Sunday 15 February 2015

Bleak Futures Week 7

What the future holds for the client is pretty bleak indeed. You only have to look at what the client gets now from the private sector in prison to see the way it's going to go. Doing it on the cheap - that's pound shop politics!

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I can see clients being breached on a wholesale basis, not for anything they have done or not done, but simply due to the chaos caused by all the changes. It's going to be far easier to simply breach someone and send them back to jail than admit that someone in the system screwed up. We've all, as clients, seen the butt covering that goes on over any mistake made by a PO or management when it comes to getting a genuine complaint investigated and sorted out. So it will hardly be a surprise when people are recalled for mistakes made by staff due to the total chaos. No one in the system is ever going to admit they screwed up when they did, so it will be simply easier and more face saving to recall someone and pretend that they screwed up even when they didn't.

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No idea as to new recall arrangements but as so difficult to recall some, it's generally easier to work through the issues! MoJ like it when there is a charge sheet from the constabulary. Without one, you need a bullet proof reason to recall! Supervising staff don't make these decisions, stumped to think any client would think otherwise!

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One of the big unknowns, (and personally I feel it will come as a shock to the private sector when they realise), is the impact on the prison service that TR will bring. For some of the 50,000 under 12 months, a short spell in prison may occur after a punch up on a Saturday night out. It may be their first offence, and maybe the only offence they ever commit. However, a large proportion of the under 12month 'cohort' (hate that word in this context), have chaotic lifestyles, and their offending patterns are based around addiction and substance misuse drivers. This has to be extremely problematic for the CRCs.

Until now, you could argue that 'maybe' the average addict could expect to find themselves before the magistrates 3 or 4 times a year. Only 1 of those appearances may result in a short custodial sentence, the others being met with community based interventions or fines. But now, because their on licence, any offence committed whilst on that licence is surely going to end up as a 'recall'? That 'could' mean that 75% of community or non custodial sentences that would have been given, will now result in a return to custody. It may be only for a very short time, but given the high population already contained in the prison estate, the consequences could be devastating. Time will tell I guess.

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I also wonder how will sentences be received by potential employers? If someones been offered a job and the employer asks for their CRB only to find X has been in custody it can turn employers off - Joe Public thinks only bad men go to prison and so I think the stigma of having a custodial on your CRB no matter for how short a time could, potentially, have a devastating impact

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Working as an OM in a Prison this has already been discussed at length, and with the POA. To cut a very long discussion short, not much can be done if this transpires and lots of Prison Governors up and down the country are having sleepless nights over it. Each prison has a maximum capacity and once full, simply cannot take any more. It's likely that two scenarios will occur:
1. Holding short term prisoners (under 14 days) in Police cells.
2. Political pressure on the Courts to avoid custody.

I think, certainly with respect to the second option, that there will be political pressure on the NPS/CRC to avoid recall wherever possible (as if we do not already do this!) The problem I foresee is individual managers and senior managers not wanting to take the risk that the offender they do not recall then goes on to commit an SFO; that sort of thing could end a career and I doubt some quislings want that! If there are any other options then I would suggest that we ALL keep them to ourselves as I'm not comfortable with the view that we solve TR problems created by others!

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My concern is that it's not an increase in custodial sentences that will swell the prison population, rather the number of returns to custody by way of breach action for offending whilst on supervision. But a question if I may Justice of the Peace. Would the bench not be more inclined to consider a custodial sentence for someone who has further offended whilst under supervision of the probation service than if they were not?

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Ah but you're forgetting breach of the PSS should be an absolute last resort because the PSS is all about rehabilitation. We have to ask ourselves, just because we 'assess' people need accommodation; ete or whatever, it should be their right to either accept or refuse the said requirement. In my eyes it should work exactly as the Drug Testing licence condition ie we can send them for appointments but cannot force them to rehab.

The ORA can be spun either way but for me. I can see it fizzling out despite it being law because I can see a test case going to the ECHR where once again Chris Grayling will be over-ruled. I'm just hoping there's a law firm that can afford to test the case.

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Not sure how much most JP's really know about TR. Mantra from HMCTS is that nothing will change in courts. Among those that I know who have expressed an opinion, the view of TR is one of amazement at the destruction of a service which works.

Maybe ten years ago there was a common feeling among quite a few sentencers that community orders were not much use. That has gone now - partly because sentencing guidelines have kept magistrates more in sync with each other. However, if magistrates are no longer clear that COs are productive and demanding, and are not being breached when they should be, then there may well be more short custody imposed. I can see any deliberate or repeated breach of the post-custody supervision period resulting in further custody, rather than the alternative provisions being used. The privatisation of CRCs means benches have no or very little contact with Probation - Liaison Committees vanishing - and I think that will reduce the value placed on probation work over time.

