Bleak Futures Week 14

To my mind redundancy announcements at this time is a tactical move by Sodexo. Many are not going to hang about to see if the axe falls on them, and many will already be looking for alternative employment. Come August, much of the saff reductions wanted by Sodexo will probably have been met by staff leaving off their own back, and of course Sodexo will have to pay them nothing.

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Sodexo are the first to announce, but unlikely to be the last. Extrapolating from these figures is going to put the redundancies in the thousands, not hundreds and so I cannot see alternative employment filling the vacuum.

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Am I right in thinking that compulsory redundancies pay more than voluntary, due to the fact that you are being made unemployed rather than voluntary as you are making yourself unemployed? Also, once you get compulsory redundancies you are entitled to benefits.

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Completely backwards. The vol. redundancy payments are higher to incentivise those who are willing to go 'at a price' before making people compulsorily redundant. Without the higher payments, everyone will just take their chances and play the odds.

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Voluntaries are offered to entice people to go sooner to save company £££ (eg staff like higher management). Sodexo have no real incentive to offer voluntaries.

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Coupled with the fact that the National Agreement clause (16) on enhanced redundancy only applies to voluntary redundancies, I would imagine it is in Sodexo's interest to wait until after end September 2015, when they will be able to make compulsory redundancies without being obliged to offer enhanced terms.

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S.Yorks Napo and Unison formally registered a trade dispute today over failure to apply staff transfer agreement in respect of EVR and apparent denial of VR enhanced or otherwise to over 55s.

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Brilliant! That is what we need. Hope others follow suit. This is what the staff transfer agreement was for. I was really exasperated by all the "it's worthless" "the unions have sold us down the river" bleating. Please get behind your unions.

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Naive - We had local disagreements foiled by poorly voted strike action. Sodexo consulting on the agreement won't bind anything. They can still sack. It will just cost a little more now lose a little profit overall. Oh no you're right they will see their insensitive approach and give us a rise and less work. Wake up the fight was lost already.

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Keep an eye on Catch 22, who will be delivering through the gate services for CRCs within months. Case manager role at HMP Doncaster paying £16,489 to £22,673.Senior case manager, from £19,527.37 to £26,849.36 per annum.

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Bloody disgraceful. I doubt at that price you are going to get anyone with passion and commitment. You pay for what you get.

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You will though. What you may also get is inexperience and a less well trained staff group. You may get staff that become quickly disillusioned or see their post as a "means to an end", maybe a step towards a public sector job... one day. Catch 22 have been a threat waiting in the wings for a while now.

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Gutless CRC CEO's and SMT going along with the Sodexo salami slicing. Ultimately it is the CRC who is our employer and the contracts sit with the CRC. When are they going to wake up and grow some balls and realise the risk sits with them if delivery goes tits up because they have no skilled staff left. I've already heard them whining about it not being their fault and blaming the private company. The private companies have shares but it is the CRC management who are accountable for employee matters and delivering on contract. It will be the CRC who faces a tribunal and are expected to deliver. Come on NAPO it's time to wake up, you've been caught with your trousers down again.

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I left Probation 5 years ago just when this bollocks was kicking off and moved into a completely unrelated field. It was the best move of my life. I am happier and healthier. There comes a point when you just have to accept the government sees the Probation Service as 100% expendable and move on. Stop flogging a dead horse.

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But what "unrelated field"? I know people say they have moved on but where to? Apart from a few who have gone into Social Work no-one has said what they are doing now. I am genuinely interested in knowing. I accept the notion that we have lots of transferable skills but can anyone show where they have proved the point, especially if they have no other experience than Probation?

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It's hard to answer this without 'outing' former colleagues if you want the detail that I think you are looking for. However, substance misuse agencies, children's charities, mental health agencies, arts organisations, travel agencies, big solicitors firms, universities and colleges and own businesses have all snapped up people I've worked with very quickly. Most of them now earn more than they did in probation. Hope that helps a little bit, check out indeed or some other big job sites and you might be surprised at what's out there. Good luck!

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What you learn in Probation is how to think quickly, navigate incomprehensible IT systems, solve problems, communicate on all levels and interpret a myriad of laws and policies. You'll be welcomed by many, many employers. Don't panic!

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I'd steer clear of substance misuse and mental heath. They're hardly a bag of laughs or gold. I think people in Probation are so worn down they've lost the confidence or energy to make a move out. If they make you redundant after all of this you should be thankful that someone has made the move for you. Sorry if that pisses some people off but I think there's a lot of Stockholm Syndrome about. JUST GET OUT!!!

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I work in IT now. I re-trained. It was totally worth it. My years in Probation gave me anxiety the doctor said PTSD. I don't know about that but I was medicated for the first two years after I left. Even reading this blog is raising my blood pressure. This isn't a smug "look at me & my better life" post but really really there is a better life out there. Just leave. It's not worth it, I promise you.

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Thank you. I agree with comment about confidence. I think I have done this for so long it is hard to see a role outside of Probation.

