Due to some nifty forward planning, careful time management and amazing technology, posting has proved possible from some surprising and unlikely places over the last couple of years, ranging in extremis from a very noisy Wetherspoons in Llandudno, to a rather large and comfortable ship in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
I suppose if I really put my mind to it, I could try posting from a smartphone in Berlin, but I just know the irritation would get the better of me and the results would not be good. So, it is with some regret that I have to leave the blog on autopilot for a week while I explore the architectural and cultural delights of a city I've wanted to visit for some time.
I hope the small army of newshounds out there keep scouring all the usual news outlets for stuff of interest, that the comments keep coming in and that you remember to tune in again when I return and try and pick up the threads of the latest twists and turns of this sorry Grayling plan called TR omnishambles.
Remember - there are no monitors, so you are all trusted to be good and look out for each other, but Joanna Hughes has kindly agreed to try and calm nerves should the need arise. So although it's auf wiedersehen, while I'm away you might be interested in the following ebook just published and consisting of the material from 58 bloggers writing about the cuts in legal aid. It can be downloaded here for free.
A heartrendingly passionate, unique, often amusing yet clinical dissection of a justice system as seen through the eyes of as disparate a group of people as you could imagine. From legal professionals to prisoners behind bars. Media figures, political activists and tech-savvy hackers, to a 12-year-old girl.
A story of hope and of what happens when a group of people stand up for what they believe in and hold a torch to the darkness a government creates when it prepares to sell the soul of a nation to the highest bidder.
It is media rich, containing many relevant documents, submissions, articles, letters, video and audio recordings, key events, speeches and protests. It provides the only complete - as far as it is possible to be complete - account of theSave UK Justice campaign and the events that led to the formation of the Justice Alliance.
Hope you enjoy a great break Jim
ReplyDeleteYes, enjoy the break, it is richly deserved.
ReplyDeleteWhat if we hit a million in your absence?
ReplyDeleteHave a drink! I certainly will.
DeleteU will be missed. Hurry bk.
ReplyDeleteanarchist PO
Oh no! will really miss the daily updates :-(
ReplyDeleteBut thanks for your efforts.
Lived in Berlin in the early 90's. Go have coffee & cake at Kranzlers on the Kudamm. One of the best people watching spots in the world.
ReplyDeleteThe old east around Kreuzberg is great. Best Guinness in Europe from The Oscar Wilde on Friedrichstrasse.
Check out Berlin's democratic canteen culture
Deletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19703080
Have a great time Jim
ReplyDeleteHope this link works:recommend clicking on link within the article (gothamist.com etc)some really moving accounts of men just released from prison in America which brings home the range of hopes/fears/needs and sensitivities held and sense of gulf between that and what may await..www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/24658/20140422/north-country-inmates-on-the-bus-free-and-nowhere-to-go
ReplyDeleteHow do you feel about billions of pounds of public money (your money) being handed to Serco? Serco gets paid to run public services even though it is under criminal investigation by the Serious Fraud Office for defrauding the taxpayer. The company has hired Winston Churchill's grandson (Rupert Soames) as new chief executive to try to repair its shattered reputation.
ReplyDeleteIf you're sick of Serco (and other outsourcing companies), we'd love to see you at our first action ever, outside Serco's AGM on Thursday 8th May. Let's tell Serco they can't paper over the cracks. Outsourcing is failing the public. The government needs to give Serco and other dodgy dealers the boot. We're calling for all parties to give you a better deal by signing up to our Public Service Users Bill (we blogged about how this could happen yesterday on Left Foot Forward).
Join us at Serco's AGM:
10.30am - 11.30am, Thursday 8th May
Outside the offices of Clifford Chance LLP, 10 Upper Bank Street, London E14 5JJ
Sign up to the event on facebook or reply to this email to let us know you're coming.
If you can't make it (we know it's difficult on a weekday), please help spread the word! Share this picture on facebook or twitter (#SickofSerco), or share this blog with family and friends.
Hi,
DeleteSorry should have said this is from We Own It weownit.org.uk
enjoy your break :)
ReplyDeleteG4s and SERCO in the news for failing again. You can't say the aren't consistent. The fact is human services do not mix with the race for profits.
ReplyDeletehttp://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27125747
Its a shame that no one is paying any attention, privatisation will happen in spite of all their failures, no one in probation has any strength to speak out. Lets be honest all we write in this blog is a way of venting our feelings/frustration, it has not been instrumental in stopping anything. It feels as though everyone is fighting their own little battles with no effect on the TR being overthrown. Its a sad state one that I have now come to understand that I am going to have to swallow.
ReplyDeleteNote: we have had bidders on here who have already indicated that they have pulled out because of what they have read on this blog. Opposition to TR takes many forms including the realisation that there is no easy money to be made here!
DeleteLet's not overstate this; we've had one (that I've seen) potential tier 2 provider say they are not going to carry on. I very much doubt any of the Prime bidders would pull out on the basis of anything written here...if they think there is money to be made, and the risks are manageable, they'll have at it.
DeleteSpoke to one Trust today that has seen 2/7 primes pull out. I know another where 1/4 has bailed. Evidence is that others are asking awkward questions. It ain't over yet by a long way.
DeleteI think that's the reality of the matter. The people who have the power to speak up and resist is NAPO and UNISON. Both have failed their members miserably, especially by 'actively' colluding with TR. They doesn't deserve my vote of confidence and certainly expect more for my subs. This blog does help to pool together peoples thinking which I have greatly benefited, including the strength to speak up as an individual and do my little bit. But if our unions took action from day one maybe we would not be in this situation that we find ourselves in today. Despite this, there are things we can still do. Continue to speak up and voice opposition to TR's including the Probation Institute. Develop local pressure groups (who are not going to speak NAPO/UNISON language) and who are determined to take direct action. Finally continue to challenge/demand action from our unions as a way of holding them to account.
ReplyDeleteThe Unions are spineless and deaf as Grayling. I have voiced my opinions to Unison, who say they are not in dispute with the government due to the 7 year security they have got us. What they fail to understand is that deal is worthless as the paper its written on, any new owner can rip that deal up and draw up another one. I would love the whole service to walk out but its a far cry when they have already divided and ruled us. Mostly those that are assigned to NPS, feel a bit more securer and don't seem to want to rock the boat in fear of it backfiring on them.
DeleteAgain and again reports are coming out about the failures and costs run up by Serco, Sodexco and G4S, only this morning was a report about the Asylum contract which was a shambles but none of this has any effect on the governments decision to continue to dish out more contracts to them, so they can also gain financially. Our communities are being dismantled with the poor and vulnerable getting poorer and the government and their chums getting richer and richer. Why can't these failed contracts and incompetency's be used to stop the TR.
Anonymous24 April 2014 14:06 - i'm afraid by the time the unions realise it will be too late. We need strong leadership in the unions which they have so far failed to demonstrate - instead focusing their attention on the probation institute and developing that. Come on, someone please tell me this is joke!
ReplyDeleteSocial and political action is needed now, too late to save Probation and probably eduction; will we make a last stand when they come for our Health Service??
ReplyDeleteI'm active on the politician left Anti-cuts type of thing and I'm a founder member of Left Unity but we are building from scratch. My hope is that Syriza the Greek radical left coalition comes to power dumps privatisation ( Neoliberalism) and makes a success of it. Then Spain, Italy and France follow and then the rest of Europe. Syriza is polling over 30% of the vote they will be the main party come their elections. How much crap will people take, this is the trigger to social change.
papa
Papa, I think you maybe right. The signs are clearly there and I think it is only a question of time before we see real change.
DeleteAnarchist PO
Local areas are meeting the bidders already. Bending over backwards to try and make this disaster work.
ReplyDeleteAt what point will you bend over backwards to make it work? I see post after post where people describe how they want the best for their service users..for this to happen we'll all have to try and make it work at some point. After all, who will suffer most if the service falls apart? Not us, we'll still have jobs and a decent pension, not the Primes, they'll still make a buck. It'll be service users that will feel any failure most and if we are serious about our moral outrage that they may suffer as a result of TR we'll all have to pull our fingers out or be complicit in their increased misery.
DeleteAlso I doubt local areas are bending over backwards...they are doing what they're told by their uppers, which is to say; carrying out their jobs. I've witnessed such a meeting and the last thing I would describe it as would be "bending over backwards." (I'm not management either before you ask).
they have been to our Trust HQ for a Q&A with the board - makes me sick. This will go through because of lies that are being told but beware it is those same lies that will bring the house of cards tumbling down.
DeleteAnonymous24 April 2014 17:53 - If NAPO got their heads together they could, with a few colleagues, use direct action & do a silent protest on a public street. Why is this not occurring. Tell you why because NAPO & UNISON don't give a shit. They would be happy to let probation go.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous24 April 2014 19:29 - Do you really think the system will be set up to make it work? A little naive if you don’t mind me saying. We are already struggling with high case loads, OASys, recall’s, dwindling resources and staffing shortages, reduced number of support staff, delays on programmes. We can’t seem to be ‘pulling are finger out’ even now what do you think it will be like once the TR changes occur.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of bending over backwards. I’m not sure which Trust you are from but from what I have been observing – I think it’s a reasonable way to describe the way management seem to have been collusive with TR.