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A convivial evening took place with an old friend who is already something of a high flyer in one of our new masters companies. He laughed at our concerns pointing out that we/they have 10 year contracts which basically means that they are free to do exactly as they like and that is their intention, but he added that the role most likely to go first is the SPO role which doesn't have a comparative function. SPO's to be rail-roaded to becoming Team Leaders in charge of half a dozen PSO's with even more direct responsibility than they have at the moment. The theory being that they'll be placed under so much pressure to deliver that it will be 'they' that manipulate any stats that are required for this is the only route to success of any kind. Those that will, will be rewarded by the company, but those that re-engage their conscience's will be blamed for poor performance and quietly shown the door which, if accurate would suggest that they are running two operating models, the public and private but either way reputational damage will be negated in terms of SFO's as these will be laid at the feet of the SPO. I would hope that someone with some authority in these matters will come on and say it aint so and that it was just the late night rum talking......

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There was and always has been a view that SPO's will have their job descriptions changed. To what, remains unknown. Many I know of would happily take VR/EVR if offered and I believe that this may be an option for any CPA as long as the money from NOMS is available. When this is withdrawn then many will be given Hobson's Choice and hopefully their conscience rather than their bank balance makes the choice. I'm not too hopeful it will be the former given their collaborative approach. The best predictor of future behaviour....

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It looks as tho there is some truth in what you say. At the moment our SPO is always in meetings or with her SPO mate in NPS (we never get any feedback of these meetings and it's definitely 'them and us'). We no longer have a pod system and are just pooled together. All typing and case allocations go in a central system and I've heard of blended roles ie case admin will be an integrated with PSO and PSO integrated with PO. Once the SPOs have been to all the meetings and helped set systems up, I can see there being no need for one in every office and just having one perhaps two per area. I'll openly admit I rarely need to speak to my SPO and wouldn't miss her tbh.

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Regarding SPO's taking the long walk, I can't see it myself. Any organisational change tends to go low or high, as an example my local authority is busily getting rid of the admin, cleaners and others on the basic living/minimum wage and also the vast number of directors/ HOD. I would take the view that the greater responsibility will remain with the SPO in both CRC/NPS areas of the new world and as usual the buck will continue to stop with them and not the teflon-coated senior leaders who will continue to hide behind policy and process. I see the future with greater numbers of SPO or similar titles and fewer SLT. 

With reference to Lancs and Cumbria, the CEO saw the writing on the wall and jumped. Perhaps he knew he may have to do what so many are presently doing, that is motivate staff to tow the party line/business continuity, whilst plotting their departure when all settles down! All the new providers are currently "appraising" the business, they do not have a Scooby and need the first line management more than any other position - in my view. Whilst no position is safe the SPO/TM should have a future (how fulfilling that role is, would be another discussion thread).

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Today, I was reunited with a colleague who had been asked to temporarily cover another office due to staff sickness. He described seeing a case whom reception staff confirmed had been attending, but not a single entry on delius since June. Many had not been contacted so supervision has ceased altogether with no breaches possible, just a hasty catch up game "come in and all will be forgiven". Overall a picture of real deterioration. Fortunately no SFOs so management are writing the experience off, but does the MOJ know what is going on? How could they find out? It has all been covered up. I would add that this was one of the top performing trusts. It is beyond sad....

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I have inherited cases off temps and literally had to start from scratch. It's a nightmare.

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No Delius entries since June isn't that remarkable. I used to do form 20 monitoring. That is to say that any order or requirement that wasn't commenced or terminated on time, triggered an alert and the team or OM would be contacted. It also used to highlight examples like yours where no contacts at all were entered. I used to copy any email contact into the contact log and they would build up month on month, completely disregarded (usual suspects every time) to the point that management told me to, er, desist from logging them as it would 'look bad' if there was an SFO or subject access application. One of the excuses offered by OMs was that they needed to put aside a day to 'catch up' on Delius, or Crams in days of yore. Which begged the question why SPOs used to let them not bother with any recording, when they too were made aware? Believe me, no records since June wouldn't make it into my all-time top 10.

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One week in and the wheels are falling off the waggon. What used to be straightforward is now complicated or not done. Oh what a mess!

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No more designated admin - all now pooled in the same room around the same desk circa 1990; you couldn't make it up!!

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I had that when I first started in 2000. Makes massive us and them and disengages admin more from involvement in the cases. It didn't work then, unlikely to work now.

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When will managers learn that 'if it ain't broke don't fix it'. It's quite hilarious watching them make what they perceive ground breaking decisions. As for them and us, I'm glad to be shut of them as our admin think they run the whole service. One in particular is hyperventilating at having to share a room with her colleagues lmfao.

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It appears that serious issues are already emerging around that most basic function, the service users actually reporting for supervision, although some clearly are reporting but not recorded whereas others are simply not being sent appointments or followed up. God knows what quality of work is being delivered. However, this is now a financial issue in the probation for profit companies, they do after all get paid for the supervision of service users. My point? This is already dangerously close to fraud [an act of deception for financial gain] or, if income is gained from any such case, IS FRAUD.

