I'll be watching with interest (and a degree of concern) the commitment to house ex prisoners on release as it unfolds under ORA. In my area the local Council operates a very 'robust' housing policy, to say the least. During yet another recent (and fruitless) attempt to get the Housing dept to consider a 'soon to be released' prisoner as a priority I was informed by a Housing Officer that 'prisoners will need to be more vulnerable and at risk than the most vulnerable and at risk rough sleeper' to stand any chance of getting help.
When I first started working as a PO some 15 years ago there were a number of direct access hostels run by charities and housing associations that I could approach directly for beds - not so any more. Under the Supporting People initiative more and more became subject to new admittance criteria, with all bed spaces eventually coming under the control of the local Council.
We once had a dedicated Probation housing team (staffed by PSO's) that handled probationers applications for housing - it co-located a number of years back in the Council Housing department with much flag waving and talk of 'partnership working'. However, the Probation staff left/moved on over time and weren't replaced - now there is no probation voice, and the the Council no longer even accept Probation's say so when a person has a local connection. Yet still probationers come in asking for 'help', which roughly translates as 'find me somewhere to live'. Impossible. But I trust CG covered this in all his planning.
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I have posted several times about my concerns regarding accommodation and the loss of existing supportive partnership work between providers and probation. There is confusion as accommodation providers are being courted by new organisations which mean little to them. My understanding is there is particular concern about the charities and their expectations. But we must not forget NPS will still be requiring partnership work in this area too. Does NPS and CRC now compete for the same scarce resource ie that oh so valuable tenancy for the person we are working with?
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I guess all current Probation Partnership contracts will end soon. Will PSOs be given the work currently done by Partner staff?
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The former Teesside Probation Service (prior to becoming a Trust, so two incarnations ago) was part of the initial benefit sanctions pilot which ran for many years. It was really the pilot that was forgotten and seen by many Teesside officers as a punishment for being poor and perhaps the area's allegiance to Labour.
The "pilot" was left to run on for many years and then incorporated under Sections 62 to 66 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 allowing specific benefits to be reduced or withdrawn from community sentence "defaulters".
Both probation officers and criminal lawyers could see the impact upon reoffending rates when inevitably it was focused upon those with addictions and the predictable outcome was an increase in shoplifting and then responsive short term custodial sentences, which in turn dealt the final blow of loss of accommodation.
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As for fiddling OASys, I once received a bullying email from an ACO, pointing out a missed termination deadline, reminding me of the missed KPI etc etc and demanding to know what I intended to do about it? I replied that I'd been told by IT that it was possible to fiddle the dates in one of the sections that would bring the OASys back in line to meet the KPI. Said I was quite happy to fiddle the dates if this was what she wanted, please just let me know. Never did get a reply to that email - funny that.
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Private Eye 1383 page 29 has two very interesting articles....
1. "Buildings occupied by the Ministry of Justice...are, almost unbelievably, owned offshore in a Mediterranean tax haven.... All this undermines an order from the Treasury....that UK Government assets should not be transferred off shore". Pity that didn't extend to ownership of probation eh??
2. "Welfare to work firm A4e has been accused of introducing an 'incredibly dangerous' policy of using untrained or inexperienced advisers to work with people with mental health conditions, learning disabilities and drug and alcohol problems." Let's hope similar developments will not occur in privatised for profit probation eh?
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Tweets by Harry Fletcher - 'number of court orders to CRCs still at 85%, NPS recruiting POs to court, CRCs losing them, cut to NPS next year up to 10% Chaos!' The trend of the majority of court orders going to the CRCs continues while the split is now about 50/50. In a large area in the north, POs apparently are leaving the CRC in droves and the MOJ can't replace them. Teams in the NPS are also short-staffed and not able to serve courts. As the CRCs will have to make 15 -20% cuts to make a profit and the NPS will be cutting 10%, one can assume this will be mainly of expensive staff, so there will be even more chaos.
I hope some of you bidders are reading this because Probation is not the gravy train you might imagine.
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The CRC may very well attempt to make up to 20% cuts but to do so the service delivery will have to drastically change and to be quite frank we are skimming the surface a lot as it is. Dangerous times.
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They think the answer is mass reporting centres ...ROFL
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They may not be the answer but they certainly are the future. Roll them up, scan the barcode and print off the next appointment, not forgetting to enter onto Delius 'Attended on time, no issues disclosed, all is well, nothing to see here...move along'. I really cannot see what could possibly go wrong.
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Our new CRC owners are going to ditch NDelius and OASys by end of year! Woopy Do.
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That's right. So when the SFO's start coming through & you are unable to show your working out of what you did & didn't do it makes it easier for the company to get rid of staff.
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They won't be able to ditch NDelius completely as it has to be used for data reporting to NOMS and for attaching reports etc, though they might find a better contact entry database. OASys has to go, surely.