When you talk about the "system" you actually mean us, the staff, because ours is a system of people. You absent yourself from any power in this transaction but within a CRC at least we will have plenty. The primes don't want to fail, they want to succeed whilst making money - that's the Prime Directive of business (for the trekkies out there). If we, the system, can show them how then you can be absolutely certain they will listen.
DeleteThis is not naive thinking, the big boys fuck-up on a regular basis I agree, but not by design. As to whether they overcharge by design...that's another story.
I am not apologising for TR here..I share the majority opinion as expressed on this blog, but I do think we are approaching a time when fighting becomes futile and making it work or quitting are the only morally useful options remaining. That is the point I was trying to make above.
Agreed.
DeleteLately I find, from colleagues in various trusts, that CRC CEO designates (aka probation chiefs) are trying very hard to sell an illusion that everything is going ok. We all know it is not! On a separate but related note ...
ReplyDeleteThe Probation Institute - Why I Won't Be Joining!
Posted at the Napo Forum in response to the increasing promotion of this organisation.
Who knows or cares about probation? Saw a news item today about a footballer on curfew (hdc) which is potentially preventing him play an away match. Newscaster introduced it as there had been "discussions with probationary and prison officials"; the club's manager said he had "been in touch with his parole officer or whatever they call them". Even when central to the issue, no-one knows or cares about probation. Maybe the decision wasn't what the club wanted to hear (I've no idea what happened it was such a non-story) but it is an example of how invisible we are as a profession.
ReplyDeleteAfter the savage cuts at hmp northumberland by sodexo in dec 2013, they're now advertising for operational staff. For £16k you can be an OSO:
ReplyDelete"OSOs are essential to the smooth, efficient and effective management of the prison and support colleagues and visitors across all aspects of the site. Key responsibilities include:
Maintaining site security by controlling access at the gatehouse, searching vehicles and visitors and checking identification
Controlling and issuing equipment to colleagues including keys and radios
Ensuring that the environment is safe and secure and reporting breaches of security or health & safety are reporting immediately
Perform control room and other duties as instructed by senior officers
Maintain the CCTV video library
Promote equality, inclusion and safety and the Sodexo values (Respect, Rights and Responsibilities)"
For £19k you could be a custody officer... Vacancies now available.
Sadly not even the POA could stop them...
Sodexo HMP Northumberland....they have let staff go and now are in real danger of missing targets and being fined by MOJ. They now need people to fulfil Offender Supervisor roles after making most of them redundant..yes honestly
DeleteBECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING!!
DeleteIt is not uncommon to wait up to 10 minutes for someone to answer the phone at HMP Northumbria - if they do at all. I managed to get through to an OMU/OS colleague, after weeks of trying via email and phone, as we have Parom 1's to do - and she was frazzelled, did not know the man, he was just one of 30 inherited from a redundant colleague and just as there seems to be nobody to answer the phone, there is hardly anyone available to talk to, who knows anyone! Shambles of the first order.
DeleteStrange developments are afoot, and I feel these changes should be examined very carefully, particulary by the union.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.civilsociety.co.uk/finance/news/content/17355/social_impact_bond_at_peterborough_to_be_replaced_with_alternative_arrangement#.U1pY07tw35Y
Social impact bond pilot to be replaced by 'alternative arrangement'
ReplyDeleteFinance | David Ainsworth | 25 Apr 2014 The third tranche of the pilot social impact bond project working with offenders at Peterborough Prison will be replaced with an “alternative funding arrangement”, the Ministry of Justice has decided.The nature of the new arrangement has not been confirmed, but it will not a social impact bond (SIB).The Peterborough project works with prisoners released after short sentences to ensure they do not reoffend. The project was the first example of the SIB, a type of payment-by-results contract where investors provide a not-for-profit organisation with capital to carry out interventions. The government pays out if the interventions are successful. The investors make a profit if the project works, and lose money if it does not.The project was intended to work with three cohorts of 1,000 offenders, and aimed to reduce the level of offending by at least 10 per cent compared to results in a national control group. It was intended to test the effectiveness of the SIB model, but the model has already taken off, with 14 now running in the UK and around 100 proposed worldwide.Its funding model is being replaced because it is not compatible with the funding arrangements of Transforming Rehabilitation, a UK-wide payment-by-results project to work with ex-offenders which is to be launched next year. The nature of the alternative arrangement has not been confirmed.Transforming Rehabilitation will contract out work with all low and medium-risk prisoners to a series of prime contractors from the private and voluntary sectors. One of those contract areas will include Peterborough, and the contractor will have responsibility for those being released from Peterborough Prison.The One Service, the organisation currently delivering the Peterborough SIB, will continue to deliver services up until the Transforming Rehabilitation contractor starts working. After that point, the prime contractor will have the option of leaving the One Service in place, merging it into its own service, or replacing it altogether.
SIB 'is working'
As yet, no money has yet been paid out to investors because an independent assessment of the project’s success has not been carried out. The first payment is likely to be triggered in the summer, if an assessment of the One Service’s performance compared to a control group is successful.However interim indications indicate that the project is working. According to official statistics published yesterday by the Ministry of Justice, there were 141 reconviction events per 100 offenders among prisoners released from Peterborough between 9 September 2010 and 1 July 2012 – the first cohort of the SIB. “This compares to an average of 159 reconviction events per 100 offenders released from Peterborough between September 2008 and June 2010; a fall of 11 per cent,” the report said. “Nationally, the equivalent figures show a rise of 10 per cent from 143 to 156 reconviction events per 100 offenders.”
Proud of achievements
A spokeswoman for Social Finance said the project was not being shut down because of problems with the SIB model, but because it had demonstrated its effectiveness.“We are very proud of what we have achieved so far,” she said. “The social value of the Peterborough Social Impact Bond lies in its flexibility to offer a well-resourced and responsive service to prisoners in custody, through the gates and in the community. “Offenders have found that the offer of support that is voluntary, proactive, non-judgemental and flexible to be invaluable.”
Is there any purpose in asking them to prove causality, or to evidence THE relationship between the motivation of those offenders who opted in vs. a control group that included those who were unmotivated. No. Of course Not. That would be evidence and Grayling doesn't like evidence.
Deletehttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2612916/Serial-criminal-scandal-70-000-people-11-previous-convictions-reoffend-just-one-year-period.html
ReplyDeleteSurely professional journalists, even those at the Daily Fail, must grow tired of simply rehashing Government press releases? We've seen it all before.
DeleteAre they going to be as diligent at reporting the rise in re-offending that will follow the bureaucratic nightmare that is TR?
Offender management statistics published yesterday.
Deletehttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/offender-management-statistics-quarterly-october-december-2013-and-annual
Home Office 'bungled G4S and Serco asylum centre contracts'
ReplyDeleteA A A
MPs issue a scathing verdict on the Government's latest botched outsourcing project
83By JIM ARMITAGEThursday 24 April 2014
The Government has come under harsh attack from the powerful Public Accounts Committee of MPs over yet another botched G4S and Serco outsourcing project: the contracts to run asylum centres.
The Home Office was accused of taking a major risk when it split the housing of Britain's 23,000 destitute asylum-seekers from 13 different specialist suppliers, including local authorities and private and voluntary providers, to just three firms, in order to save £140m. Two of the three, G4S and Serco, had no experience in running such centres.Previous reports have already condemned the way asylum-seekers are being crammed into overcrowded and substandard accommodation since the changes, but the MPs' report yesterday is the harshest criticism yet of the way the Government handled the outsourcing.The shift to the new scheme was made in March 2012, but led to severe delays in the provision of the accommodation, which is still not up to standard. That caused "disruption and confusion for a very vulnerable group of service users," according to the report.Under the terms of the tender, the three operators were supposed to get their residences up and running between March and May of 2012, but none was ready.The timetable was extended to the September, when the third (and experienced) asylum centre operator, Clearel, got its sites running. But due to their lack of expertise, the report says, G4S and Serco were still not operational until almost three months later – a full 10 months after the transition period began.Despite these delays, during which the Home Office ran up extra costs by having to extend the previous contracts, the department did not penalise the companies. In fact, it only eventually started to fine them for their poor performance from July 2013. Even then, it only reached an agreement on the penalties owed by G4S and Serco – some £3m – in January of this year."Over a year into the contract, contractors have remained slow in providing decent accommodation for a very vulnerable group of people," the report said.It harshly criticised the Government's failure to design contracts that incentivise suppliers to be ready to start operating on time and penalise those who fail to deliver.The report also said that the very idea of moving from a diverse group of suppliers to three major operators was flawed. Not only was it in direct contrast to the Government's stated aim of procuring from more small and medium- sized companies, but the Home Office "no longer has the diversity of provision it once had, nor the specialist providers, and has fewer alternative options available if a contractor fails. Any failures by a single contractor would impact on a greater number of asylum-seekers."G4S and Serco said they were not given accurate information about the sites they were taking on, but the report says they should have carried out their own inspections and checks.