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I understand. You're so very qualified for so many things out there. It's going to take a paradigm shift away from you holding your nose to the grindstone and feeling the constant fear that if you stop, all the cards will fall to loving yourself enough to take a little time to plan a future. Book holiday now, use the time to fix your CV and apply for other things. And for Gods sake see a counsellor privately. The toll this job is taking on you can in no way be underestimated. Not just you, every PO reading this.

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I think it's disgusting what they're doing. Essex had a meeting with the Chief Officer yesterday and its bleak, 50% of admin staff to be axed, a central "hub" aka Contact Centre in Chelmsford, OM3 and 4 grades are alleged to be "safe" but for how long? It just stinks and to add insult to injury, staff cannot apply for Enhanced Voluntary Redundancy!

There are plenty of staff (including me) who would jump at this but once again any opportunity to do so is denied, which is insulting as I want to go but not without a pay off! I'm taking my 6 years of expertise, knowledge and skills elsewhere as I'm actively seeking alternative employment, interviews are flooding in! Having Neighbourhood Centres and a central hub is awful, how can you gauge risk by telephone?? This is a dangerous and shambolic system and I'm ashamed to be involved in it but I have no choice and without a decent financial recompense to leave voluntarily I want out.

Sodexo don't care about or value experience, all we are to them is a disposable commodity or a mere number. How will decisions be made to get rid of staff? We've been told it's based on appraisals and sickness, but who really knows? The only certainty I can foresee is offending will escalate if not managed correctly and this will seriously affect their PbR figures, so then what?? It's too hideous to contemplate and won't be reversed come the election (regardless of who is elected). Sad times indeed for a once decent and respected service!

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I'm pretty compliant with any sanction imposed on me as a consequence of offending, so I could soon be a kiosk reporter if they're introduced in my region. The kiosk wont be able to tell I guess if I've lost a stone in weight since our last 'interaction' which would indicate to a humanoid that my drug use is increasing significantly.

The kiosk won't be able to tell if I'm scruffy looking, which might suggest to a humanoid that I've lost my most recent address. The kiosk wont be able to tell if I've lost my benefits and have no money. The kiosk wont be able to tell if I've got black eyes because I've been involved with some altercation. And the kiosk certainly wont be able to see the bag of shoplifted goods at my feet that I picked up on the way to report.

Oh! I've got to provide it with all this information? With a risk of recall to custody and 10 days withdrawal pain, I DON'T THINK SO!! I would however like to thank the MOJ for all its recent efforts. I no longer leave prison with just £46 in my pocket, now I'll also get all the support that a kiosk can give me. I just hope they'll dispense chocolate bars as well!

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Are people aware that various SPO, PO, PSO, and Practice Manager jobs are being advertised in Kent, Surrey and Sussex CRC? The mind boggles whilst in the midst of all this. Their provider is Seetec Group - what do they know that Sodexo don't? Or am I missing something - they already have a staff of approx 650....

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Meanwhile, down at the MoJ they're recruiting a whole new team of IT personnel, starting with four new team leaders @ £90,000 a year. Here's the opening drivel:

"The Ministry of Justice is one of the largest government departments. Our work spans criminal, civil and family justice, democracy and rights. We work to protect the public and reduce reoffending, and to provide a more effective, transparent and responsive criminal justice system too. At the heart of this, is our commitment to deliver a justice system in which the public are truly confident.

To achieve this, we’re transforming the way we work. And that puts our Technology and Digital teams at the forefront of a radical overhaul. We’re making our technology and digital services simpler, clearer and faster. There are a number of roles in the MoJ Technology Directorate and we need inspirational and forward-thinking leaders to drive this."

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what are Areas doing for RAR? - there's nothing in our Area and isn't it the 1st May that it's all meant to commence? I have people on RARs but all I'm doing is giving supervision which is NOT a RAR. I have a horrible feeling they are going to turn us all into programme tutors.

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That's the point - they are making them and we don't have any activities set up so it's still supervision. Nothing set up for TTG unless managers gonna pull a rabbit out of the hat - 1st May's round the corner!!!

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Coming through thick and fast now. What Pillock would introduce a RAR when to commence 01/02 when most funded projects are coming to an end and any local agreements with partners are out of window because of probation sell off. Who? Yes that would be the April fool himself.

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St Giles will be running TTG in Wales. Interviewing for a Team Manager this Wed. Tough for those unable to attend as StG won't reschedule, only the 1 interview day. Half term and Easter hols many people are away. Surely they haven't got someone in mind?

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They simply do not understand the whole ethos of public service do they? These idiots, Maude included, just continue to show their true colours. I was sooooo proud to be a public servant serving my community as a probation officer and it is all blown to the wind.

I believe that the power to remove someones liberty, either in custody or by complying with community penalties, MUST be only a function of the state. Furthermore, one that must never be outsourced, it too important. The very idea that others (shareholders and senior managers of the companies on performance related pay) can £profit from crime and the victimisation of my fellow citizens is totally anathema. This is the principle of public service for me and to remove this kills altruism. Perhaps this is the moral high ground and perhaps it is so for a reason!

