Saturday 11 May 2013

Omnishambles Reflections

Although we've known for a long time that the day would come, it's still truly shocking to find that the gallows humour jokes about our demise is turning out to be disturbingly correct. The next few months are going to be very stressful for everyone working in probation, at whatever level, and as each is forced to ponder their future. 

On top of this of course, everyone will be expected to carry on shouldering the normal day-to-day stresses the job brings, and sadly for many colleagues that alone becomes intolerable at times and triggers stress-related sickness. I know this from bitter experience and have written previously about it. 

As we all did, I knew last Wednesday, the day of the Queens speech to Parliament, would be a special day and I found myself rising at the ridiculous hour of 4.30 in order to write something. I've always had a strong sense of history, for instance by marking probation's 100th anniversary by attending the Service at Westminster Abbey, the Sheffield conference that year and NAPO's AGM. 

Wednesday was special for a very different reason though, but readers of this blog helped me deal with it. On that day the counter records that exactly 1,300 hits were made, a record since I began. That's always pleasing for a blog author, but to me it's doesn't just feel like a huge compliment, it reflects the amount of concern and worry there is out there at the present time. 

For whatever reason the NAPO forum pages are not proving to be a place where people are saying much. That's a huge shame, but it strikes me that people need somewhere other than the ephemeral and ubiquitous 'twitter' to say something. There are those who, quite understandably, say that the 'game is up' and it's simply not worth fighting the privatisation, but surely there is still a need to exchange information? To know what is going on and not feel that each of us is on their own in having to make accommodations with this omnishambles.

I really hope that the deafeningly-quiet NAPO forum pages do get a new lease of life and become a vibrant platform for sharing thoughts and information, but can I also modestly suggest that this site might be able to play some useful part in the war of words and unpleasantness that will undoubtedly unfold over the coming months?

I've said before that information is power and I'm extremely grateful to everyone that has contributed  to this blog over the last couple of years. I think it's reasonable to assume that it gets read down there at NOMS HQ and at the Ministry of Justice. I'm also fairly sure it's read at NAPO HQ and by the Chiefs. Never acknowledged of course, which is absolutely fine with me, but equally I know that any casual search on google by interested members of the public on the subject of probation would be hard-put not to stumble across this blog pretty quickly.             

I read a good quote the other day. Apparently it is said that 'Uncle' Joe Stalin once remarked that 'History is made by those who turn up.' This appears particularly apposite given our present situation on the one hand, and seeming apathy on the part of practitioners on the other. We've never really had a high public profile and even quite smart people still don't really seem to understand what we do. Not surprisingly then the No10 petition has struggled to get beyond 20,000. Good, but not good enough. 

Probation is going to be talked about a lot over the coming months and that is a chance to explain and inform. I really do believe that if people better understood what we do and why and exactly what is being proposed, the whole ridiculous plan could be successfully questioned.  

It strikes me that the internet and world wide web have radically altered the way in which information can be collected and exchanged. As consumers of news, we are no longer reliant upon official sources and the so-called Main Stream Media outlets. Increasingly news and informed comment is being produced democratically by ordinary people and free of editorial control that is often determined politically or by some other form of self interest.

It should come as no great surprise that it's beginning to seriously affect the political, and hence democratic process. Information and misinformation have always played a big part in politics and war and of course the internet provides unrivalled opportunities for disseminating both the former and the latter. There can be malevolent as well as good intent.

Serious questions have already been raised as to the authorship and motivation behind the so-called Centre for Probation Reform. We'll have to see what transpires, but it's message to basically 'roll over and accept change' of course very neatly suits a government agenda. It might sound like paranoia, but it really could be written by sources close to Whitehall, either physically or metaphorically.   

This is in danger of rambling a little, but I want to end on a story that I believe gives hope. It's about a book and how it came to be written in the teeth of concerted opposition from the subject, a very powerful international corporation that did not want the story told. Utterly frustrated at every stage by this behemoth, the author turned to the internet and made an open invitation to ordinary citizens everywhere to carry out research in their local libraries and public archives into historic references and activities by predecessors of the current international company and household name. 