These contracts are now up and running and the businesses concerned have responsibility to ensure they operate them honestly. I strongly advise all colleagues to keep your own records in a personal diary to protect yourself, when you tell a manager you must record who and when.

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If they investigated staff for Delius entries and instigated fraud proceedings they'd lose half the workforce. On the bright side they'd save a few bob, so who knows?

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They can do whatever they like really, after all, theres not even a HMIP to watch over it anymore.

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Admin will all be under one roof in our area. Looks like lot of offices will close as a result.

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Be greatful it's 'under one roof in YOUR area'. It could be off-shored, and the commute to Delhi every morning would soon become a pain in the arse..

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Question - why are the new CRCs in such confusion? Surely they won bids to secure vast sums of taxpayer money on the basis of sound, convincing & effective business plans? If they don't know what they're doing, how can they have won their contracts? Who has bamboozled who? Bidders lying to MoJ in their bid documents? MoJ failing to carry out due diligence? MoJ lying to everyone?

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Whatever they put in their bids, I'm pretty certain there was a lot that they just didn't understand, such as how 'risk' is not static, and I really do believe that the private companies that did bid were under the belief that they would be getting shoplifters and fraudsters, anything more dodgy would go to the NPS.

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Just seen an email from a well respected and long standing partnership agency. After a decade or more of sterling service in the area of benefit and debt advice, they have stopped taking referrals as they wind down to the end of their contract on 31st March, 2015. The replacement service? We don't know yet.

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There are many agencies coming to the same end at the moment. As from 1st April funding for many is no longer being provided by central government, it becomes the responsibility of local councils and local budgets. Who gets funded from then, is of local concern, and given the massive cuts to local budgets, it's going to be a choice of how many libraries do we close to fund x, or keep the libraries at the expense of x? Hard times I'm afraid!

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In Wales, CRC partnership agencies have had funding extended 'til June so that Lurking Winks can find out exactly what they do and what the next step will be. If services are kept, will probably involve new tenders.

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Saw the Basic Custody Screening Tool completed by my local prison - inaccurate information on it. I know this because I've supervised the person before. If these basic (the clue's in the word) can't be filled in properly, it discredits the whole process - btw the error will no doubt lead to an incompatible element being included in the Resettlement Plan leading to de-motivation and possible dis-engagement.

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The BCS has already been shortened as the powers that be realised the impossibility of completing it within realistic time scales. It is also dependent on the offender answering each question truthfully and accurately. The interviewer has no time to check information and certainly my prison colleagues are well aware that they aren't producing anything of much relevance and if they are sensible they will be recording this. The BCS is all about the needs of the offender, risk issues, public protection concerns won't be picked up as quickly as we did with our old systems

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Well Mr Selous it is true to state that Probation staff are doing amazing work. Shame Mr Grayling chooses not to acknowledge the people who have actually done what he instructed. Those around his table and at his feet, none of them actually achieved anything. All but one of our team, each of us hanging on, doing our best and doing it very well, have now had enough. We are now completely overloaded, too too much is now expected of us. The IT hampers not helps and lets us down regularly. We have way too much to try and achieve. The managers are always elsewhere, attending meetings and training that they do not share in any way. They don't see, don't listen and do nothing to manage or suggest any solutions. They are either incompetent or also overwhelmed and hiding away because they have no idea what to do.

We are training and supporting new people, the trainers also nowhere to be seen. Our health and well being is being destroyed. Our home lives damaged, our children learning that to be committed, to care about doing a great job, to go to work every day, means exhaustion, broken sleep, tears and frustration. We enable and support people, many out of prison and into work and find ourselves faced with increasing numbers earning similar if not higher incomes. Great for them, wonderful for their families, fantastic for the tax payer, BUT are they awoken in the night with panic and anxiety due to carrying a huge responsibility and juggling so so many peoples lives, problems, risks and associated tasks that they live each day in fear of dropping even one...and then being blamed for the consequences, for not doing something that those sitting in judgement would never consider doing themselves. 

Keep going Mr Selous. Carry on Mr Grayling, pat yourselves on the back, pay yourselves more and deny us, the Police, the Prison Officers, the Nurses, Teachers, Social workers, Fire fighters, all of us, public servants. People who keep it all going, are motivated and committed to improving and enhancing the lives and safety of all of us, including you Mr Selous, and you Mr Grayling, yes even you. Who do you call to save you in a fire, to free you from a crushed vehicle, to find and secure the person who stole from your home or attacked someone you loved? To nurse you to health, to support you through mental illness, to teach the next generations? People like us you would call on, that's who. The people who were happy to work, often over and above expectation, not asking for excessive incomes, just fair and enough to secure our lives and our families. Law abiding, responsible people, the people you and yours have treated with such deep disregard and immeasurable contempt. 

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I have experienced sadness, anger and frustration with some laughs along the way. It's almost become part of my day, to just check the blog now. I'm in one of the 6 areas where Sodexo have taken the reins and I can see that they are already wobbling in the saddle. What I love about the colleagues I work with though is the continued support we give each other no matter what shit gets thrown our way and there's some shit being thrown with more to come. 