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I suspect there will be private companies able to produce "platforms" or apps which manage a data drop from any system to ensure the NOMS demands are met. This happened with DIP and NTDMS
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When you have a go on the Epic intranet (those in the CRCs, not sure about NPS), have a look at the 'Alcohol at work' Probation Instruction. Basically, you - the putative drunk - are to be kept in a secure place, away from prying colleagues, whilst a private contractor is called using a pin no. held only by someone at director level, to come and test you. I'm not making this up. If you walk off, you can be deemed to have committed a disciplinary offence. If you are a diabetic, for Gawd's sake, tell at least one of your colleagues. You could die waiting for the contractor.
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But surely if you were drunk at work some action should result?
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On top of Manchester's woes I now hear that West Yorkshire CRC are lurching towards crisis. They tried to recruit more POs but failed. Now they are on the verge of losing most of their POs to the NPS, just as the U12 months chaos is about to descend. Instead of preparing for it the CEO's deputy dawg is seemingly banging on about OASys performance and stressing out the staff. Not sure how Purple Ronnie is going to shore-up the impending doom when they come in.
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Also, just wondering after Circle "withdraw" from their contract to run Hitchingbrooke Hospital due to escalating costs making it not profitable....what happens in a similar situation with TR contracts? We know to favour the businesses Chris Grayling has put in a clause ensuring contracts will run for 10 years to prevent a future Labour government cancelling the contracts, but does that also bind the hand of the businesses to run the contract for 10 years irrespective of profitability? I think the answer could be very interesting indeed because all it would take to negate TR would be to ensure those contracts were not profitable....just saying.
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I remember in the justice select committee NOMS advising that the private companies can sell the contacts on if they want to i.e. to G4S.
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A letter from the torygraph:-
Unprosecuted crimes. Sir, How disingenuous of Chris Grayling, the Justice Secretary, to say he wants to end the “cautions culture”. He is the architect of the latest and arguably the most savage cuts to both prosecution and defence funding, which have produced this unhappy state of affairs. The drive to save costs has resulted in a culture of routinely charging people with less serious offences than would previously have been the charge, in order to encourage guilty pleas in low-profile, high-volume cases. If, despite this, the case seems to be heading for a trial, ludicrously lenient plea packages are increasingly agreed by the Crown, save in the most egregious cases, rather than suffer the time and expense of litigating the matter. The sentencing judge is bound to sentence only on what an offender has pleaded guilty to. The net result is that many really quite serious offences go unprosecuted or underprosecuted. Yvonne Coen QC, Stamford, Lincolnshire.
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Well said Yvonne! It also appears to me that the police are responding to the 'no more cautions' instruction by recording arrested individuals under the umbrella of insufficient evidence! I see the arrest sheets for the previous 24 hours and whereas I was always disturbed by the number of simple cautions given for DV cases, now they are released Scott free! More unsafe practices as a consequence of CG's ill thought out musings!
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Go safely everyone - use your Occupational Health if you still have one. Document concerns, and remember to print emails off because I know our IT system causes them to automatically delete after about 8 weeks - I have a few printed off for insurance purposes ie evidence that work were/are aware of ongoing issues.
The CRC primes will, if they can, push the accommodation issue down the line to their voluntary and CIC 'partners'. It's going to be a huge headache for them, though it may prove advantagous to some dodgey letting agent that has a number of 'hard to let' properties to rent on their books.
ReplyDeleteI really do think accommodation is a massive issue that probations new 'private landlords', have paid little attention to, are are soon to discover its going to cost them a lot more then they catered for when submitting their original bid.
Yesterday, I highlighted a letter published in the Torygraph, and I'm pleased to see it re-posted on todays blog. I think it has huge signifigance with regard to the whole TR process.
When a barrister, who obviouslys at the coal face of the sentencing process says that people are being 'under charged' to encourage guilty pleas in an attempt to cut costs, and that dangerous and serious offences are therefore not being prossecuted, we have to believe it.
However, such practices have to have a serious impact on TR, as someone being 'under charged' may well end up being supervised by a CRC, when really they may well have been placed with the NPS if the original charge had not been watered down as a cost cutting exercise.
I think CRCs are in for a shock, not only discovering the real costs of what they've taken on, but by many of the 'clients' that walk thorogh their doors!
'Getafix'.
A factor not mentioned much is that most will not be eligible for full housing benefit and will have to pay top up rent from their £46.
DeleteAnd the fine that the Courts now have to impose even on custodial cases.
Purple Futures et al have one massive shock for them come the latter part of this year and I just hope they have deep pockets because if anyone thinks there is money to be made they are in for a huge shock.
Oh, and a special plea. Could all staff please mention to any cases sentenced to custody under ORA that Mr Grayling has made them a set of promises and to mention it to their Solicitor and the Courts should he fail to keep them.
If the CRC's want to hold individual OM's responsible for their performance, I feel it's only fair that the same be applied to those above us.
Thats a very good point annon 12:46, many wont get full housing bebefit.
DeleteUniversal Credit is also becoming a big barrier, with many private landlords refusing to let because benefits are being paid to the tenent and not straight to the landlord.
