Sunday 2 February 2014

Neighbourliness

Regular readers will be aware that this blog has regularly quoted the Chair of Avon and Somerset Probation Trust, one Joe Kuipers. Through his regular blog posts we have learnt an awful lot more about the TR omnishambles than we otherwise might. As far as I know, he is the only Board Chair to have regularly put his head above the parapet in order to say something useful during this whole shameful process and when most so-called independent Trust Boards have demonstrated they are nothing more than loyal placemen and women determined to do the government's bidding without question.

ASPT recently held their last-ever staff conference with the CRC CEO John Wiseman and NPS Angela Cossins in attendance, and I notice that Joe has turned his address into what he indicates might prove to be his swan song blog. Here are the edited highlights, published at a time when things are getting decidedly fractious and ugly recriminations are beginning to make an appearance both as comments to this blog and on the Napo forum pages:-  
"Just before this conference I saw a tweet from Lisa expressing a hope that the conference would be an opportunity to reflect and to be re-assured. There has been quite a lot of reflection, and what I reflect on mainly is that your efforts and achievements have ensured that this Trust has moved from the bottom performer nationally some 6 years ago to a business that ranks amongst the best. And we have done this whilst making year on year cuts. Pro rata we have won more awards than any other Trust, adding together those we have gained as an organisation to those that teams and individuals have triumphed in. I thank you for this – ASPT used to be called ‘a basket case’ when I worked in the civil service, but not any more. I suspect there are other names for us now.
Can I reassure you? Not really; Sally, the Board and I are of one mind – overall TR is not a good idea, in particular splitting the offender cohort and the staff. We are not alone in this view – I know that many of the new leaders of the CRCs and NPS think this is a flawed design, but they have decided to try to implement this in the best way possible. I do not hold this against them, and we will work cooperatively with Angela and John. What TR creates though, amongst other things, is at least two new major territories when there was one (within which there were already minor territories). There will be more when the CRCs are contracted out. And, what happens when you create territories? You create tensions, interfaces, potential barriers and obstacles, accountability confusions, communication challenges and errors and possible ‘warfare’, either open or guerrilla. It will be a key role for Angela and John to work together and to make sure the territories can join together into a cooperative whole and that the threats are minimised.
But, as John has said, we are where we are and we have to get on with it, as we are doing. It is not my job, nor Sally’s, nor the Board’s, nor yours to obstruct the implementation of TR. We have not been obstructive as an organisation, but we have not been shy in expressing our sincere concerns and asking necessary questions. It would be irresponsible for us not to apply our intelligence and analysis to the TR proposals. I was pleased to learn that our views as expressed at a Business and Systems Readiness Review meeting early in January were so appreciated by NOMS / MoJ.
So, we will get on with TR and in that process we will try to treat you with the respect and dignity you so deserve in what is an undignified process.
You may be aware that there is a Radio 4 programme called Last Word? I was reminded of it when I was told, Joe, you will have the last word at the conference. Last Word highlights the lives of, usually, 4 famous or infamous people who have died in the last week, and describes their value or infamy. Well, this week Pete Seeger died, the American folk singer so lauded by so many performers both during the 60s and 70s and since. His most famous anthem was ‘We Shall Overcome’, three apposite words for now? But, what were they singing about, he and other folk rebels? About Vietnam, and support for the public protest movement to get American soldiers out of that divided territory. He also wrote, ‘Where have all the Flowers Gone’ a question that might apply to probation’s future?
This is all leading me to Plan B.
I think I am safe in assuming that we all remember the Berlin Wall? That was an idiotic, daft, ideological wall dividing a natural territory into two with fatal consequences for those who dared to escape from the East to the West. That wall was there from 1961 for 28 years, and grew bigger, stronger and more and more sophisticated. For those unsure of its origins:
At the end of World War II, the Allied powers divided conquered Germany into four zones, each occupied by either the United States, Great Britain, France, or the Soviet Union (as agreed at the Potsdam Conference). The same was done with Germany's capital city, Berlin.
As the relationship between the Soviet Union and the other three Allied powers quickly disintegrated, the cooperative atmosphere of the occupation of Germany turned competitive and aggressive. Although an eventual reunification of Germany had been intended, the new relationship between the Allied powers turned Germany into West versus East, democracy versus Communism. 
However, the wall did come down, and John F Kennedy in 1963 uttered the famous words, "as a free man, I take pride in the words Ich bin ein Berliner! (I am a Berliner)."
Similarly I take pride in the words ‘I am a probation officer’ but they are not quite the right words as they exclude too many from our worthy organisation. Rather I take pride in the words ‘I work for the probation service’ and more specifically for ASPT. I hope that Angela and John note we do not have ‘back office staff’ – such a misnomer. We have corporate services and support staff, who work as part of an integrated whole, making the whole so much bigger than the sum of the individuals. ‘Back office staff’ always sounds to me like staff stuffed in a cupboard somewhere, doing nothing so they can be shed without impact. Not so here.
So, what has this to do with Plan B? I have irritated both officials and ministers with the question, ‘What is plan B if TR just does not work or deliver what you expect?’ I have been told there is no need for a Plan B, but by default (and I can’t believe it is by intelligent design) Plan B is there right in front of our eyes, not least as a result of a number of changes made to both the original design and timetable.
On May 31 very little changes, except for the complex implications of staff working in two different organisations and sorting TOM out. Despite this fundamental difference, you will all be in the same offices with the same equipments; the CRC and NPS will have significant shared responsibilities (you might call this duplications) in relation to working with and attending statutory partnerships; you will continue to share the delights of n-delius and either OASys or new shared assessment systems and frameworks; you will share offenders despite the forced separation as they move to and fro; you will share coffee and tea making facilities (if these are still allowed); and you will share your mugs with your shared word cloud on them. And, it is just conceivable that the awarding of contracts just does not go as smoothly as anticipated so you may share these things for longer than planned.
So, you will be neighbours, and I am asking you to be good neighbours. Be good neighbours because to do otherwise you will not be true to your values and principles; be good neighbours because we owe it to our communities to do the very best we can in uncomfortable and unwanted arrangements, where John and Angela will need to work so hard to share the territory. Be good neighbours just in case that wall comes down. But I do understand that there will be huge tensions in implementing this ask, not least because however looked at, you will be in different territories probably with different organisational demands and pressures that are out of your control and which will play themselves out within localities. I suspect there will be a lot of unintended consequences, but I repeat, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