Those at the top have no clue what us on the ground do and take a blinkered approach, protecting their own along the way. Hopes of EVR seem to be slipping away with the departure of colleagues to NPS and I hear there's another recruitment drive coming. Here we are less than 2 weeks post share sale and already staff in my area are being told they will be moving to different offices as a result of the mass exodus to NPS. I dread the future in the CRC but I'm not confident the future in NPS is going to be any better or indeed more secure. I'm surprised Madam Justice hasn't climbed down from the Old Bailey and thrown herself in the Thames at the shocking state that Grayling and his cronies have left the entire criminal justice system in!

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I have heard that if an offender legs it during PSS and does not get caught until after PSS end date they will not get punished.

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What a surprise - anybody thats worked within prisons knows that establishing new services takes ages. For established orgs 3 months is pretty fast to set up a new project, not forgetting it can take months for staff to get security vetted, cleared and trained. In London the TTG is still advertising for staff en masse, add to that interviews, notice periods induction etc it would be impossible to have team in place by May. The only possibility is if existing prison staff take on these roles or probation staff who already have the clearance.

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I am in a CRC and have NOT given permission for my name to be placed on the Probation Institute register or agreed to become a member. If I find out this is the case, I will be seeking legal advice regarding this.

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Can someone please let me know what the expectations are now when seeing clients? I am aware that some will be seen for a few minutes but is this what is expected? Being in the NPS I am aware that some of my colleagues have had the 'hello goodbye' attitude rather than actually working with clients. Without that interaction I cannot see how reoffending will be reduced, although I do not dismiss their own personal choices of wanting to make positive lifestyle changes.

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I work in the CRC and would make the following observation. I do very little 1:1 written exercises with clients. Some offenders I have quite lengthy chats with always surrounding their offending & motivation etc. Some clients should not be on probation in the first place and I do just have a quick 5mins with these - including those that are coming up towards the end of their order or licence. We have to use our time sparingly and as effectively as possible and aim it at those who need it. There has been no direction 'from above' about how we deal with clients, it is up to us as case managers. I always look at pre-convictions as well to see how likely someone is to re-offend - if their history is sparse then again I'll not spend too much time with them, but obviously enough to address their offending behaviour and to link them in with agencies if required.

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Summarising the apparent approach in our area, taking into account the expected caseloads, they'll come to the reporting centres, have their barcodes read and then be sent on their merry way, taking their issues with them. At this stage the extra income from reducing re-offending is miniscule and will not rise to a level which affects the profits until year 3-4. By that time the contracts will have been handed back, profits will have been gained by a few at the expense of the many and HSBC will do their best to make sure not a penny of tax is paid. This might sound bitter...but it does not stop it from being the truth!

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So, here we are week whatever looming and MOJ are congratulating themselves at the success of Transforming Rehabilitation. Well to be honest, Probation is Transformed....into an unfit for purposes mess. Rehabilitation? Now, that's where Grayling has triumphed, he is spinning so fast in the hope his whirlwind deflects the truth sticking to him. Well, here is the truth, it is only month 8 and Fraud is happening.

In the probation for profit companies there are many examples of cases not being seen at all and I wonder will they be claimed under the PbR fee stream? Do the companies have any plans to identify them (where no service has been delivered) to exclude them so that fees are not err, claimed in error? The focus of the companies appear to be hoping that no SFOs emerge and I wonder what is in it for them not to notify SFOs? As we know that clever old MOJ removed S18s from the list of SFOs already....

And what about the NPS, there to protect the public and err, really a bit of a con too. NPS staff have swallowed the line Grayling spun as a sop to Parliament to get this mess through, you know, the one that goes the best staff retained to manage the most risk...Well there appears to be some interesting sleight of hand emerging with staff being mysteriously shuffled across the divide (POs to NPS and being moved outwith areas bordering each other, also the appointment of social workers new to service) and an interesting number of SPO level manager appointments, some on a temporary basis. 

Staff in some areas are being 'informed' that as civil servants now they can be transferred where the business needs it and up to 90 mins travelling time is acceptable (each way). There appears to be a hidden restructuring desperately going on to rebalance the staffing because MOJ doesn't want the leftie staff to know just how badly the split was done. Smoke and Mirrors my friends....and the Unions have not spotted it.

Also, the further planned cuts (obviously dependent on General Election outcome) to reduce costs in MOJ by 30% (I've heard), where will the axe fall? Clearly the unpopular NPS will be a front runner...but cleverly this will be more outsourcing as the probation for profit companies bed in. Watch this space as the consultants already have plans...but shhhh, it is politically sensitive.

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If Grayling can replicate his success with the work programme, and his obvious success with his prison reforms with his vision (gut feeling) for TR, then everything's going to be alright - isn't it?

