Firstly let me start by saying I am one of those that are usually a reader and not a speaker.... however, recent events have gotten under my skin so I feel I have no other choice but to be vocal about my feelings. I feel that I was shafted into the CRC and not sifted!! Then I feel I was shat on from a great height by my SPO and ACE telling me I had a future in the CRC and that my experience and knowledge were valued and that there was a place for me long term. It transpires however, that my CRC just needs me in the short term to keep the service going until they can replace me with unqualified staff.
The union UNISON have done nothing to protect me, instead they have ensured their own jobs in NPS and have now reduced my mileage allowance just as we in the CRC are supposed to be going mobile working!! Hence my decision to withdraw from the union and go it alone, why put my head above the parapet for them when they wont do it for me?
I am managing 'high risk' cases in the CRC because my SPO wont refer to NPS in case there is a financial penalty on refusal... laugh... I could cry!! I am a fully qualified PO, I am trained in risk assessment but my decisions are overrun by arseholes more concerned with keeping their jobs than with concern about public safety, what does that say? The whole TR agenda has been a shambles which is why I have rendered my resignation today as I can no longer be party to such a debacle.
Good luck to those of you who remain, just remember that the whole point of this job was to reach out to people and help them to recognise their risk and to self manage it, to reduce future risk of reoffending and of causing harm to others. The goal posts have moved, payment now is my manipulated results and I am relieved not to be a part of this fucked up process that will result in profit for private companies, but increased risk in our communities. Sleep well those of you that choose to stay. xx
My sentiment exactly. Are you in a Sodexo CRC? I wonder why you have resigned rather than apply for severance. Not what we're entitled to but something rather than nothing. That said, no amount will be enough to stop me resigning when another opportunity presents itself.
ReplyDeleteTo sum up the points you make, our Sodexo CRC held a staff briefing in March this year, with a strictly time limited Q&A session (so strict it was rude). One of the Sodexo androids stated the current probation officer qualification is "not fit for purpose". Nuff said!
Ignore your SPO and risk escalate those high risk cases. Talk directly to your NPS SPOC.
ReplyDeleteI removed a comment because it was gratuitously offensive.
ReplyDeleteI read the comment before you deleted it. You're seriously saying that it's OK to slam offenders but not OK to point out that PO's are being hypocritical with the "poor me" whining?
DeleteIn our CRC some staff are deluded. I USED TO hear comments like : `I chose to be in CRC' and ` CRC is good for creative working' and `CRC has opportunities'. Their tune has changed since SODEXO announcements for job losses.......
ReplyDeleteThere is a distinct lack of empathy here for people who are having their careers destroyed, their work-life balance completely compromised, their working relationships undermined, professional practice derailed in favour of 'programmes' written on the back of fag packets and an endless list of oppressive employment practices brought to bear upon them. People say stuff to make the unbearable bearable but, in the Sodexo CRCs at the very least, they are frightened and angry. Well know that frightened and angry people do and say things which, under different circumstances, they may not. Gloating is unpleasant at the best of times; gloating under these circumstances is shameful.
ReplyDeleteWell that's good isn't it. Sort of just deserts then? I was hoping they might have learned from what was obvious. A tory government and a sell off services. Do staff really think that they could retain roles under a mass company who deal in a supply for demand. Did the staff really think that being a PO with a qualification where you cannot fail the training will have credibility to a point where they will be harboured in a protectorate ? Were NAPO members being naïve ? Hopeful? Disbelief?
ReplyDeleteDid the leadership in Napo Fail members? Did the members fail Napo ?
It all begs questions but I take the view that too many relied on being regarded as important professional but failed to understand this is a market place and the work can be done by anyone willing to try. The influx of other professional staff from different disciplines changes the work we did. What do we really do that a large company is not prepared to take a financial risk on and offer alternative monitoring to the same outcome. NAPO and members never really ever produced a manageable role boundaries document that actually made it clear. PSO rightly manage all aspects of the work these days and many are in the NPS in unqualified managerial roles . But there we are they are qualified to manage the work but may have questions over their abilities to do the work. It is the same more so in the CRC. The failings of this group however is their salary is linked to the PO grade and as soon as we see PO out of the equation then salaries will be reduced to follow the lowest cost for the same provision. That will come as soon as they get rid of the majority of old school staff. Napo probably will not exist as we understand it now so what can we do . I hope the North strike but unlikely I hope we find a legal case and challenge the employer and win but napo wont fund anything . I hope less of us despair and resign I hope the union brings things together and we fight .