Off topic, but does this offer from MoJ to 'advance salary' for 3 months, for those going to NPS, make any sense at all - or is just smoke and mirrors to make us think they give a shit? As far as I can make out I will be paid by the trust until 15.5.2014 and then not again until 30.6.2014, by NPS; does this mean I will receive 6 weeks pay or just 4, in which case, whose paying for the last 2 weeks in June? The instructions make it as difficult as possible to access this help, "It will be necessary to fill out an advance of salary form on separate occasions for each advance claimed"and of course it is no help, as it works thus - you can get 50% of your salary (out of the June) payment on 12.6.2014, which is then deducted from what you get on 30.6.2014 - and apply again in July and again for 30% in Aug - means diddly squa, cos you'll still be short in Sept - better to somehow renegotiate all your DD between 15th and 30 month of June with who ever you pay. Oh and was NAPO involved in this nonsense? If they were, do one: and if not, why are you not trying to safeguard your members a secure a more smooth transition, ya bunch of weaklings.
ReplyDeleteIf you get paid on the 15th, it will likely be 2 weeks in advance and 2 weeks in arrears. You will get 1/12 on 15th May then 1/12 on last day of June.
DeleteIt only changes my payday by a week so I have been able to reign things in for the last couple of months to cover but I know I am fortunate to be able to do that and there will be many for whom that is simply not possible. Just another thing to add to the stress and anxiety of us all :-/
ReplyDeleteCrc staff won't be paid until after the winning bidder takes the reins.
ReplyDeleteThat's not true, if course, but who pays crc staff and when? Our trust currently pays wages by bacs on last working day of the month.
We've had no info to suggest anythings going to be different.
If there is any good news, this intermission in payments only applies to NPS staff, who are paid - other than the 30th of the month.
ReplyDeleteYou are paid for 1st to 31st May on the 15th May. You then are paid for 1st to 30th June on 30th June. Therefore you effectively lose two weeks wages during this period, wages that were paid forwardly whenever you commenced your current contract. In my case 6 years ago so in effect I will be £900 short in June/July. Its all very well telling us to change our DD but with a house renovation on the go and a tight budget I can't magic this money out of thin air. Just another way we are being shafted and adding significant stress to an already stressful time. I am utterly done with Probation at this point and as soon as some of my job hunting pays off I will be out of it without a second glance. A sad state of affairs towards a job I previously loved.
ReplyDeleteIf we stop TR we won't have to worry about when we get paid. It feels as though everyone's given up the fight. At least NPS staff will still be respected as Probation Officers, CRC staff have just been cast aside sold to the lowest bidder and called what they choose to call us.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with it, I went on strike and I have been working to rule doubling my personal stress levels. TR is not going to be stopped between now and 1st June. People need to make their own personal decisions about what is best for them and their families and not guilt tripped because thy have reached a point they don't feel they can continue with.
ReplyDeleteI'm not trying to guilt trip anyone, but it is the feeling of reaching a point that will allow Grayling to do what he wants. I am also at that point having gone through a year off illness but my spirit keeps on fighting, although I understand that we have all been backed into a corner.
ReplyDeleteSadly those who ought to feel crap about this TR uberbollocks have no conscience, so cannot be guilt-tripped or otherwise 'touched' by comments here or elsewhere, or so it seems. If it becomes personal, close to home and the pain starts to cut through the facade, then they'll start to listen. Just look back at the brass neck Grayling had during the expenses fiasco. As a result of manipulating MPs expenses rules Grayling has profited personally to a significant degree (some say six figures, others say it crosses into seven figures), but there's no sense of guilt, shame or remorse. That's the level of pathological liar we have to reconcile ourselves to dealing with. He creates a reality, he believes its real, others have to cope with the consequences.
ReplyDeleteIts not a way of being I'd be proud of, and it mirrors the damaged and damaging behaviours of many on my caseload (ironically those he's paying me to work with - now there's a film script waiting to be written. Copyright 2014 to me). But for his own reasons Grayling thinks he's right, thinks he's invincible and thinks we're low value chips in his high stakes poker game.
I think that, like many MPs, he's a sad, deluded cock-on-a-stick who'd sell his mother, grandmother and/or children down the river if he thought it would raise his profile or advance his 'career'. I despise him for the pain and devastation he's imposing upon so many professionals, and upon so many others, but I also feel sorry for him.
Is that it, Chris? Is profiteering really your life's ambition? Fuck up a perfectly respectable profession (probation), rip apart the legal aid system for criminal and family matters, sell off everything to your mates for a song. And then you and your mates can parade your bank balances, dine in fancy restaurants, send your kids to posh schools, blah blah blah blah blah.
Well said, I wish he would disappear from this earth, never to be heard from again. This is the sort of feeling of disgust that is being inflicted on our profession that I am feeling, but from some comments its a done deal so lets just accept it. Not me, and why should I look for a way out after 30 years of my life invested in the job, I'll stay and do my best to make this thing not work.
ReplyDeletenapo northumbria - mike quinn's news release
ReplyDelete"Probation assists in 15% reduction in crime
As welcome figures indicating a reduction in crime of 15% are released, Probation Union Napos warn that this trend may reverse if dangerous plans to privatise the Probation Service are introduced.
Since 2007 reoffending across the Northumbria Probation Trust area amongst those supervised by the Trust has reduced by 6.49% and in areas such at Northumberland by as much as 14%.
But Mike Quinn, spokesperson for Napo in the area warns that Government plans to Privatise the well performing Probation Trust could see crime reduction figures such as todays reverse:
"Whilst Government Ministers are right to highlight and commend the work of the Police in reducing crime, they appear to conveniently forget the work of the Probation Trust in reducing re-offending. This comes as no surprise to our members. The Government are single-handedly destroying an outstanding Probation Trust and privatising over 60% of it. We challenge the Government to show us the real evidence that such a move with help to improve the already outstanding performance of the Probation Trust. Every single member of Napo is dedicated to further reducing re-offending, but we believe this is best done by sticking with what we know works and what has been proven to work. Plans for the management of serious offenders in the future are little more than a gamble, an ideological theory to make money from crime."
He went to say: "The plans the Government will implement imminently do not seem to have considered the huge impact upon the working relationships and partnerships the Probation Trust currently enjoy working with, especially with the Police. We have strong concerns that organisations will have a wholly different approach with working with and sharing information with private organisations, such as Sodexo who plan on bidding for the Northumbria area, than they do with a well respected Public Service like the Northumbria Probation Trust. "
Dear Colleagues
ReplyDeleteAs we enter the most critical phase of TR, that of implementation, we must search our souls and reflect upon what we should be doing. My view, which I share with you here, is that this is the most important phase, that of resistance. I can not, in all conscience, endorse what is happening in my trust for reasons of public safety and for the service users for whom I may be the only one who can make a difference.
Regarding service users, I can see my availability for them reducing alarmingly. The mentality of "here is a work sheet, it is evidence of what work has been done, please ensure it is dated and recorded on the file". For sex offenders, but others too, time to discuss what is happening in their lives is critical to promote their self management but also to promote safety, I no longer have this time and neither do any of my colleagues. Previously I would have given at least 2 hours daily free to my employer (toil could not be taken because there already was no spare capacity to do so in my trust, it was altruism that motivated me to do a good job). So now, the only person that an offender could encounter for advice and guidance has been removed from their lives.
Regarding public safety, I honestly believe this is now compromised by the changes in probation service delivery and we will see a rise in victims. The crass disposal of the wonderful IOMS model in my area is simply a mistake. I had always felt that I served the community in which I work and was proud of this and felt my profession really made a difference. This too has gone and I actually feel alarm at the prospect of working within the new models which are not even fully developed yet but start on 01 June.
So what is to be done?
I will continue to work as directed as where there is no direction ( a real issue as manager colleagues know) I will not develop practice as this is not my role. I am taking leave over this period ( two weeks) and would suggest colleagues look at doing the same as a means of resistance, days or weeks it does not matter as it will all add up and put pressure on the delivery of TR within the already unrealistic timescales. Then of course the main annual leave period will start over the summer. Do not allow this to bed in first, put the pressure on now. I am also working within my allotted hours, it is making a difference.
My future has been removed from me Chris Grayling, the MOJ and NOMS. I was a loyal public servant and am now watching my honourable profession being destroyed. I refuse to be complicit in this and advise passive resistance as a laudable way forward.
I have had sight of 'CRC Contact Levels on Licence'.....