I have much sympthy for all the 'victims' that TR has made and is going to make in the future. But I really can't wait for the day the penny drops for the privateers that are prepared to trade with human beings as commodities, when they realise just exactly what they've bought.
Just an aside (and only curosity), but if a client wishes to make a complaint regarding his supervision will the process be generic? Or will CRCs and NPS have different proceedures and subject to different bodies of adjuicators?
'Getafix'
From my understanding regarding the complaints situation serco have their own complaints procedure for community payback in London so assuming CRCs can develop their own going forward. Nps process will be standardised.
Deletewe were notified last week of a new Complaints Procedure for CRC. All now have to be logged at HQ. I only scanned the document but it sounded like even small complaints dealt with inhouse by TM need to be referred. Must be another spreadsheet at HQ somewhere? . As an OM I am very worried about this - I do not want my name associated with complaints and whilst we always use the spin 'complaining is positive because its how things/processes change' I cant help thinking the information could be used against staff..
DeleteI know people are getting really savvy at complaining particularly those coming out on licence angry at the experience they will have had inside - i just think sometimes offender managers are easy target.
There is an argument that CROcs are likely to become the A&E of the Criminal justice system. If there is poor practice pre-sentence and nothing to signpost anyone to, the CRC will be left holding the baby. It is going to be fascinating to watch the creeping chaos.
ReplyDeleteCROcs was a consequence of a kindle spellchecker. Can a tablet device make a Freudian slip?
DeleteNot such a bad analogy- crocs- as in crocodile !
ReplyDeletei was thinking of something else ;)
DeleteI did some training on the Offender Rehabilitation Act last week. I think many of our offenders are going to run rings around this piece of legislation. Rushed legislation often has unforseen consequences and I think the requirements relating to post sentence supervision are fairly flakey e.g. if the offender disappears, the licence keeps running. Police are never going to prioritise these warrants. It's going to leak llike a sieve!!
ReplyDeleteIt does not appear to dissimilar to what we have already and we know how quickly the Police respond to Licence recalls! There's going to be umpteen more and less Police!! It might be worth noting signing on times as many of mine make sure they attend and it makes it a bit easier for the Police to get them. That may sound a little harsh but they are being recalled for a reason!
DeleteDoesn't need to leak. Have already started to tell offenders re licence U12 months
DeleteI meant the offenders will run rings around it.
DeleteRe accommodation expectations/targets I was wondering if BASS Stonham would be stepping up for this target. They already have 200 properties and I would imagine the certainty of income for newly released offenders ( remember they do not take high riskers so fit the CRC probation for profit model) and government need would persuade them to buy more.
ReplyDeleteLook, if the target for Through The Gate is to accommodate upon release perhaps all they would have to do is provide that first night and the target is met.
200 properties would be enough for my area. However, there are 22 other CPA's and unless Wonga reduce their interest rates I cannot see the banks funding what would be a completely unknown and probably a high risk strategy.
DeleteYou might have something with your second point as Shelter have form for this. Sorry, that should read 'a business plan'. TBH I think the whole met at the gates thing will go West, in my area we cannot even recruit people for TTG so from the very off this part of the 'Rehabilitation Revolution' is fucked into a cocked hat.
Safe as err houses, banks will rush to lend against government guarantees....
DeleteInterregnum
ReplyDeleteWhat is clear is that there must be some pretty big announcements coming from the probation-for-profit side given the business plans they will have submitted in order to win their contracts. It is inconceivable that this will be business as usual as significant cost reductions will have to be made in order to achieve profit for shareholders. Co-location appears to be coming to an end with searches already being made for alternative business premises ( probation offices/reporting centres).
We will see the EVR staff leaving soon and new management structures emerge. Practice will change in response to targets not offender need. It will be interesting to know what each probation-for-profit area will deliver and I hope this will be shared here.
At a recent CRC Roadshow (I kid you not) in DTV I was told that 80% of the budget is staff wages and this needs to be reviewed. My table took the view that this meant job losses rather than wage restructuring, something alluded to by a Director who tends to be blunt in their views. Now even with the staff we have I'm finding it difficult to accept that the anticipated caseloads can be safely managed so I'm quite concerned as to how we can manage them with fewer staff. One option is possibly volunteers but this raises concerns about the ability and profesionalism of those brought in, especially when the focus will be on quantity rather than quality.
DeleteI am currently working for the NPS, I couldn't tell you what this ORA and new activity requirement means. Chaos doesn't describe what is coming!!!
ReplyDeleteAnybody had any details re TTG yet?......are mentors being set on & are they employed or volunteers......if meeting someone at the gate are their early morning travel & waiting times (it can be a several hour wait on occasions due to prison systems/roll re-counts) being allowed for/paid for.......are the mentors expected to provide their own transport?.....if so , has appropriate insurance been discussed?.... a proper risk assessment done?.....what about lone working - surely clients should be met by 2 staff members?.........what if the client is being met by (possibly unfriendly) family or friends.....does the client still have to go with the mentor? ...& probably lots more issues.................Bobbyjoe
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