To anon 12.31. There are no PSO grade staff in NPS in "unqualified managerial role" in my area. We have very few PSO staff full stop!
DeleteDo your research properly they are there.
DeleteOur last hope is Jeremy Corbyn and his mate John McDonnel mp. Two good old fashioned socialists both of whom understand how large corporations are destroying society. McDonnel is a friend of the old type of Probation and I think a return to the pre TR days would be a possiblity for a Labour socialist goverment..
ReplyDeleteHowever given the lack of fight for our profession and for the people we work with I'm not sure that this would be a good thing. Better perhaps would be to start again supporting people in their communities, helping them to help themselves.
papa
What do you make of Keir Starmer papa?
DeleteStarmer has integrity and will be a future Labour PM. Meanwhile JC will keep the seat warm.
DeleteThat's what I was rather hoping was the case - but is their any evidence Mr Starmer shares any or all of JC's views?
DeleteStammer abstained in the first round of welfare debate whereas JC . John McDonnell Dennis skinner, sadiq khan and dianne Abbott voted against it. So stammer toed the party line . Also he gave his backing to Andy burnham I think but definately not JC
DeleteWe were told by our chief at the point of sell off that we were "lucky" to have the CRC we had and it was an "exciting time". Fast forward a few months and caseloads are higher than ever, management support is non existent and word on the grapevine is when all the admin grades are moved to a central office (miles away from most of them which makes commuting all but impossible) they will only require approx 200 of the 500 roles at present.
ReplyDeletePeople are literally in tears on a daily basis while upper management continue to pretend ( or really are that deluded) that things are going well. It's disgraceful but I don't want to leave without being paid out (albeit at a much lower rate than was originally promised) as that is what they want to happen I'm sure.
There are no words to describe the utter contempt I feel. I think the CRCs forget they are relying on staff to meet their ridiculous targets. With morale being lower than ever - good luck !!
Not being funny but now you know exactly how offenders feel as the above description could easily be a description of how probation officers treat offenders. Sad but true. I hear so much about the professionalism of probation officers and yet I don't see any of it in practice
ReplyDeleteJim too soon to tell, I still feel bruised by the failure of Obama. I think the Labour Party is wedded to neoliberalism, a political and economic doctrine that is killing the planet. A doctrine that offers inequality and unemployment to the young and state sector workers.
ReplyDeleteStarmer needs to prove his radicalism, I looking for a new Ralf Miliband, a British Noam Chomsky. I feel that the time is coming when being on the Left of politics ( Labour / Green / Left Unity) will bring success and power. The world is in a mess at the moment we need radical change and we need it fast. Given the way Probation has been crushed we should understand this.
papa
Ok I'm up for that - regarding Obama - he's clearly a good guy and surely he will go on and do good stuff unlike Blair who is just talk and only interested in making money?
DeleteWhat, you mean a bit like Gordon Brown? He was so misjudged and underestimated by most people. Decimated by the media. He was a good guy too.
Delete"Stammer abstained in the first round of welfare debate whereas JC . John McDonnell Dennis skinner, sadiq khan and dianne Abbott voted against it. So stammer toed the party line . Also he gave his backing to Andy burnham I think but definately not JC"
ReplyDeleteOh dear - not looking good then - another Blairite.
Came in by e-mail:-
DeletePapa I hope you are right as this cruel regime is dismantling all that held dear to us and all our forebears fought for. The 1% will not be satisfied until it strips out all that the 99% relies upon. The Labour Party needs to remember its history and who it represents - I agree the current Labour Party is wedded to neo liberalism - well summed up Papa. Blair was not sure which way to go politically until he entered No 10 and he went one way - immediately to the right. He advocated the move to privatise the public sector.
I am waiting for the media to turn on Jeremy Corbyn as he is challenging dominant ideology and the current system - good on him. I for one will be doing all I can on a practical basis to support him. If Labour could only see that to stand up and offer an alternative to "austerity" would mean that the public would respond and vote them back in. Harriet Harman will live to regret saying that the Labour Party would not be challenging austerity and the cuts to the welfare budget - disgraceful.
I was saddened to read the blog today re our colleague in the CRC - this is coming to us all sometime very soon whether we are CRC or NPS - take heed colleagues.
Yes a left government in power is the only way to restore social justice. Sadly too many tory voters in the probation ranks . I have to look hard to identify any socialist in both camps. Its a struggle to see any left in the union.
DeleteI am doing my bit to support Jeremy' down in my part of the uk
ReplyDelete