46 comments:

  1. Posted on behalf of a third party:-

    We are struggling in our Court team and continue to deal with the full implications of ORA for example, Court staff now have to serve licences on people who are released from custody having served their sentence on remand - but I wonder has anyone thought this through at management level, where there is the issue of completing CAS + any other forms they can throw at us etc - and of course all the paperwork will be at hand in Court previous convictions etc etc.

    I do not see the situation easing and whilst I am the eternal optimist - the situation we find ourselves in has the capacity to sink even further into the mire. We all know it on the coal face - THIS IS NOT WORKING. For me, I think it is time to get out."

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  2. Not a current client, but will be in the future thanks to the 12 month supervision requirement for those of use attracting very short sentences, TR may have a very serious an negative impact on my life.
    My addiction became managable when I decided I was always going to be addicted. I can now treat it as an illness that needs to be medicated in much the same way as taking insulin. I still use. I will always use.
    My history is pretty well known to all the intervention programmes, probation and magistrates aswell as the prison staff at my local prison.
    In terms of managing my addiction, I've come a long. I don't use nearly as much as I did a few years ago, and I can get through mostly with the help of the green slime methadone.
    Everyone I've ever engaged with recognises the progress I've made, and they accept too that I'll always be an addict and always a user.
    What will TR bring for me? Engagement with agencies that will attempt to 'cure' me? Accupuncture? Meditation? Dolphin cds? Gym sessions? And maybe an intrduction to the rest of the cities heroin addicts that I've been able to come away from in the last few years?
    I really don't know. But it is a very concerning time for me. I understand the I'm only here for profit companies, and how the cheapest methods of engagement and intervention will be applied. And of course non complience will be met with consequences.
    Consequences will never beat my addiction, wheather it's 14 days in custody, or the birch, but they can have a very serious impact on the way I manage that addiction, and indeed how I manage (my far from perfect) life.
    I need some understanding and old fashioned support at times, a realisation that I'm probably never going to be in a better place then I am now, (even still using), interventions and sanctions frighten me, for some it may be appropriate-but I fear it's all going to become a production line, where there will be more losers then winners.

    As an aside, I'd like to say thanks for giving the client a 'shout', and for what it's worth, I do believe that most who comment on here really do have the clients interests at heart.

    'Getafix'

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  3. I'm confused. The recent inspection at HMP Northumberland states there are only 9 prisoners serving less than 12 months there. Why then have 7 PSO's from the CRC been put on notice that they may be directed to the prison to manage the Through The Gate cohort? Do Sodexo not know that most of their TTG's in Northumbria CRC will emerge from HMP Durham and the Courts?

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    1. Is TTG only for those serving 12 months or less? Will those serving 18 months or 2 years not be extended the same level of support TTG porports to offer?
      I'm not a probation officer, but was under the impression that TTG was directed at all leaving custody to engage with CRC, the difference being only that now thise serving 12 months and under would also be included?
      If only targeting the 12month and under group, then it seem to me to be letting the private sector off the hook a bit really.
      Maybe it's something that the MoJ need to clarify?

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    2. My understanding is that everyone will get 12 months 'supervision' following custody. Therefore no change for 24 month sentenced prisoners and little change for 12-24 month. Yes, they'll get a bit more 'supervision' time added on the end but this won't have a huge impact. Most will be seen once a month by then anyway. Have I got that right?

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    3. I understand that. I'm unclear though if the TTG with prisoners being retured for local discharges, mentoring etc etc will only be extended to people serving 12 months and less, or be more generic to the wider prison population as a whole.
      If it is 'ment' to be more generic, then it needs clarification, if only to stop the private sector from later on claiming they didn't realise this, thought it ONLY applied to 12months and under, and wouldn't have signed the contract if it had been explained correctly.

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    4. It is absolutely clear that the TTG service applies to all prisoners being discharged from a designated resettlement prison, irrespective of sentence length. MoJ have been clear about this all along - read the Target Operating Model - and bidders have been aware

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  4. I thought the whole point of TR was to ensure that everyone leaving prison, no matter how long or short the sentence would get TTG services or am I just being horribly naive here?

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    1. i presumed it's just those sentenced to under 24 months? Then again, I'm not quite sure how/if the NPS figures in this? Presumably they'd have to purchase TTG interventions from the CRC's?

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  5. Only 60% of the <12months cohort reoffend. Will we magically identify them and ignore the rest? Or focus on the 40% safer bets to maximise PBR profits? Of course there are the NPS <12months also who will not get TTG.

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    1. Nobody will get TTG as it will not be set up in time for when this whole thing collapses. Why ANYONE would want to join TTG is beyond me and with staff now being directed to work there (some Saturdays included, not sure if your kids mind though) and this can only negatively impact on the desire to do the job properly. I can see TTG having the highest sick record of AY department in Probation.

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  6. How do you know Saturday work is part of TTG? It might put a lot of people off!

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    1. Please remember it is not part of the T and Cs you transferred on, ie to work Saturdays, you need to notify your union rep if you are required to work "unsociable hours" as there are agreements in place and you may be eligible for unsocial hours payments (other than of course where this is in your contract, which for existing staff it won't be). Much has been said about the Framework Agreement but here is when it should afford you protection from wholesale changes to how and when you work!