ReplyDeleteLow ROH & Low risk re-offending: Contact on day of release; no ISP required and contact levels to be determined by professional judgement. Contact can be with allocated OM or designated other.
Low ROH & Med risk re-offending: Contact on day of release + ISP within 20 working days. Contact levels: Fortnightly contact for 8 weeks, thereafter as determined by professional judgement. Contact can be with allocated OM or designated other;
Low ROH & High risk re-offending. Contact on day of release. ISP within 20 working days. Contact levels: Fortnightly contact for 8 weeks, thereafter as determined by professional judgement. Contact can be with allocated OM or designated other.
Med ROH & Low risk re-offending. Contact on day of release. ISP within 20 working days. Contact levels: Fortnightly contact for 8 weeks, thereafter as determined by professional judgement. Contact can be with allocated OM or designated other.
Med ROH & Med risk re-offending. Contact on day of release. ISP within 20 working days. Fortnightly contact for 8 weeks, monthly thereafter. Contact can be with allocated OMM or designated other.
Med ROH & High risk re-offending. Contact on day of release & ISP within 15 working days. Contact levels: weekly for 8 weeks, monthly thereafter. Contact can be with allocated OM or designated other.
Contact levels on all Community cases: as above however all inductions must be carried out within 5 working days.
The above demonstrates that yes, people will be put on 12 months supervision but the reality is that they may only be seen a handful of times, if that, and it's all at the OMs discretion.
Oh my, who will then be accountable for the SFO's - the OM, obviously, for not seeing often enough, or not re-directly to NPS on first sight of increased risk, which of course, will only be visible with 20-20 hindsight. Still a crock of shite!
ReplyDeleteI think the 'designated other', is the one to watch here.
DeleteLets not assume that designated other will automatically mean 'the duty'.
There won't be many payments for results for the 12mths and under with that structure- maybe thats why they've changed the payment rules for their wonderful Peterboro pilot?
I agree. As an OM it is easy to rub our hands together and think this is going to be plain sailing and I only have to see X sometimes weeks part which means the job, on the face of it, will seem like a breath of fresh air but, what if something goes wrong, I suppose if you've used professional judgement that will protect you to some degree but I suspect this will be an excuse to get rid of people and a high turnover of staff.
ReplyDeleteJust my opinion, but a structure like that, it makes a TR contract look attractive to bidders. Savings to be made with staffing cuts (how many can be seen a month by one person), and on the face of it a contractor will be complient with the contract as long as they do what it says on the tin. Simples yes?
DeleteBut the same sort of structures were built into the work programme contracts, and it was very soon realised that they just didn't work and had to be changed.
Contracts not so easy to deliver then and less profitable.
Companies bidding for TR would do well to remember that it was Chris Grayling that implemented many of the ideas that the work programme operates on today.
And what a success that is eh?
interesting..... "designated other" = non qualified inexperienced cheaper staff
Deletesimples !!
Err, nope, Doesn't have to be staff at all. Unpaid volunteers can be used. Read between the lines.... mentor... desginated other... join the dots guys ;)
DeleteOr appointment with a drug worker, housing officer etc, etc will all constitute contact.
DeleteIndeed, I feel the 12mth and under group will have about as much supervision as they have now under TR. The only real difference is the threat of return to custody for breach of licence if caught reoffending.
They'll have little more in this new world of Grayabilitation, then their present £46, wich they'll have to pay towards their court costs.
Utter shite.....
Hundreds of attacks at North prisons 'should be wake up call to Justice Secretary'
ReplyDelete27 April 2014 10:19 AMBy Rachel WearmouthGovernment figures have revealed 738 attacks were carried out at North jailsFull Sutton PrisonMore than 700 violent attacks were carried out inside North prisons last year, figures released by the government have revealed.Unions say the statistic should act as a ‘wake up call’ to Justice Secretary Chris Grayling to scale back austerity measures which have led to hundreds of job losses, but the Ministry of Justice said overall attacks have reduced since 2009.The majority of the 738 assaults at jails in the region were carried out at Deerbolt Young Offenders’ Institute, where there were 222 assaults last year, a rise of 27% on the previous year.HMP Northumberland, now run by private firm Sodexo where prisoners were involved in a stand-off with guards earlier this year, was second highest at 121.Justice Secretary Chris Grayling Attacks at HMP Durham and the region’s category A men’s prison HMP Frankland, in Brasside, Durham, fell to 83 and 62 respectively.HMP Haverigg, in Cumbria, recorded 93 attacks while Holme House Prison, in Stockton-on-Tees, saw 107 attacks carried out. Low Newton Prison, in Durham, which houses female offenders, saw 50 attacks carried out.Mike Quinn, of probation union Napo’s Northumbria branch, said: “These figures remind us of the challenging environment in which prison staff work day in day out.Map showing the number of violent attacks in North East prisons “They should serve as a stark wake-up call to the minister, Chris Grayling, that now is not the time to allow a reduction in the number of staff within prisons.“We saw just this month some disorder at HMP Northumberland. The minister would like us to believe this was just a case of ‘lazy cons’ being asked to ‘do more’. We believe this is firmly down to the chaos in which HMP Northumberland is descending due to huge cuts in staffing numbers.“The rehabilitation of offenders takes place both inside and outside of the prison walls – it’s essential that the appropriate resources are provided to both the Prison Service and the Probation Service.”Stockton’s Holme House Prison A Prison Service spokesman said the department was reviewing its strategy to deal with violence.He said: “We do not tolerate violence of any kind in prison and take any instance extremely seriously.“Overall assaults in prison have reduced but we are not complacent.“We are comprehensively reviewing how we manage violence in prisons to introduce further improvements to ensure prisons are safer places for everyone.”
That is a copy of an article published in the Newcastle upon Tyne Chronicle, I hope it makes it to the printed edition
DeleteIt is good to see Mike Quinn of Napo being quoted.
The article allows comments to be added, currently there is only one.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/hundreds-attacks-north-prisons-should-7037577#.U10pLwCBDWA.twitter
I would coment, but unfortunately the site only allows you to log in with your Facebook id, so most people will likely feel they can't without risking repercussions.
DeleteThere is a letter published in the Observer today in reply to Jonathan Aitken last week. It's the second one down!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2014/apr/27/letters-recognise-that-foster-carers-do-great-job
For ease of reference here's the excellent letter.
Delete"Jonathan Aitken is to be commended for helping to turn around the life of one fellow inmate in Belmarsh prison on release ("Jonathan Aitken calls for prison 'mentors' to tackle reoffending", News). Volunteers have always played a role in probation work, but volunteers are not a cheap fix to solve reoffending. Without proper training and professional support, the risks multiply and support becomes personalised, often leading to inappropriate relationships or failure, or perhaps a relationship tinged with the self-gratification of those who seek to advertise their good works as part of their own redemptive narrative. We still have a successful public system – the probation service – that uses mentors wisely and trains them well, though Chris Grayling's plans to privatise the service and to enrich corporations of dubious repute through using cheap and ill-trained or untrained mentors threaten this.'
Joanna Hughes
Campaigning committee
National Association of Probation Officers
Cheltenham
That is an excellent letter from Joanna who demonstrates the positive clear thinking that is so valuable within the probation services.
ReplyDeleteSome one who expresses her logical thinking so clearly will be an excellent addition to the members of parliament.
Agree completely. A well presented letter.
ReplyDeleteThis article in the Telegraph makes very interesting reading.
ReplyDeleteHaving changed the terms of payment for the Peterboro project, after reading this I'm left wondering if PbR may go out the window altogether and a fixed rate of payment on the way in?
Charities risk 'roulette' in probation reforms, says report
A think-tank has called for significant changes to the shake-up of probation servicesPicture: ALAMYTwitter2Facebook0Share2By David Barrett, Home Affairs Correspondent9:00PM BST 27 Apr 2014
Think-tank urges reform to the controversial 'payment by results' probation plans, because smaller charities could be forced out of business
Charities bidding for contracts to rehabilitate criminals under the Government’s “payment by results” probation reforms could be gambling with their future, a new report has warned.A think-tank called for significant changes to the shake-up of probation services, devised by Chris Grayling, the Justice Secretary, which will see voluntary groups taking on work currently carried out by the public sector.
RELATED ARTICLES
Question mark over Chris Grayling probation reforms, claims think tankStrip pensioners of free bus passes, says think tankOfficial figures show criminals reoffend on massive scaleThe Social Market Foundation (SMF) said it amounted to a “game of roulette” for smaller charities and warned some could be forced out of business by the way the new contracts are due to work.Nigel Keohane, the SMF’s research director, said: “Taken to extremes you could find charities that go into these contracts going under if they are not fully aware of the risks that we have identified.“I do think it’s a very serious situation.”One of the key problems the SMF identified with the system is the way charities could have to wait many months for payment, creating cashflow problems.It will also be difficult to measure the performance of small organisations working with as few as 100 offenders with national trends in reoffending, he added.The SMF said it was “broadly supportive” of the Government’s reforms but called for a number of changes to ensure charities can play a major role without taking risks which could threaten their future.A previous report by the group, published last year, said the plans could backfire and actually increase crime.The scheme contained “perverse incentives” that could deter firms and charities from investing in crime-cutting projects, it said.