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I have been trawling websites concerning the use of Bio-metrics and it could fall flat on it's face if people decide to say 'no'. From what I can see, with the exception of passport and the police, people can opt out. As is human nature people when offered to report to kiosk people are going to ask 'what's in it for me?' if the answer is reduced travel/expense then yes, probably the uptake will be good, but other than this, I can't see any reason why people would choose it. Sodexo appear to be putting all their easter eggs in one basket regarding this initiative.

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Precious little detail in any of the Working Links presentations to staff as part of their roadshows across Wales and the West Country in the last few weeks. The main thing seemed to be a video of people who'd used to work for small, local service providers until they were swallowed up by Working Links, now seemingly press-ganged into telling us that WL aren't that bad. And a lot of talk about lots of job opportunities within WL which don't involve working for the CRC (followed by the CRC CEO hastily saying he wouldn't allow any secondments because we haven't enough staff).

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I have much respect for Paul Senior, but his association and unwavering support for the Probation Institute puts him massively down in my books. Paul talks about principles and values and yet not once have Probation Institute publicly opposed TR. Not once have they supported the same professional who took action to strike in order to defend the same principles and values which he and Sue Hall talk so much about. Not once have they publicly acknowledged the stress and pressure staff have been placed under. Not once have they opposed the under 12 months supervision as a breach of human rights and an outright attack on communities and civil liberties. So - Excuse me if my comments offend. Yes they are designed to offend because I’m offended by the hypocrisy and double standards in which they and PI promote their self-interest and self-serving agenda. Paul and Sue should be ashamed of themselves.

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If you want evidence-based policy, consider the number of Tories in the Commons and the Lords who got themselves out of tricky corners by asserting their probation credentials by asserting their support – financial and political – for the Probation Institute, supported by probation chiefs and the unions. They knew it would play well to the gallery and it was often quoted in the same sentence as '£46 in your pocket'. The professors et al are 'useful idiots'. These people are not on the frontline, they are not facing redundancy; on the contrary they can look forward to research commissions. They are far removed from the fallout and from their vantage points, like giggling Greek Gods, they can look on as lesser mortals are skewered. The whole thing is an insult and a betrayal.

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CRCs bought the contracts on the basis that they had autonomy to develop their own 'innovative' approach to reduce reoffending. To that end how can the PI dictate what it is or isn't right for the CRCs to do? The PI is nothing but an extra layer of insulation designed to buffer government from fall out from really bad policy.

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Like it or not the PI is probably the best and perhaps the only, potential means of securing some common professionalism across the CRC's. If it is to achieve this it cannot denounce the profit making providers, however repugnant they might personally or individually consider the profit motive may be.

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It's the profit makers that will decide what the 'common professionalism' is going to be, not the PI.

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I don't disagree, but if there is a voice they'll listen to other than their shareholders it's the PI, and for now at least the CRCs are buying in.

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If a professional body cannot criticise the profession it represents, it has no credibility. It is like a university than cannot fail any of it's students. It undermines itself.

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You know that supporters of the Probation Institute are scraping the barrel for justifications when professionalism is redefined as 'common professionalism'. This means deprofessionalization and it has happened in all public services that have been opened to the market. It's a major issue in education as there is no requirement for free schools to employ qualified teachers.

Common professionalism can only mean one thing: lowering standards, deregulation, and lowering wages. This is what free schools can do: set their own pay and conditions for staff; employ teachers without qualified teacher status; determine their own admissions arrangements; decide upon their own curriculum; set the length of terms and school days; and operate independently of the local authority and outside the local family of schools. These are the 'freedoms' that CRCs will claim for themselves and they can market it all under the name of common professionalism, as blessed by the probation institute.

The NPS does not need the probation institute, but the CRCs do. You need a body that is prepared to 'independently' give its endorsement to new arrangements that are motivated by profit, but with the backing of the PI these changes can be promoted as innovative. The PI in effect becomes a public relations arm of the CRCs and this is epitomised in the new terminology of common professionalism. Which is why those who in their hearts know the whole project is dubious, but believe they can ride the tiger, are 'useful idiots' to the CRCs.

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I had, originally, had hope for PI but once they started to allow the employers to pay for their staff membership it was, IMO, doomed! After a year they still have just over a thousand members. It would be interesting to know how many were paid for by CRCs! I suspect well over half. Many of the others are academics & some within MOJ who never worked in probation & have been involved in TR!

There is no way PI will oppose cuts in staff and introduction of machines! Despite all their talk of defending ethics & values. I paid for my membership last year (turned down employers offer to pay) won't renew or let CRC pay for me this year! Unfortunately I also don't hold out any hope for NAPO doing anything!

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'They' have wanted to get rid of people who stand up and challenge, especially those who invented and developed probation for years. 'They' are now very close to achieving it. Limited education, exam factories that suggest success but are only so because of their ability to create people who know so little they just accept what is. Probation people challenged their ability to abuse, take advantage and profit. They had to destroy it, it has taken a while but not long in the greater scheme of change...