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  7. I can't believe that it's not really known who TTG extends to. I thought like above it extended to all those leaving custody that were CRC bound. I hadn't even considered the NPS buying services.
    There is obviously cost attached to TTG aswell as workload.
    Are the private sector about to realise the meaning of 'poison pill' contracts before they even get started.
    I think everyone just got so sick of hearing 12 months and under and £46 in their pocket, that they just forget to ask.

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    1. I'm not sure how happy the CRC's will be providing services for short sentenced Sex Offenders. There's a lot of them and as we all know, people who start off with lower level offending, eg Exposure, Possession of Indecent Images, Sexual Assault by Touching (adult victim) etc, etc, frequently escalate to more serious behaviour. I think NPS are in for a bit of an unexpected workload increase.

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    2. short sentenced shoplifters may also be deemed high risk due to previous histories or current circumstances (eg DV propensity) and so will not need to be sex offenders to be NPS. Some violent offences may attract short sentences for all sorts of reasons also and so NPs will have them to deal with.

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  8. Love how people are saying Saturdays will put people off. Just you wait. Probation has for far too long been a Monday to Friday office hours profession.

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    1. see 15:39 above

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    2. I have children, a wife and a life. Fortunately I can fit these all in at week-ends when we're all free. Saturdays for me would be a big no no. I think I'll pass on this one.

      Oh, I've been in Probation for nearly 15 years, would anything be in my contract about working week-ends?

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    3. no, you should be ok, see 15:39....

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  9. Probation 9-5 ? Not in my 30 years. Evenings, weekends, bank holidays etc. Nothing nee here.

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  10. We have had to cover Saturday and Bank Holiday courts for a number of years in my area as it's set in the contract between MOJ and probation areas. We have a court team rota. Some groups also run at weekends. I agree with 16.10 and I have same length of work history

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    1. Yet in my area Saturday/ BH courts are covered by special payment rota! In other areas too so it is not set in MOJ contract at all, must just be part of your old trusts arrangements....Court staff here do not cover Saturday or BHs and it is not part of our T and Cs to do so ....

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  11. The musings of a soon to be retired PO;
    1) Why do all the SPO's believe that TR 'must work' despite all the evidence to the contrary
    2) Are all the newly recruited managers lap dogs who believe that TR is a good idea?
    3) Whatever happened to the radical voices at HQ-the maverick thinker of yesteryear has long gone-progression to SPO seems to be how well you can promote the TR agenda
    4) In the 1990s they decided that the admin role was not required-got rid of a lot of them and then realised that this is the grade that oils the wheels of the service
    5) Why do people who have never done a breach in their lives now tell us how to do it adding unnecessary layers of confusion?
    6) PO's who have never stood on a picket line-never lost money for the cause-never supported NAPO now having the audacity to tell those of us who did stand up to be counted where we went wrong in fighting TR
    7) Those staff who tell us to forget it, it's happened just get on with it just dont get it
    8) I supported NAPO for many years-didnt always agree with them but believe in the collective power
    9) Im sick of the platitudes from CEO;s who praise us to the heights then talk down to us as if they know how to manage our clients better than we do
    10) Im sick of ministers who praise us to the skies-say they couldnt have done this 'without us' then offer us 0% pay rise
    11) I fear for some of my younger colleagues that they wont have the rich exciting career that I have had because of the way in which the service is going
    12) I fear that those punitive PO's will think all their christmasses have come at once with the advent of polygraph testing but this will only ever be fair when they apply it to those maintaining their innocence inside
    13) HMPS do not seem to have any concept as to how ORA will impact upon their slice of the business
    14) I hope that when this 'working in the community' idea (Not new by the way) takes off sufficient importance is placed on staff safety
    15) CAS and RAS are totally unnecessary- a good SPO could allocate in minutes
    16) Court teams are swamped already now they want 100% of all court reports written on the day-can someone tell me the name of the person who thought this up and why?
    17) Staff needs to protect themselves from the explosion of LH SPO's (Little Hitler) who carry out their masters bidding without ever asking why or saying this is a bad idea-is it just me or do they seem to have permeated every department
    18) The best organisations to deal with TTG and the Under 12 monthers were always going to be the exisitng probation trusts not these johnny come lateleys
    19) The pod system-seen as vital a few short years ago lies in tatters as admin officers are returned to the pool systems
    20) Je suis Probation-the real version not the PCSO (No offence as they do a good job) version we're turning into

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  12. Re 14) working in the community, I am booking the spot in Costa... I got in first colleagues....just seen a picture of a police officer sitting in a Costa as a replacement for an expensive police station ( in newspapers today). Just loving the thought of a latte with a nice piece of SOTP pre work.....

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    1. It all suddenly makes sense! Sodexo must have thought they were bidding for a chain of coffee shops!