Link for above..
Deletehttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/10791382/Charities-risk-roulette-in-probation-reforms-says-report.html
More on the above PbR concerns and the oppertunity to comment on it aswell.
Deletehttp://www.supplymanagement.com/news/2014/payment-by-results-for-moj-contracts-will-mean-dangerous-game-of-roulette-for-charities
Totally off topic, but I couldn't help smile when I read this.
ReplyDeleteIf you keep in mind that the 1st of June is only 4 weeks away whilst you read it, then you could almost swap 'workfare' for probation. It surely has to be just as big a shambles!!
http://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/
This is a must read!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-ask-tories-not-to-privatise-probation-service-before-general-election-9298950.html
A prisoner rehabilitation programme in Peterborough was working. Now it's been cut.
ReplyDeleteA A A
If the Government wants to attract more social investment, they should have left the pilot scheme in place.
Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: 'The particularly hostile treatment of victims and witnesses in court has nothing to do with fairness or justice'9By MEMPHIS BARKERMonday 28 April 2014
Something historic began in Peterborough four years ago. Private investors paid a group of charities £5m to set up and run a prisoner rehabilitation programme, aimed at halting the merry-go-round that sees two in every three short-term offenders return to jail. If the charities made good - encouraging car-thieves and drug-users to drop their vice – then the Government would pay a return to the investors, drawn from savings made to the state in costly court-time and prison accommodation. The arrangement was called a ‘Social Impact Bond’.
It was, apparently, working. While reoffending among short-term prisoners rose 10 per cent last year nationally, in Peterborough, where charities like the St Giles Trust were meeting ex-convicts at the gates, it fell by 11 per cent. So it is dismaying to learn that the Ministry of Justice has chosen to cut short the pilot programme – which had the distinction of being the world’s first.Instead, a new scheme is being rolled out by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling. It will extend probation to all short-term offenders – a group left to do as they please before the Peterborough project – and will pay private companies to handle the service, so long as they deliver results. This national project treads on the toes of Peterborough’s local Social Impact Bond (SIB) – hence the bond’s cancellation. There are key differences between the two. Organisations invested in by the SIB had the money upfront to offer a holistic service to ex-cons, purchasing, for example, more mental health support from the charity Mind when they realised it was needed. The national programme, on the other hand, requires those who bid for a contract to take the risk and stump up their own cash – which may lead to cutting corners, or an incentive to work with only the sweetest-singing of ex-jailbirds.One senses an overhastiness in public-sector reform. In 2010, Ken Clarke, then the Justice Secretary, spoke gleefully of the revolution promised by SIBs, and wanted to introduce the first “very fast”. They would shift the risk from Government to socially-motivated private investors, he said, at a time when public money was drying up. Now Grayling has sunk the flagship. Meanwhile, in the US, Goldman Sachs has just established a $250m replica. True, SIBs are risky, and unlikely to revolutionise public sector services on the whole. Yet if the Government wants to attract more social investment – and it only this month introduced tax relief for those who cough up – it would have made sense to leave the pioneering SIB in place.In 2011, before the avalanche of headlines on corporate tax avoidance, ‘responsible capitalism’ was a fashionable term. People don’t much believe it now, the antics of Google and Starbucks pushing the phrase into fellowship with ‘companionable shark’ and other oxymorons. But even sceptics – and I would count myself one - should disapprove of pulling the rug from under a project that offered a chance to harness instruments of finance to social good.Meanwhile, an internal Ministry of Justice risk assessment warns that Grayling’s probation reforms have an 80 per cent chance of causing ‘an unacceptable drop in operational performance’. As with almost all existing outsourcing projects so far – which MPs condemned only in March – cheapness and speed seem the order of the day. A shame, especially when it comes at the cost of a project perhaps beginning to give credence to that slippery but sometimes sophisticated idea, ‘compassionate capitalism’.
We know the vast majority of serious further offences arise out of the low to medium risk of harm group - murder, rape, manslaughter, armed robbed etc. With a reduction in statutory contact under the CRCs (indeed if one to one contact is even going to continue as we know it) and if the use of volunteers is to extend - how are the 'risk indicators' to be picked up andmanaged - especially once skilled and disillusioned CRC staff unfortunately move on? And even if they are, a referral to NPS seems to me all about 'scores on the door' - a ridiculously tautological process and an utterly shameful waste of time and money. For example, it seems än increase in drug use and police intelligence of aggressive behaviour on the streets of an individual assessed originally as low risk would not pass through the iron gates of NPS. Now put a knife into the mix and you have a potentially serious outcome of life threatening injury or death. MoJ Do not understand what they are doing. SFOs will increase. Bidders look into the stats. The current service isn't perfect but at least at the moment staff can take swift action to transfer cases where necessary without having to fill another form. Things are not clear cut in this work - it's the light and shade of matters in the risk assessment process that will disappear over time once probation officers are gone (an in my opinion that's CG's sole aim he does not give a toss about victims or those who commit offences) crime, victims and serious further offences will increase.
DeleteThat indeed is the reality of CG's cock up.
DeleteThis is the closest I've come to finding useful commentary about civil servants cooling-off periods and the revolving door phenomenon:
ReplyDelete"In the UK issues related to the revolving door are not regulated in any meaningful way. Instead there is the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA), which as its name suggests simply advises public servants on cooling-off periods or whether to take particular posts or contacts. It has no mechanism for monitoring compliance and no powers to sanction any breach of its advice. It is widely regarded as not fit for purpose. The most recent official enquiry on the revolving door carried out by the Public Administration Select Committee, recommended in 2012 that ACOBA should be ‘abolished’ and ethics regulation placed on a ‘statutory’ footing."
So no wonder the ex- (and perhaps soon-to-be-ex?) noms crew are lining up to fill their pockets at the privatisation fountain of greed. The comments above came from consideration of appointments to alcohol lobbyists or industry 'players' from key and influential posts in public office. Presumably that would be nothing remotely similar to the ex director of probation being paid to advise a particular bidder who is bidding for the contracts that ex director of probation no doubt helped to prepare not so many months ago?
Just a thought.
http://intensiveactivity.wordpress.com/2014/04/29/biting-back-against-help-to-work-unpaid-labour/
ReplyDeleteWelfare to work contracts have been announced, 4 of the winners are G4S, Interserve, Seetec, pertermps.
By a coincidence at least Intersere, Seetec, Pertempts are bidding for probation work in the midlands area. Offenders and unemployed merging to save money.
Yes we are a victim of grand neoliberalism, the selling off of the State to the rich bastards that own everything. The whole lot should be re-nationalised but their next card is to allow companies to sue states that are said to restrict trade and when that happens its job done, we have a neo-feudal robber society. Might as well start fighting now; remember this is only the beginning.
ReplyDeletepapa
I remember reading somewhere about the Secretary of State having to inform government if the prison population is getting close to being full. Can someone help me out with this as having searched for a good while I can't find any reference to it on the web.
ReplyDeleteIf I haven't imagined it and he does have to do this, do we know what numbers count as capacity and how close we are?
There have been a fair few articles in recent weeks about previously closed wings being re-opened. IF prison capacity is at a critical level and being covered up (and I'm not saying that is the case), is this not a newsworthy story for some plucky journalist to investigate and cover?
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/apr/29/prisons-ordered-cust-costs-149-million-a-year
ReplyDeleteAlso prison cuts, its going to be a major mess. I feel sorry for any CRC going to take this over as you will have a lot more angry, mental ill prisoners released from custody.
I was wondering, has anyone else allocated to CRC still got all their high risk cases and still being allocated PSRs or is it just me?
ReplyDeletein the midlands yes a fair few PO still have high risk and still asking for PSR slots. Going to be up to the wire 31st may and possibly beyond as PSR writers will drop to 40% of staff, more demand and eventual pissed off judges who trials will be delayed.
ReplyDeleteIs there anyone in the Midlands ready to stand up for unified public probation in the upcoming parliamentary By - Election - in Newark, likely to be end of May beginning of June?
Deletehttp://www.napo2.org.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=648
No its not just you, I am still holding all my high risk cases and doing PSR, attending oral hearings, doing parole reports and sentence plans for high risk clients. At our office in Manchester it feels like business as normal, only person that seems to be trying to get the TR thing going is the admin manager who is trying to split case, do separate office duty rotas etc. But no one seems to have the time to help her in her grand plan and are carrying on as normal (its great). Also I don't know if other services feel like Manchester there seems to be no staff its like the service has been deserted. Furthermore, it feels like everyone's gone quite, its like the calm before the big storm on 1/6. I don't even know how they are going to manage the change we can't even agree to a separate office duty rota (which we are refusing to do because we state that we are all still one service until 1/6) never mind split the work. IT WILL BE TOTAL CHAOS, ONLY HOPE THAT IT WILL NOT HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR CLIENTS.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I was thinking. All cases are going to need a proper handover. We seem to be running out of time. And I hold some complex cases - one is a MAPPA PPO sex offender! It's already impacting as it's taking a lot to motivate cases to open up about new issues when they don't know if I will be their officer in four weeks time.