22 comments:

  1. I applaud the sentiments but fear staff had been placed in an impossible position of Grayling's making. Probation staff are used to having conflicting demands placed upon us and we have always coped. This really is too much and there is no will, amongst the vast majority of staff to make this work. Staff in NPS have been described by Grayling as "highly skilled" to the growing resentment of CRC staff as by omission, rather than actuality, they are not described as such by Grayling. NPS was over subscribed FACT, CRC was under subscribed FACT. However, NPS allocated staff are to be driven hard by Grayling to make this work, with CRC staff eventually being able to pass from his control. So where are we? We are in a process of splitting that will not work especially where staff are in the same buildings. There is a determination from a growing number of staff, whose views have been ignored and bitterly resent their treatment, that this WILL BE UNDERMINED. They are embedded in both camps, NPS and CRC, so please don't think the issues will be between the two businesses. This situation has created deep and insurmountable divisions between staff inside each business. WE ARE DIVIDED WITHIN.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I echo some of the concerns above, especially in relation to the 'highly skilled' tag that Grayling has placed on those in the NPS. I have been allocated to the NPS and whilst I initially thought that I was 'lucky' (sorry to use that term), it is increasingly looking like a poisoned chalice, and one that WILL cause tensions (and indeed already is to some degree) and a significant increase in stress. My work colleague whom I sit next to, who has greater experience, who has mentored me and who has co-worked high risk, including at one time MAPPA 3 cases, is in the CRC. Our close relationship is changing day by day, and I cannot see us ever bridging the gap that is now growing between us. It is somewhat ironic that a split has caused bigger splits!

      I really cannot see this working, and relying on goodwill is nothing but a false hope as there is a ever decreasing sense of this, growing less by the day. The 'banter' in the office now consists of remarks between people who are NPS and CRC, and whilst it appears to be gentle ribbing, you can tell that it is underpinned by resentment. Very sad given that those doing it, until last week, would never have stopped so low. What is more prominent, and indeed more vocal, is the fact that the goodwill of the staff has been, if not lost, then significantly eroded. A comment made to a ACE the other day was along the lines of 'yeah, whilst your not working in the chambers, you appear to have no problems herding us onto the trains'. Only a month ago this level of dissent would NEVER have happened and I fear that this too will only get worse, indeed I know if two Directors and one manager who are just waiting to accept their redundancy. It will not only be them we lose, but also their experience. This will be the hardest to replace and my concerns are that any replacements may come from the Civil Service and have little understanding of what we do, why we do it and more importantly what DRIVES us to do it.

      I feel that we are now in a position (my own views only) where antagonism is high, intransigence is growing and there is no way out of this. I do fear for the service but not half as much as I fear for my own health, those of my colleagues and for those we seek to assist.