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  13. what do you expect of a society whose priorities are so self-loathingly out of whack that there are 300 HMRC employees investigating tax evasion of over £70bn, and 3,250 Department of Work and Pensions bods chasing down £1.2bn of benefit fraud." The Guardian.

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    1. Yeah, but how many benefits fraudster donate to the political parties? Makes no sense to bite the hand that feeds you. A similar sense of 'oh look, a squirrel' appears to be going on with the sexual abuse inquiry involving MP's. I hate using the 'C' word but struggle not to when I think of each and every one of the self-serving bastards.

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  14. Does anyone know how I can get a copy/read the Framework agreement please?

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    1. They maybe here - I recollect stuff was put on PA website - there is a lot here - possibly Framework Agreement is amongst it - though that maybe a shorthand title and not what actually appears on documents.

      http://www.probationassociation.co.uk/employee-relations/national-negotiating-council.aspx

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  15. To anon 18.58 if you are a Napo member and are registered on the site (easy to do; use box on right of main page) go to members area and put " transfer agreement" in search box and you"ll get the relevant doc.

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  16. Otherwise yes you can get the same off the Probation Association website as Andrew suggests above.

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    1. http://www.probationassociation.co.uk/media/3140/tr-national-agreement-19-12-13-final-amended-28114-attachment-to-nnc-and-sccog-circular-2-2014.doc

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    2. For information: - I have put it on Napo Forum also -

      I believe it to be a public document.

      http://www.napo2.org.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=938#p3670

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    3. Many thanks all esp Andrew

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  17. Grayling's been busy:

    "The service level agreement (SLA) will see prisoners making sandbags, fence posts and other support products for Britain’s armed forces.

    It is set to extend a 6-month trial that has already produced savings of nearly £500,000 and will see offenders learn valuable employment skills as the work is brought back to British shores.

    Taxpayers are set to benefit from further savings after a 10-year SLA."

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    1. "Child rapists and terrorists will no longer be automatically released half-way through their sentence, as part of a range of tough new laws that have received Royal Assent today (12 Feb).

      The measures in the Criminal Justice and Courts Act will mean these serious criminals can only be released before the end of their prison term under strict conditions at the discretion of the independent Parole Board. Offenders will have to show they no longer pose a threat to the public.

      Under previous laws, these serious offenders would have been released at the half-way point of their sentence, regardless of whether or not they had taken steps to change their behaviour.

      In addition, the maximum sentence for three terrorist offences – weapons training for terrorist purposes, other training for terrorism and making or possessing of explosives - will be increased to a life sentence by the Act. Terrorists convicted of a second very serious offence could face the “two strikes” automatic life sentence.

      The Act contains a number of other changes to toughen sentencing, including stopping offenders who receive an Extended Determinate Sentence from being automatically released two-thirds of the way into their prison term – they will also need to be assessed by the independent Parole Board, meaning many of them could spend significantly more time in prison.

      Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said:
      It is not right that people who commit such disgraceful crimes against this country have been able to walk out of prison half-way through their sentence without having to show they are no longer a danger to the public.

      This is why we are ensuring that child rapists and terrorists spend longer behind bars, and they know being released early is not an automatic right.

      Our tough reforms will better protect victims and the public, while ensuring that serious offenders are properly punished."

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    2. And to keep the CRCs safe:

      "Volunteers, community groups and 'good deed doers' have been given legal reassurance that courts will take account of the fact they have been acting to help society if something goes wrong and they end up having to defend themselves against being sued. New measures in the Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism (SARAH) Bill have received Royal Assent today and have become law.

      The changes have been designed to help volunteers, community groups, businesses and people who step in heroically to help in dangerous circumstances – following years of concerns that people were being put off from doing simple good deeds for fear of legal action if something went wrong.

      The act has been welcomed by groups, including St John Ambulance and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, who have said they believe it will help to reduce the barriers which affect people’s willingness to participate in worthwhile activities and step forward to help.

      Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said:
      Not only have responsible small businesses been stifled by unnecessary insurance costs and the fear of being sued but volunteers have been deterred from taking part in socially beneficial activities and brave people have been put off from helping someone in trouble.

      This much needed change to the law will encourage responsible employers to stand up to speculative and opportunistic claims, and will help reassure good deed doers who come to the aid of those in difficulty.

      This act restores a balance to counter the health and safety culture, and provides valuable reassurance to people that courts will take full account of the context of their actions if someone is sued after acting in a socially beneficial way.

      The act, which received Royal Assent today, also provides greater protection to small business owners and others who face speculative or spurious claims in negligence, even if they have taken a responsible approach to safety training and procedures.

      The new law means that judges must consider three additional factors when assessing liability in a negligence claim:
      * If the person being sued was doing something for ‘the benefit of society’ – to take account of the fact people were doing a good deed like volunteering, running an event or trip, or helping out by clearing snow.
      * If they had been acting in a ‘predominantly responsible way’ – to make sure the court will give consideration to the fact that people may have taken care when organising an activity but, in spite of their best efforts, an accident has happened.
      * If they were ‘intervening in an emergency’ – if they stepped in to help someone in danger but something went wrong.
      The government is now putting in arrangements for commencing the act."