DeleteSaw this FOI request in the pending tray on 'whatdotheyknow' website:
ReplyDelete"I wonder if it is possible to clarify if 'bonus' payments or
similar have been offered and/or are being made to staff in
Probation Trusts in England and Wales by way of incentive to comply
with any or all of (i) preparation of those Trusts for dissolution,
(ii) the splitting of the caseloads in those Trusts, (iii) the
introduction of the TR agenda and (iv) facilitating the sale of
probation services.
Is it also possible to clarify, and quantify, the structure and
costs of any performance related pay scheme paid to Trust staff,
e.g. Senior managers and Board members, in the financial years
2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2013/14. If a
figure by Trust is not available under the FOI procedures, then a
simple overall figure would be helpful, e.g. Total cost and number
of staff in receipt of such payments for England and Wales."
Clearly there are people chasing up a range of TR issues for clarity.
Lets hope our clients don't get upset and stab one of us, not that anyone could take a knife or weapon into an interview with all the security we have. Or not. Another increased risk to staff from a high concentration of high risk caseloads not factored into planning
ReplyDeleteHere is some of the Guardian article:
ReplyDeletePrison governors have been ordered to cut the cost of holding inmates in England's bulging jails by £149m a year, as part of a radical programme designed to slash the costs of incarceration by £2,200 a year per prison place.
Detailed plans have been outlined by Michael Spurr, the chief executive of the National Offender Management Service (Noms), which would mean £900m, or 24%, will have been cut from prison budgets by next April since the coalition came to power in 2010.
However, despite pressure on already stretched budgets, Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, aims to go further and emulate the low-cost model adopted by the troubled, supersized G4S-run Oakwood prison near Wolverhampton.
The cost of running the 1,600-inmate Oakwood – a scene of significant disorder in January, which the authorities insisted fell short of a riot – is 31% less than the same type of public sector prison. It cost £15,500 a year per prisoner place to run when it opened in 2012/13 – compared with £22,000 for an equivalent publicly-run jail.
But a Guardian investigation published on Wednesday into the operation of Oakwood, based on speaking to several prisoners, paints a dispiriting picture of inexperienced staff struggling to keep control, with drugs rife.
One recently-released Oakwood inmate, Kev, said that staff were so inexperienced that "they were asking me what to do to keep order" and described the prison as "staffed by kids who should be stacking shelves".
A prison officer at the jail, speaking on condition of anonymity, spoke of a gap in knowledge between the relatively new staff and seasoned inmates.
Prisoners, experts and officials have also criticised the teaching and rehabilitation resources available at the prison. Experts say smaller prisons tend to have lower reoffending rates. The director of the Prison Reform Trust, Juliet Lyon, said: "Smaller prisons tend to be safer and more effective than larger establishments, holding people closer to home and with a higher ratio of staff to prisoners. Slashing prison budgets and introducing harsher regimes while warehousing ever greater numbers overseen by fewer and largely inexperienced staff is no way to transform rehabilitation."
And a bit more...
Delete"Prison inspectors have separately criticised Oakwood as a jail where inmates say it is easier to get drugs than a bar of soap – a statement that is endorsed by former inmates, who say drugs packages are thrown over the fence.
But prison chiefs say that the new model jail is improving and expect it to have cut costs further this year to only £12,000 per prisoner place per year. This is 46% below the £22,420 cost of a prisoner in a similar publicly-run category C jail in England and Wales.
There are also concerns around self-harm. New figures from the Ministry of Justice have revealed that the number of incidents of self-harm are on the rise among the prison population in general. But two jails run by G4S, Oakwood and Altcourse, in Merseyside, are among the worst when it comes to self harm. There were 611 incidents of self-harm last year at Oakwood, near Wolverhampton, and 889 at Altcourse, which had the highest figure in England Wales. In contrast, there were only 81 and 56 self-harm incidents respectively in the London prisons Wormwood Scrubs and Wandsworth – publicly-run jails of similar size to Oakwood.
Under Spurr's plan the fresh savings are to be found by an extension of a controversial "benchmarking" programme under which the budgets of public sector prisons are to be driven down to match selected private sector jails. The benchmarking exercise is now to being extended to all high security jails, and will see staffing levels at comparable jails standardised and reduced and a new "core" day introduced to standardise the time spent by prisoners out of their cells.
Spurr said the savings can be achieved while maintaining good performance. "These savings are being achieved not by simply cutting services or reducing quality but by fundamentally reforming the way we work," says Spurr in his forward to the Noms business plan.
Whitehall auditors say the savings at the large jails have been achieved through economies of scale, and the increased use of closed-circuit television to enable lower staffing levels. But critics have attacked the government's increasing emphasis on privately-run "jumbo jails".
Reflecting the new thinking, building is due to start this summer on the first 2,000-capacity supersize prison outside Wrexham, which is due to open in 2017.
One key element of the cost savings drive has been the programme of closures, despite the near record 85,000 prison population and the increased volatility and disturbances that have been seen in recent months – some as a result of understaffing levels or inexperienced staff. Prison managers hope to have saved £423m by closing jails by 2015/16, and 15 jails with 7,000 places have been closed or are scheduled for closure or conversion to immigration removal centres."
It concludes...
Delete"They have been replaced by privately-run supersized jails with the 1,600 place Oakwood and the Serco-run Thameside prison in London, which currently holds 900 inmates but is due to expand to 1,200.
The extra 300 prisoner places at Thameside will to bring down the jail's cost from £50,000 per place to £22,000. Four new "houseblocks" are also to be provided later this year at Peterborough, Parc, and the Mount in addition to the extra 300 places at Thameside later this year to ensure prison chiefs do not run out of space.
New justice ministry figures contained in as yet unpublished Commons written answers to shadow justice secretary, Sadiq Khan, show where new cuts could come from: 246 more full-time prison officers were working across 63 prisons than the 9,234 officers determined to be needed in the first benchmarking exercise last December.
MPs on the Commons public accounts committee last week said that older prisons had been closed even when they were performing well, to be replaced by the two new large private prisons which had performed poorly since they opened.
Khan said: "The government's approach to running prisons is a cause for concern to many experts. Of course, we all want to reduce the cost of prison. The best way to do this is to ensure prisons are a place where offenders are reformed so they don't reoffend."
Justice minister Jeremy Wright said: "We have always been clear that we want a fit-for-purpose, modern prison estate that provides best value for the taxpayer and addresses our stubbornly high reoffending rates.
"We've had to make some tough decisions, including closing old inefficient prisons and introducing new ways of working, but it is a credit to the staff and strong leadership that we have continued to deliver safe and secure regimes while pushing ahead with our ambitious plans to transform the way offenders are rehabilitated.
"As the National Audit Office highlighted, our current strategy is the most coherent and comprehensive for many years."
"We've had to make some tough decisions" usual Grayling, Osbourne and Gove mantra - however, we know and our clients certainly know, "they ain't seen nothing yet". An earlier comment about the calm before the storm, I have felt much the same way....people assigned to different parts of the building, caseloads..almost separated out, and today...we are all treated to a free photography sitting; in order to get our new badges, because come 1.6.2014 the old one will be null and void. It fills me with joy that all the i's have been dotted and t's crossed, just the small matter of job descriptions, duties and responsibilities; accountability, transparency and actually delivering a service, to hammer out in the next few weeks. I am with colleagues in Manchester, just carry on as normal and let all those with vested interests lose sleep.
ReplyDeleteOh, nearly forgot, our Trust doesn't have enough CRC staff and have asked for volunteers, ............now, when you've stopped laughing, there is a serious point here. It involves non cooperation; don't volunteer, don't apply for those poisoned chalice jobs in HMP and certainly do not move your own work station, insist the lovely people from mitie/contractors do that.
Same here. 96 o/o of my caseload is destined for the NPS but despite me being allocated CRC cases on a steady basis no work is being taken off me. As most my caseload are lifers/IPP the only time I get any movement is when a request for oral hearing availability comes through - I refuse to give dates post June 1st and push it up the line. I am completely snowed under work wise, and find this pedestrian approach by management worrying and indicative of poor planning. We will be merging with other areas that appear much more forward in the process and then will be under extreme pressure to catch up. Not that I support the TR agenda in any way, shape or form, I am concerned about the very evident health pressures on my fellow union colleagues from the unfolding debacle. But what to do when, on spelling out how behind a colleague is with their work, all the manager can suggest is that she goes to her doctor?
