More Haste - Less Speed?

We're now well into TR 'mobilisation' mode and the word is things aren't going too well at all. In fact these exchanges over on the Napo forum would appear to indicate serious problems:-

The CEO of a northern Trust today gave indication he had received communication from the Gray-Lag Goose and his pals that things are slowing down, that we might be looking at further delays to the final staff/case-load split beyond 01 Jun 14. Have any of you more established spies got any other intel on this possible happy event?

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I heard this too, but can't remember where. But he would have to rescind the notice to Trusts etc, so would, I imagine, be hugely costly and effective u-turn, in my view.

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The way I'm hearing it, the Service is rapidly moving towards meltdown. I hear Chief Execs openly using this term. Napo is receiving a stream of evidence from members to this effect as we understand it. Trusts are already writing to their own staff saying that 'business as usual' is effectively suspended - and we are only one week into the 'mobilisation' of this grand new plan. The new operating models have more holes in them than a colander. The damage sustained so far is extensive and it will get worse as we move towards June 1st. I see no evidence of any slow-down in the plan. Quite the reverse. It seems someone has put a rocket under civil servants in NOMS and the pace has quickened. Nobody knows which way is up any more.

If there is any sign of common sense prevailing, I'll let you know, but don't hold your breath. Congratulations Mr Grayling, you are effectively destroying (have destroyed?) what until recently was a world renowned public service.

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My understanding is that it is full speed ahead for the TR headline changes but the period of forced 'cooperation' between CRCs and NPS (i.e. the bit where neither silo does what it was set up to do but continues to do what needs to be done to maintain the illusion that any of this is remotely credible) is going to be extended to at least 9 months after share sale.

So, in short, the bidders are to put together a bid that will require it to manage a transition during which it does things that it will not be required to do when the transition is complete but also has to not do things that it will have to later on when the NPS stops doing them.

You know this is all so obviously falling apart that I'm beginning to wonder if there isn't an element of the MoJ civil servants beginning to exact some revenge on their minister for the way he treats them, and in particular the humiliation over the Serco and G4S tagging scandal. You remember, the day he bawled them out before marching off to give that amazing statement in the House of Commons about 'tagging the dead'. 

There was reportedly 'tears in the toilets' and at the time I thought it was a very unwise move on the part of a minister who effectively has to rely on loyal civil servants watching his back and protecting him when the shit hits the fan. Well, they're mostly bright intelligent people and can see a shit idea when it's presented to them. Maybe they've not only long given up trying to talk some sense into their bullying minister, but decided a better wheeze is just do as ordered and supercharge the whole bloody TR omnishambles so it all implodes that much faster on their psychopathic minister's head. Scary, but possible?   

PS There's just time to get a question in for a webchat scheduled for 24th April and the man himself might just be present:-

Web Chat for Probation Staff on 24 April 2-3pm

I am very pleased to let you know that Mark Read and I will be hosting a web chat for probation staff in England and Wales on 24 April.

This is the first time we’ve run an event like this and I’m pleased it will provide further opportunity for us to answer the key questions that staff have as we press ahead in this time of significant change.

I realise that at this time many staff will be busy, which is why arrangements have been made to provide opportunity to submit questions beforehand and for the transcript to be published after the event.

I would be grateful if you could make arrangements to notify staff of this event – a draft intranet article is attached for use as you see fit.

As this is the first time we will have run a web chat like this across the OMNI network, we plan to evaluate for any technical issues. If the event proves a success, I plan to run further web chats with staff and I know that the Secretary of State is also keen to continue to engage with staff.

Staff can submit questions in advance of the web chat using this link: www.surveymonkey.com/s/QQDSG8B

The closing date for questions is 6pm on Friday April 11^th..

A link for the web chat itself will be published on EPIC in advance of the event. For technical reasons, the web chat will only be accessible using a Firefox browser. It will not work with Internet Explorer.

Colin Allars

Director of Probation

PPS I liked this seen on facebook:-

Just thought I'd send a message. I am really proud of colleagues in the XXXXX office. When faced with very short notice that potential "bidders" were coming to view the premises. They rallied together and as the bidders walked in, the majority of staff walked out. Initial response from the bidders was one of shock as this had apparently been the first instance of anything like this happening. Time to send the message. We are nobody's door mat and we will not stand back and be walked over. Hope you are able to share this.