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    3. And NAPO's press releases to counter these are....(?)
      Does the professional committee have a view?

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  18. Oh look, a squirrel!!!

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  19. Charity sector are getting restless (from The Guardian):

    "Much of this inevitably happens behind the scenes, but we are now seeing dismissive comments made openly by senior politicians. The chancellor, George Osborne, characterised charities as “anti-business” in a speech last year. And, Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, has questioned the validity of charities’ campaigning and their motives for challenging the Government in the courts.

    Politicians are out of step with the public, 58% of whom agree that “charities should be able to campaign to change laws and government policies relevant to their work”. But 78% of Conservative MPs, 23% of Labour MPs and 38% of Liberal Democrats said it was a negative thing for a charity “to be political,” , according to an nfpSynergy poll.

    Why? Under successive governments, the voluntary sector has increasingly been seen as a contractual arm of the state. As the state looks to the sector to deliver public services, feedback is increasingly unwelcome, with gagging clauses becoming more common. Politicians are becoming defensive toward the campaigning voice of the voluntary sector. Perhaps it is because power is shifting: organisations like 38 Degrees can communicate direct with its over 2.5 million members where as membership of the main political parties stands at less than half a million."

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  20. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/bt-poised-to-land-bailiff-contractto-collect-billions-in-unpaid-fines-10047947.html

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    1. BT is expected to land a much-criticised Ministry of Justice semi-privatisation deal that would see the telephony giant turn bailiff.

      Chris Grayling, the Justice Secretary, believes that big business would be more effective than the courts at reducing the level of outstanding fines, which was around £2bn when the competition to find a private-sector provider was launched two years ago.

      At a time when the Coalition has been trying to balance the UK’s books, ministers have also ended up writing off hundreds of millions of pounds in fines in recent years.

      The process of selecting a winner has been heavily delayed and might not be completed before the general election, but it is thought that BT is close to being confirmed as the preferred bidder. Initially valued at around £675m, the deal was lucrative enough to attract a host of big names: the FTSE-100 outsourcing empire Capita, the computing giant IBM and the French IT group Atos are thought to have been in the running at various points.

      Critics fear that sensitive information held by the courts, such as addresses, will have to be passed to the private sector in order for their bailiffs to do their jobs properly. Victims of crime who are owed compensation could also see their personal information passed to debt collectors.

      There are also concerns that the industry is too lightly regulated; in 2013, the Citizens Advice Bureaux reported that it had received 25,000 complaints about bailiffs’ behaviour. However, the Government did introduce some tough rules last year, such as stopping bailiffs from entering homes when only children are present.

      Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union, told The Independent: “We do not believe private bailiffs will have the best interests of victims at heart when they’re chasing payments. History shows that trying to bolt the profit motive on to very sensitive areas of the public sector, like the justice system with electronic tagging, is a recipe for disaster.”

      An industry source suggested that the contract award might have been delayed as this might be seen as “one privatisation too far” ahead of what is shaping up to be a tight general election. The MoJ recently handed control of about 70 per cent of the probation service to the private sector, which has angered campaigners who believe justice should not be “for sale”.

      A spokesman for HM Courts & Tribunals Service said: “The commercial process to seek an external provider for compliance and enforcement services formally commenced in July 2013. The final bids were submitted in January 2015. It is anticipated that the contract will be awarded later in the year.”

      BT declined to comment.

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  21. Devastating example of impact of LASPO on civil legal aid given by Dave Emerson to Justice Committee:

    "I was sitting as a judge yesterday in a family case, in a London family court, where a young woman came before me. She was physically disabled. She had to come into court with crutches so it was not easy for her to carry her papers. Attached to her application was her refusal of exceptional funding from the Legal Aid Agency. She had modest learning difficulties and her father with her. She was making an application to see her child who was in care. There was an order that she sees her child three times a year and she was looking to increase that. The special guardian who was in court, who was ironically funded by the local authority, was there with a social worker, and they were seeking to decrease the amount of contact she had. She started by making representations that she had written down, so she was able to explain what her case was. But it was abundantly clear, once the lawyer from the other side had started making representations, that she could not deal with them at all. She did not understand the nuances of the case against her and could not adjust to deal with it. It is absolutely appalling that this woman, who now faces possibly not seeing her child again, should not get representation.

    The form itself is almost 30 pages long and you need a doctorate in law to complete it. In informal discussions—Resolution and the Legal Aid Agency—they have almost agreed that, if a litigant in person is able to complete that form, they are almost able to show that they are able to represent themselves, so it is self‑defeating. In the statistics, you will see that there is only a handful of applications from people themselves rather than through lawyers. There is no funding to make the application."

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  22. Replies
    1. ... a flying squirrel, wearing an orange t-shirt with a target on it?!?!

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