The resulting mountain of information that flooded in to the author from all parts of the globe enabled them to tell the true and unedifying story of the Hollerith Tabulating Machine Company. It was this now long-forgotten and ordinary-sounding business and their development of the punch card reader that enabled the Nazi's to locate and round-up the Jews during the Second World War. 

These machines were rented to the Nazi regime for the whole duration, along with the sale of blank cards, with the proceeds being paid into a Swiss bank account. At war's end, the machines were 'repatriated' to the US by invading troops and the whole story was nearly never told. To me 'IBM and the Holocaust' by Edwin Black pub 2001 serves as a remarkable example of just how empowering new media has become as a force both to influence and inform. 

Sign the No10 petition here, but also consider sharing your thoughts, concerns, insights and information so we might all get to know the bigger picture, and who knows, defeat the bastards.       

18 comments:

  1. Jim,

    Great Call to arms piece... quick pointers from yesterdays GLB meeting ....Napo have submitted 60PQ's for the Minister to answers on TR ( much to chagrin to CA -Ostensible Head of P @ Noms- as he ever said anything memorable about the Service?)

    Seems that PCA performed ' first' act of political defiance when they met with CG - he was greeted by a trappist silence- ironic twist on gagging!

    Picket/Protest outside MoJ next Thursday when the big brand privateers assemble to pore over Probation's entrails...

    Parliamentary Rally -5/6/13 details tbc

    More disturbing stories emanating from the maladministration of Serco /CP ...IL took note & more to follow...

    Good motion on the Omnishambles of Oasys R - IT connectivity will most surely be a procrustean bed for bidders?

    Maybe if 35 separate disputes where to arise across the PS.. well ... who knows...

    For the moment..

    Regards

    Mike

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    1. Mike,

      Thanks as always for your support - much appreciated!

      You paint an interesting picture - the PCA dissing Chris Grayling the minister with trappist silence! It may not be much, but possibly some PCA members are beginning to realise that they haven't got much of a future under these plans and might just as well consider some kind of utterly futile gesture?

      Yes OASys R - another IT disaster in the making and of course if the IT doesn't work, it's 'game over' guys for privatisation.

      Keep it up Mike,

      Cheers,

      Jim

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  2. The mood at our office appears deeply fatalistic and awful though it sounds it appears that most PO's are just keeping their heads down and anticipating a scrabble over the few public sector high risk posts that will remain. Last time there was a strike both the NAPO and Unison reps broke the strike and the senior managers even hand delivered bacon sandwiches to those who came into work. You couldn't make it up! Great blog, keep it up.

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    1. Yes I think there is indeed an air of fatalism everywhere, not helped it has to be said by a severe lack of leadership from any quarter, union or chiefs. There will be some unseemly jockeying for the few high risk public sector jobs that remain and it won't be an edifying spectacle.

      You know, that just makes me more determined than ever to remain here, publishing this little blog that has now set itself the task of being a continuing irritant in the system. Please carry on helping me guys and keep commenting.

      Cheers,

      Jim

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  3. Unfortunately, strike is no longer an option for many due to mortgage constraints, requiring dual income, young children and dire financial pressures. This is why social media platforms are so important. I do feel however, that we do not have the right platform, twitter has the neccessary wide audiance but is restricted in words meaning it becomes a feelings vent and information/causes can be lost very quickly. The NAPO site many people will read but not contribute. Its audiance is narrow and thus at times encourages negativity, doom and gloom. I have wanted to contribute for some time and but would feel to intimidated to use NAPO, I suspect many more feel the same, besides which it doesn't encourage non members and the site is cumbersome. An off shoot to this site would be amazing but need some serious techy talent and someone to manage something that could potentially become a bit of a beast. This blog is inspiring and attracts many including the media. The right platform could unlock much support and ideas from those that perhaps are yearning to contribute but need encouargement and the right outlet that offers anonminity and ease of use. There could be so much untapped inspiration, talent, ideas and networks that we are missing. Keep up your excellent work Jim!!

