagues who retired early. 

What have I missed? Any other ideas out there?