ReplyDeleteDeb
I agree with you totally, I have already made my views clear, I am not doing 20 OASYs before 1/6, if they want my files they can come and sort it out themselves. It will take until after the sale if there is going to be one to sort all this out, and I am not co-operating why should I, I never asked for this change.
ReplyDeleteWhere's Jim?
ReplyDeleteSee blog! In Berlin
ReplyDeletehttp://www.politics.co.uk/news/2014/04/30/parliament-unites-against-grayling-s-assault-on-justice
ReplyDeleteTim Rendon has emailed all members:
ReplyDeleteThere are some emails in circulation with titles such as "fact or fiction", "rumour and conjecture". The ones I have seen refer to me applying for a job to change my substantive post. They have generated a lot of misinformation.
1. I am not a Napo employee. I am an employee of London Probation Trust. My role in Napo is time limited by the Constitution. Any application to change my substantive post is therefore a private matter on my HR file. Employees and members are entitled to a degree of privacy and confidentiality. It is a breach of ethics, and a lack of basic respect, to seek to "leak" or "spread" that information further. It is disappointing that a minority of members have sought to do this. However, the information is clearly out there so, rather than leave a vacuum, read 2 below.
2. The job I applied for was for a senior management post in the London CRC*. This has led to criticism which, in my view, contains a damaging subtext: that union posts are not compatible with being in the CRC or in management. That is divisive rubbish and should be robustly challenged. CRC and NPS staff at all grades are, and will continue to be, a valued and equal part of Napo.
3. Recruitment and selection can be something of a dark art and it is often left to trade unions to ensure everyone has equal opportunity to apply for all vacancies. And that means everyone- even union officers.
*Why senior management in the CRC? Because I have skills and experience commensurate with a middle manager and I prefer community interventions to high risk and court work- that's not a "Napo" view, just a personal preference. ENDS
He occupies a high profile public role. In that role he campaigns, and encourages the Napo membership to protest, in fact to take strike action, against the creation of CRCs. You would reasonably assume he believes CRCs to be a bad idea. He should not therefore be surprised if some view his application to seek a senior management position with a CRC as contradictory to put it mildly. He may not consider himself accountable to others for his private actions and that would be the case if he did not have a public persona - the only reason there was interest in his CRC application is because he occupies a leadership role in the union. He chose to make himself a public face and anyone in such a situation should know trust in leadership figures can be easily shattered if they are not perceived to be practising what they preach.
He further suggests there is a damaging subtext to criticisms of his application to work as a senior manager in a CRC by saying that Napo represents all grades without fear or favour. But he misses the point that everyone else can see: he applies during a period of active opposition to TR and the whole notion of CRCs. We are saying what terrible entities CRCs will be and yet we have a union leader effectively giving his endorsement by applying for a senior position. This is quite different to being assigned to a CRC – he was lobbying to be at the heart of a CRC. Did he did not think of the possible consequences of his actions and possible harm to the credibility of the struggle against TR?
How can you say in public that something is going to be really bad for terms and conditions of employment and public safety and then sit down and pen an application to say how much you desire to be part of CRC? He has lost credibility. Sad, but true.
I disagree but I understand your position. However, I think we discussed this enough on here a few weeks ago. Shall we let it rest and let the union members decide what to do next in their meetings?
DeleteNo. I think it is very relevant. What interest me is why does he choose now to send an email to all NAPO members. There is something missing which I'm sure in time we will all find out.
DeleteI'm assuming he is doing it now when the blog is on a break so it doesn't look like he's been pressured into it.
DeleteI recall seeing mention of an NEC meeting due to take place yesterday, and wondering if he was pressured into it there? Yet again, shocking timing - and a complete lack of understanding of members' concerns.
DeleteI want Tom Rendon to resign, or I will.
Absolutely shocking response from Tom Rendon. It drips with arrogance and lacks any apology or humility. He twists things around trying to say that NAPO represent anyone whether they are CRC or NPS. He knows that is not the point. The judgement of someone in a pubic office is the point. No one in my office accepted his reasoning in that reply.
DeleteDon't agree it's been discussed enough, clearly people want damage limitation to what is a crass decision which mr Rendon which he merely compounds by his latest email.
ReplyDeleteNapo members will probably hear more at next Branch meetings from their NEC reps as there was a NEC meet today. I'd guess either Tom rethought the merits of communicating direct to members as opposed to just NEC or NEC today advocated a member email went out. Given that nominations for Chair and Vice Chair will be sought again in July I think views about overall performance etc are best expressed via ballot in August.I'm not impressed by his decision to apply for that post but at present its an irritating side issue by comparison with TR melee.Napo campaigning work via paid employees with politicians and media, JR and pressing home continued issues at the TRCF seem more important to me for future of Probation than one person's career aspirations.
ReplyDeleteThis has been posted on my Trust's staff information page
ReplyDeleteThe position posed in the TR Mobilisation published on 11 April was not able to be delivered in full because of staffing issues. Specifically the expectation that 'all new reports requested by the Courts will be completed by Court managed staff' was incorrect.
We are moving forward as quickly as possible in terms of increasing report writing capacity so as to reduce short term pressures on offender management units. However it will still be another week or two before all those resources can be mobilised. IN THE MEANTIME THEREFORE ALL UNITS WILL WORK ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING GUIDANCE:
NPS assigned staff in X magistrates Court and X magistrates court will endeavour to complete all reports at court. However there will still be occasions, for capacity reasons, when report requests have to be passed to NPS and CRC managers in LDUs for local allocation.
In X and X magistrates court, more report requests will inevitably be generated for NPS and CRC teams because there is insufficient capacity in court teams.
As staff move into the report writing team this level of demand will decrease.
For the time being requests for reports from outside courts will have to be dealt with by the relevant NPS LDU teams. This is to be expected to be an interim measure. It is important that level of demand from this source is recorded centrally to inform future resource allocation. All such requests should be recorded at the Crown Court.
Report requests from Crown Court will be directed to NPS teams where it is expected to result in an NPS managed case. Whenever possible all other report business will be managed in the court teams.
Netnipper30 April 2014 16:11
ReplyDeleteI also find it interesting how Tom Rendor sees this as a personal issue, as if people are attacking him as a person. Of course this is a clever strategy as it means he can shift responsibility & play the 'poor me guy' to win sympathetic support. To clarify it is not about you Tom, it's about the actions of the Chair of NAPO.
He claims he is not a NAPO employee. Well it is a seconded position, so in my books when you are in post as a Chair that’s your role. It’s a very convenient get out clause by claiming he doesn’t work for NAPO but only for London Probation Trust.
He is right that his role in NAPO is time limited, something which he was very well aware of before putting his name forward for Chair. If he wants to use his position to further his own career ambitions that’s up to him but at least be upfront about it, so people are well informed before they vote. What people don’t expect is for Tom to take his eye’s off the game and abandon ship.
He mentions ethics and basics respect. Well what about ethics to your membership. What about respect to your membership. Before you talk about principles to others have a look at yourself first.
He talks about ‘damaging subtext’ but he fails to mention the damage his actions has caused to NAPO membership and how he has caused to break and shatter hardworking peoples hopes and faith. His failure to realise and appreciate the impact is itself an indication of his ignorance to show concern to the people who he is supposed to represent. The general hard working people have been forced into this position, Tom chose to apply for the position.
What exactly does he mean by ‘dark art’ in recruitment and selection? Frankly I don’t give a toss whether Tom has the skills or experience or whether he prefers community intervention or high risk. It’s irrelevant. What I care about is seeing my leader doing his job, the job to which I voted him in to do END OF.
Has he resigned yet?
ReplyDeleteNo, he's got to many skills and experience in management. Management has always been about dodging responsibility. Says it all.
ReplyDeletearrogant resspnose make a good crc manager im sure
ReplyDeleteTom Rendon, National Chair of NAPO explains why he is striking:
ReplyDeleteDear All
Almost every day that I get up and go to work represents another day of us being bullied by the Secretary of State for Justice. It feels personal. Like all of you, I’m sick of being told that our work isn’t good enough and that the Civil Service or private sector can do it better despite the evidence. I have over 30 years of work ahead of me and I want this to be in a job that matters, a job that is well regarded, properly paid and meaningful. The government is putting all that at risk. What legitimacy do they have to do this? None. Splitting up the Probation Service is dangerous and legally dubious. It is being done in the absence of any scrutiny and it has no credible advocates.
As a main grade Probation Officer, paid in the middle bit of Band 4, the strike will create a dent in my finances but I’m determined to manage it because I think it is a price worth paying to protect our future. Some members will earn more, some will earn less. We don’t all have the same personal circumstances so I’m glad there is a hardship fund to offer some assistance to those disproportionately affected.