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    1. I'm not going to say much about the pro's and con's of strike action. If I'm honest it sits very uncomfortably with me, but I utterly respect people's decision either to withdraw labour or not. I've been on strike once, but I can't recall the issue!

      Your point about needing the right platform is extremely valid and I'm aware of the limitations of my efforts here. I'm definitely not a techy and in an ideal world you'd think that NAPO would have the nous to sort out and revamp their Forum and invite the public to get involved. Can any seriously involved NAPO members please try and get it sorted?

      If there is anyone out there who has a view or ideas as to what the 'ideal' platform might be or indeed look like, could they please make their views known?

      I'm absolutely sure there is much in the way of "untapped inspiration, talent, ideas and networks" out there, so all advice, techy or not is welcome!

      Thanks for taking the trouble to comment and please stay with it.

      Cheers,

      Jim

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  4. I can only speak about the colleagues who I work with, but with respect and at the risk of sounding lacking in compassion I have to say that the argument that people cannot afford to take industrial action even for one day is in my opinion somewhat generous. Most of my colleagues are middle class two income couples/families who are taking advantage of record low interest rates and I struggle to believe that losing just one days wages might place them under dire financial pressures. Indeed our NAPO rep who broke the strike is I know in a far better financial situation than me, so these decisions were not simply financially motivated.

    I'm not necessarily saying that I think industrial action is the way to go, I think that I am just emphasising that there seems to be no collective sense of the need to fight the changes amongst most of my colleagues at this difficult time. I keep hearing the phrase 'as long as someone is paying my wages I don't care', which I find sad just in terms of it's disregard of the traditions and professional values of probation but also people seem to be underestimating the corrosive effect on their terms and conditions that will eventually also hit them hard.

    I worry about the efficacy of using social media- it was interesting to see that the probation reforms didn't even get a mention on this weeks Question Time, which I think speaks volumes about whether there really is an audience just waiting to hear our arguments against the reforms that we can mobilise.

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    1. The sad fact is that these privatisation plans will divide offices and colleagues into two distinct groups - the pragmatists - "I don't care who pays my wages" and the 'principled' - "I have a serious problem working for an organisation that profits from this work".

      It's not going to be pleasant and will further pitch colleague against colleague, therefore it's important I think that those of a similar mindset need to support each other.

      Thanks for commenting,

      Cheers,

      Jim

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  5. Well the staff in your office are indeed fortunate, I dare say there maybe a few of those in mine also. However there are many who are the main income generator and many who work shifts at the hostel to boost their income.

    Social media if used in a creative way can convey meaning on much more personal and far reaching manner. Strikes are viewed by many of the public is a negative way. Perhaps some of the apathy to fight could be changed with an inspirational lead.

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    1. Yes I agree entirely - we need an inspirational leader!

      Thanks for commenting,

      Jim

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  6. Jim,
    I am sure you will continue your valiant attempt to rally the rank and file to rise in opposition to the privatisation. But yours is only one point of view (happens to be mine as well). The media did not run with the privatisation angle this week. The general public are not sympathetic to the argument that criminals deserve any special treatment that somehow private profit gets in the way of. They care little whether probation officers work for SERCO or G4S or are directly employed by the state. From this point of view the less spent on criminals the better. If a private contractor can do it cheaper then so be it.

    I have no doubt that what is planned will eventually happen – to a greater or lesser extent. I do doubt whether it can all be wrapped up by the time of the next election. But so what – I didn’t hear any opposition voices raised against the fundamental idea of marketising probation. Indeed I thought that was the point of Carter in 2004 wasn’t it? The wonder perhaps is that it has taken this long in getting to crunch time.

    Don

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    1. Don,

      Yes I'm on a mission to try and give a voice and platform for people who care about our Service and what is proposed for it.