      I'm planning to spent the day updating my CV; it is a somewhat pyrrhic victory for Grayling and I hope that he is happy!

      Delete
    2. Thanks - you articulate what I think I sense is happening in every probation office in the land - very sad indeed and one that does not bode well at all for the future.

      Delete
    3. Jim, can I make a plea not just to you but also to all of the readers of the blog, as well as NAPO. Some while ago there was a request to name this whole thing 'Graylings TR'. Can we, collectively, continue this intent.

      This whole things is his doing and to be frank we are little more than collateral damage in what is clearly an ideological statement!! When it all goes pear shaped, I wish to ensure that his name and his name only is pinned to any fall-out!! Should he, purely by chance I'm sure' find himself on a board which is/was part of any CRC, then those around him will also recognise exactly what he has done and what kind of person he is. I wish to make his name as synonymous with this as Margaret Thatcher was with the Miners!! I did not want to stoop so low as to make it personal, however, it has become this!!

      Many thanks if you, your readers AND NAPO can do this.

      Delete
    4. I'm afraid I'm going to disagree! I think it's vital that messages are kept as simple as possible and 'TR omnishambles' has gained quite a bit of traction already and neatly describes what it is - so I'm sticking with that - sorry.

      Cheers,

      Jim

      Delete
    5. No problem at all jim; your gaff your rules. No harm in asking :)

      Delete
  2. Blogs like Joe's, Probation Officers and yours and indeed Yorkhulls efforts I've described in my 292 individually scripted MP emails is the oxygen for Probations beating heart and those that speak, its vocal cords. Tweeter for 1000's has been a medium of inspiration, hope and continued defence of the very soul, values and integrity that our forebears would be well proud to have witnessed. Even, addressing the very profound dilemma of which, I have no answer for Doing the WILL of the Government but know we must Protect the Public and continue to work earnestly to reduce Victims of crime whatever. Each has there own Journey to unfold and this is now our essence and I hope and pray that we have the courage persevere and continue to uphold the very best of what we Love and cherish and feel privledged to have been part of the Probation community
    Take Care everyone Iangould5

    ReplyDelete
  3. Whilst I have always applauded Mr Kuipers principled stance this split is not of our making and individial staff should not try and make this shambles work by doing over and above (as we do now)...sticking to the letter in the short term will reap greater benefits in the long term....despite what boards and SMTs may want, the danger of using this 'make do and mend' approach is that a hybrid service will emerge not serving the interests of anyone but Messrs Grayling and Wright.....resistance is not futile....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Staff in the CRC will NEED to stick to the letter, otherwise they will be doing more than their contract states, exceeding their role, and putting themself in danger.

      Colleagues around at the time of Hanson & White will recall that one major failing was the separation of assessment from offender management functions. Well, as Joe Kuipers hints, TR is that separation with knobs on. Grayling, in his desire to create a market where none was necessary, is not only re-creating an extremely risky model but entrenching it through formal contractual arrangements. At least within Trusts the gaps could be papered over - but no more.

      If there are any senior members of the bidding primes reading this: it isn't too late to pull out of this whole sorry mess. You might lose some cash from the effort put into bidding, but that's a small price to pay for skipping out of the shambles that is just over the horizon. SFOs WILL happen - many aren't preventable in the best of circumstances, and the TOM makes them more likely. Are you willing to explain to your shareholders why you took this risk with your reputation, and their money? To paraphrase the post-kicking out time pub phrase: Leave it, it ain't worth it.

      Delete
    2. So, if I were bidding for the probation market, what would I be thinking now? Firstly, there is guaranteed income to be had in what would appear to be a relatively stable market ripe for commercial exploitation for the first time. There are significant overheads to manage, the main one being staffing and there are benefits to capture by reducing these. This has been helped by Grayling preparing the way by signalling to the workforce that less skill will be required in the new businesses. The "highly skilled" and therefore, expensive, staff are being retained in the public sector core business. There are no vacancies in that business, leaving the staff transferring to the new businesses no bargaining chips, there is no market for the higher end of their skills base.

      Delete
  4. When Pandora opened her box all the evils escaped into the world, except for Elpis, the Spirit of Hope, who lay at the bottom. Seems all we have left in our probation box is Plan B – I suppose you could call it a hope in hell!

    ReplyDelete
  5. For me, Joe's words are at the very core of the Probation Soul, the Probation Family/Community and if I were leaving this is as I would hope things would progress...but I'm not and try as I might, I do not think I have managed to retain as much humanity and dignity as he has. So, I will plod on doing what I do, but with a renewed determination, not to collude with this Governments plans, but do what I can to limit the damage done to those I work with, both colleagues and clients.