Striking is tricky in our job but there’s no way around that. Does that mean I shouldn’t bother? No. Withdrawing our labour is a fundamental right and, in the present climate, it’s a responsibility. It is quite simply the strongest signal we can send to the government. Ministers are still running around saying that the unions have agreed to privatisation- what better way to loudly refute that rubbish than by robust strike action. The Ministry of Justice would be delighted with a low turn-out and that makes me feel more determined to get out there. Clients I have spoken to about privatisation (they asked me and I didn’t embellish) were visibly horrified about someone making a profit out of them.
After some uncertainty I was eventually assigned to the NPS. I don’t want to work in it and still attended my grievance hearing (not that the CRC would be any better). Concerns about the CRCs are well documented but what about life in the NPS? Line management support will be threadbare- 1 SPO per two buildings in some areas. Where’s the support in dealing with high risk case work? How do I make risk judgments on CRC cases I have never supervised? How many times will I face difficulty in front of the Parole Board accounting for those cases? The command and control approach of the prison dominated NOMS threatens to make probation work unrecognisable as Probation Instructions will dictate every move.
I’m striking because I’m part of a union. As an individual, the power I have to stand up to a bullying government is minimal. When I stand together with thousands of colleagues, we can challenge and win.
Best wishes,
TOM RENDON
National Chair
WHEN
March 31, 2014 at 12pm - April 01, 2014
WHERE
Across the UK
'When I stand together with thousands of colleagues' Err hmmmm
DeleteWhy are bloggers shooting Napo and more significantly our campaign to protect professionalism in both feet, to rant about the National Chair who clearly felt cornered, perhaps by what is being said here, keep it out of the public domain and say it to his face or focus on protecting our values, jobs and services to our offenders.
ReplyDeleteI have emailed my response directly to NAPO, to be passed to Tom Rendon. It is similar to that of Netnipper, but. not so eloquently put. I await his response.
DeleteDeb
To apply for a change in one's substantive role as the Chair suggests a commitment to changing one's union role also. LPT would hardly be prepared to hold on for 6 months whilst NAPO re-elects.
ReplyDeleteTom has signalled that Tom wants out of his NAPO role.
I accept that management grades have always played a role in NAPO - former chairs have progressed (?) to chief officers. I understand one former chair regularly applied for ACO jobs in London for exactly the reasons Tom gives-if she could lead a national organisation and negotiate with government clearly she was able to be a senior manager in the service.
Tom is not however demonstrating by his application or his email today that he possesses the political judgement we would wish from a competent senior manager. There is an air of naivity and petulance in his email. Did he really expect not to be noticed at an assessment centre? He is a public figure - if its uncomfortable then go.
Well said, how can he possibly fight against the very thing he is buying into by applying for a job. I have been assigned to CRC, but I would not go for a mangers post, why should I help them with moving this thing along when I do not agree with what is happening. May be Mr Rendon should take a leaf out of my book, and then maybe he may restore faith from the people he is representing. He is agreeing to TR so therefore, we are all sold out. He has no principles and therefore, lacks the character/personality of a leader. Both Unison and NAPO do not have the balls to fight this thing and talk a load of shite. Its a done deal, call themselves activists, they have helped to destroy our service, all they care about is their facility time, I hope it gets taken away from them. Nuf said!!!!!
ReplyDeleteTom could perhaps prepare for a CRC ACO job by maybe doing some years as a PO then applying for a Team Manager post? What I find highly frustrating is that he seems to have used the NAPO Chair role as a means of career progression. NAPO officials and top table infuriates me - I used to attend annual conference and was amused by how the monitors would judge the most harmless actions of members during the day, then get absolutely shitfaced in the evening and act abominably alongside their commandants from the top table. And can anyone explain why my subs are so high?
DeleteThis is all such a shame åt this, of all times. If I feel uncomfortable it is because it seems as though some sort of backroom deal has been done - give you PI in return for a half-hearted campaign that doesn't rock any boat. Even if that is too cynical, it's how it looks to me. NAPO has never been about the membership. What a sorry state of affairs. I see the fallout daily in what was once a fantastic job and place of work and cannot believe this is happening.
DeleteTo ANON 30 April 22.38 here is why facility time is important
Delete1. the member I represent, her disability reasonable adjustments had been ignored causing huge stress ( and an illegal act by the employer), now being observed so she can do her job
2. the suspended member with mental health issues now referred to occupational health and investigation outcome looking very different
3. the suspended member facing criminal allegations now being supported
4. the member with bullying accusations against them who it transpires is actual a victim of bullying
5. the member located to another office without her adapted technology being moved with her
I could go on but I won't, FACILITY TIME MATTERS
a NAPO branch rep
i wonder wht hed say to strriking staff within the crc who were late with the oasys nonsense if they went on strike pure hypocrisy
ReplyDeleteHappy May Day to all. We've been well & truly shafted, but many of us still have our integrity and humanitarian values intact. Those who have done the shafting will be variously unashamed, uncomfortable or unrepentant. They know who they are. Some will feel triumphant, some will be defensive, others avoidant. Leave them to stew in their own conscience. TR (the concept) is wrong and dangerous. TR the Chair has, I believe, made a poor call. But the conditions have been right for these things to happen - an unrestrained right wing government following the most right wing, self congratulatory Labour government ever known; and a dysfunctional napo structure that has mirrored that destructive self-centredness.
ReplyDeleteDon't be drawn into being abusive or losing integrity. Challenge, highlight the flaws, use this any any other outlet to expose and criticise, but please don't undermine your valid arguments with cheap shots. Once starved of the oxygen of publicity Chair TR's email will probably see him hoist by his own petard, and it may well haunt him for years to come.
We have a difficult and critical campaign we need to win - for our own sanity, for our professional integrity, for the work we do with our clients and for the safety and well-being of the public in England and Wales. Grayling's TR is a travesty of justice. Its a dangerous, myopic and deluded project forged out of ideology and greed. Focus, people, and kick TR into touch.
Very well put - but how? What do we focus on and do now to achieve this?
DeleteThis is where and why we need informed and solid leadership.
DeleteI am going to say about all this NAPO sniping and I am going to say this bluntly. I am an ex PO. I don't have any internal axes to grind. I have that advantage of objectivity. Your profession is being hacked to bits in front of you and many of you are are giving your energies to what is, by any sensible comparison, a petty bloody squabble with one union officer. This is akin to your home being invaded by violent aggravated burglars and as the home is decimated you argue with your partner over who should put the cat out. I've had enough.
ReplyDeleteIt takes a lot for me to do this but I am going to say it. Grow up the lot of you and focus on the real issues.
Thank you.From one automatically assigned CRC SPO to an ex PO
Delete"grow up" yes the enemy is Chris Grayling but Tom did wrong, I could say its a bit like a sinking ship members are using thimbles to get water out of the boat and Tom is making the hole in the sinking ship bigger by breaking chunks of wood to make his own life raft (sod everyone else)
DeleteYes we need to keep fighting but that should not stop us from holding our union to account. To say grow up is offensive,
Sorry guys I am not aloud to feel betrayed or upset by his actions or air these because to do so is childish, I think that comment has made my mind up (napo resignation tomorrow) people just dont get it.
In my view the integrity of the people holding office in the trade union that is at the forefront of the campaign to stop TR, and how their behaviour might impact on said campaign, IS and WILL ALWAYS be a real and crucial issue.
ReplyDeleteDeb
Well said Debs, that the key element of this. Without a union with integrity there is no fight.
DeleteWell that might explain why you are an ex-po!!!
ReplyDeleteSadly you know nothing about why I am an ex po and your comment is exactly the sort of personalised in-fighting I was talking about. You know nothing about my health, bereavement and struggle and my subsequent battles since leaving. Unlikely anyone will read this now Jim is posting again but I will sign off by saying that I have sought to respect you by pointing out that you have no basis for your unkind personal slurs when my comments were aimed at everyone in general and called for a questioning of perspective. I would eagerly be back as a PO but that isn't on the cards. What troubled me (and now troubles me even more) is the fact that those who have what I have lost are dissipating their energies with in-fighting. I shouldn't have bothered.
DeleteWell I'm reading all this and I have to say I'm pretty much at a loss as to how to respond to it all. It's clearly dissipating energy and taking our eye off the ball at a crucial moment.
DeleteTom did a very unwise and foolish thing in furtherance of his own career and future whilst in high office within Napo. The majority of members were bound to go apeshit when they found out and that just demonstrates how politically inept the decision was.
But it's done, the cat's out of the bag, he's had a kicking and will probably be out of office quite soon. It does no good whatsoever to get rid of him now when it's desperately important that the General Secretary is held firmly to account to the membership through the NEC and given firm instructions and leadership in terms of FIGHTING TR NOW!
We simply do not have the luxury of having any time to waste on finding a replacement for Tom at this point. Tom has had enough kicking - with respect - can we please turn our attention towards insisting he is placing a boot firmly behind the GS in making sure there's some bloody action going on down at Chivalry Road, and on behalf of the membership.
Tom was simply pretending to fight TR but all the time he was colluding with the process he was supposed to be fighting and using his office to further his own career ambitions. What a snake!
ReplyDelete