      You're right - the media didn't run with the privatisation story and it didn't even make it on to BBC1's Question Time. Yes most of the public are not sympathetic to criminals and yes it all goes back to bloody Carter, the Blair Government and beyond!
      There will be little opposition from any political party - they're essentially all the same, hence the impending meteoric rise of UKIP.

      It's all a massive uphill challenge - BUT - if you think it's wrong, indeed know it's wrong, you have a duty I think to try and do something about it, no matter how futile the task may appear. This blog is but one small person's attempt to do something. There are other people who want to do something - what we all lack is some bloody leadership!

      You're right - it's amazing we've been able to resist these forces for so long, but can I remind people of three things. 1) it has to get through the House of Lords. The Commons may be full of sycophants and intellectual lightweights, but the Lords isn't 2) in politics it only takes a crisis (G4S Olympics)to change everything and 3) the big boys like Serco have to be convinced they can make lots of money from it - but the govt wants to save money.

      It's not all over yet and this blog is staying around for anyone who wants to contribute anything that they feel might assist in frustrating the government's plans. It is only one viewpoint - but one I think that is shared by rather more people than might be supposed.

      Thanks for commenting,

      Cheers,

      Jim


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  7. What I found deeply depressing, on reading the response to the consultation paper, was that it does actually contain a reasonably thought out structure, which could (in my view) work (after a fashion). Whether justice will be best served, or probationers get better support than they do now is of course highly debatable, but I think to keep on with a simplistic mantra that "it won't work" is not going to get us anywhere, as that clearly isn't true; the new "probation services" will "do something"........but maybe not what we think they ought to. As I say, the depressing part is that plans are clearly further along the anyone has intimated so far; and colleagues are clearly reeling (well, I am for starters).
    Whether Napo can rise to this challenge remains to be seen. However I fear that at least one area may fail to raise a whisper in support - what can you do when even on the day the consultation response is published only 3 members come to a scheduled branch meeting? As a local rep this grieves me deeply.

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    1. Blimey - three members at a branch meeting - that is a very depressing scenario indeed and you must find that utterly soul-destroying.

      I think what has shocked everyone is that there is no place at all for any of the 35 Trusts - that seems to fly utterly in the face of localisim, existing partnerships, examples of excellent local practice and involvement of PCC's. Trusts were set up to innovate, be flexible, responsive etc etc and above all a vehicle for some kind of commissioning role in the creation of a 'market'.

      We've all been seriously let down and someone, somewhere has got to try and make a stand. I guess that explains my emphasis on 'it's crap and it won't work' - I happen to believe it!

      In politics I think you have to keep the messages simple, especially if trying to get the public on board, and the bloody media who don't seem to be bothered with anything complicated. I also think it's morally wrong.

      Thanks for taking the trouble to comment and can I wish you better luck in trying to motivate your branch membership into doing, or saying something.

      Cheers,

      Jim

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  8. "I don't care who pays my wages...." A short term view. Wages will certainly be reduced in time. How long will your job last? The Serco/G4S are in it for profit. History shows this can only be achieved by reducing costs, ie staffing. Napo is only as strong as its members. Get involved colleagues and fight this, even if it means strikes. It will cause hardship for a few though I sense many use this as an excuse not to strike.

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    1. Not just short term, but very disappointing to hear from professional colleagues.

      We know there are many principled officers who will also have mortgages, but will be torn between the work they love doing, and was the reason for joining, and the reality of being told there is no place for them in the rump Public Service. My heart goes out to them as they ponder thier position and thier future.

      Yes, for goodness sake get involved!

      Cheers,

      Jim

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  9. There are still some major disconnects between the idea on paper and the real world of managing offenders; serious deal-breakers. It will be an interesting two years as this debacle progresses.

    Mind you, the rate that ministers are undermining Cameron at the moment, it may be that a u-turn on Probation will be the least of their worries.

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    1. Yes Rob, 'many a slip twixt cup and lip' - good to hear from you and hope you haven't given up on trying to kick the Napo discussion forum into life.

      Cheers,

      Jim

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