    I note some people are able to talk about working within their role and job description, but in my trust, nobody, except for a few who have accepted Heads of CRC's know what the hell is expected of them; or maybe it's worse and they don't know either.

    ReplyDelete
  6. All elements of the public sector are having the same fight, teachers, police, firemen and fire women, the market is coming and profits need to be taken. So lets act in unison and fight back together. Like Pete Seeger said we shall overcome and we can but we need to make it happen.

    We need to change the dominant narrative, things can be different, we do have power and the fools governing us are indeed fools. This is the emerging narrative of the age; TINA ( there is no alternative) is dyeing there is an alternative. We are right/correct remember the Desistance Studies they confirmed what we always knew we the workers know what works, its those above that are confused, and now corrupt.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yes and let's keep stating so that there is no confusion, it is a myth that the best probation staff have gone into the NPS. It's untrue full stop. The CRC have equally excellent staff and even arguably more in some quarters. In our office, obvious tensions are developing between CRC ad NPS staff. This just shouldn't happen but it appears inevitable. This will make offenders supervision extremely difficult and risk proper risk manage my nigh on impossible, as each side looks for the other to fail. This is graylings doing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. In effect Joe Kuipers is saying forget your grievances and working to rule; forget the fact that ideologues in government, NOMS and Trusts do not see the bigger picture; forget all your misgivings about TR and its associated risks; forget your worries about future working conditions and remuneration. Instead put your heart and soul into making TR work, be good neighbours in case the wall comes down – presumably the hope being that the TR Wall won't stand as long as the Berlin Wall. Was it the people or the politicians who brought down the Berlin Wall? Joe is essentially saying, Don't rock the boat, don't dissent. This is what top-down change-makers always end up saying: the legitimate government has decided this will happen and the rest of us are under a democratic obligation to comply. We are where we are. This is a patrician view of history. On the other hand, the history of trade unionism has been one of struggle against unenlightened rulers. We have a history of civil disobedience in this country that was instrumental in gaining universal suffrage and more recently rejecting the poll tax. Gandhi and Martin Luther King rejected the status quo and chose the route of civil disobedience to bring about change. It is not for the workers to bear the responsibility for whether TR works or not, nor for them to go out of their way to this end. If you believe something is wrong you don't make it right by going into a state of denial and pretending all is well. You cannot be true to your values and principles if you're expected to embrace the TR pragmatism in the workplace, but worry about it at home. To be one of Joe's good neighbours you will need to assimilate Orwellian doublethink. You will need to maintain a state of cognitive dissonance – and that will have long-term health consequences. The real neighbourly task is to unite against the neighbours from hell – The Graylings of this world! And the hand-wringing functionaries within probation.

    Saying the whole is greater than the sum of its parts sounds nice, but it's a bit too metaphysical for the real circumstances that face probation workers. To go the extra mile on behalf of TR will entail operational gymnastics, papering over the cracks, pretending that the faults are operational in nature – that a flowchart here and there, and sets of guidance will make it work for the benefit of all. But everybody knows 'It's the design, stupid!' It's a flawed design – but if individual workers start to forget this they will end up blaming themselves for its failures.

    ReplyDelete
  9. The criminal justice unions need to mount a campaign based on the new narrative: that our cause is just, we know what we are doing and we can change things for the better. This will take time and EFFORT and organisation.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Trouble is, anon 16.01, the CJ Unions don't appear to be of one mind in this. I mean, have UNISON stood shoulder to shoulder with NAPO on TR? I think not.
    Deb

    ReplyDelete
  11. Repo 105 explains how Ernst and Young fiddled the books of the bank Lehman Brothers prior to the 2007 crash.

    We need to keep this alive it's all part of the fraud that we are engulfed in now.


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repo_105

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. unfortunately the general public dont really care, government and businesses can be damn right corrupt and no one gives a monkeys anymore.

      Delete
  12. My contribution : the Government is terrorforming Probation

    http://ajustfuture.blogspot.com/2014/01/transforming-probation-service-or.html

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks Jon - I quoted extensively from your blog post last Thursday on mine titled Predicting the Future 2

    Cheers,

    Jim

    ReplyDelete
  14. Jon Harvey, I enjoyed reading your blog but I dont think Miliband will change owt, he has bought into the neo-liberal logic. Like the Tories he will privatise as much of the NHS as he can get away; little old Probation is merely the starter.

    ReplyDelete