For goodness sake, just identify what needs to be done and work out how best to achieve it, it's not rocket science. For ages they seem to have been faffing about with E3, apparently Effectiveness, Efficiency and Excellence or similar. This appears to need senior managers to be getting together monthly, and 'considering' all the different practices that have been around and trying to put together the best of all; good idea, but how long do they need?!!!!
It's easy to imagine, the egos, our way is better than your way, we could modify this and incorporate that, but of most importance, whose names go on the bottom? They are spending time selecting Champions, FGS. That just goes to prove they haven't got the faintest clue how to lead and communicate. Good leaders do, they do it easily and don't need Champions. They also come out of hiding, ask questions and listen...There has been no evidence of review, consideration of what is actually possible. The IT systems hamper, hinder and are not even close to what would be an efficient and effective tool. Senior Managers need to be held to account."
The NPS is a joke but I don't really see how you can blame senior managers. In order to lead others, your organisation has to provide you with the autonomy to innovate, inspire and implement. However, the NPS immediately grew into an unwieldy and ineffective bureaucratic mess and the power and influence held by Senior managers appears to be limited. Perhaps if they were freed up to 'get on with it' then things would be better. (I'm not a senior manager btw)
ReplyDeleteSenior managers had a significant part to play prior to the implentation of TR they failed in that aspect, CEOs were bought off with their three year protected pay deal to drive it through.....unfortunately they had a chance to influence things and failed to take it with one or two honourable exceptions.......too many career managers who got off the front line as quick as possible only to tell the grunts how to do it......saw it in the army and seeing it now....
DeleteNo but you sound like a budding senior manager though. Whens your interview ?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 0752, you sound like a budding misery guts. When's your retirement?
ReplyDeleteThat's what I like - the heated debate's quite quickly getting to the heart of the matter :)
ReplyDeleteNow now children, you both have a point, managers whether ineffectual or brilliant are completely bamboozled by the beaurocracy, have you had a look at the new instructions re, home visits and claiming travel expenses, it would take a day to read and digest, and then there's pheonix- like it or not we're all up that well known creek without a paddle! I especially like that they ask me to provide a phone number on the home visit form, so I can then phone into the office or a n other when I complete the task with my life intact, but they don't give me a phone! I suggested we just look for the nearest payphone, that works, but realised I'd probably be more at risk losing for such a treasure, than at the home of my clients! Interestingly! Victim service staff have been provided with a gadget that tracks them via GPS and has an inbuilt system to "call home" - reminded me of " mork calling orsen"!
ReplyDeleteLet's face it we are all in for a bumpy ride! Hang on in there folks!
NPS = Mess
ReplyDeletenow there's a mantra to chant every day! It's the equivalent of "four legs good two legs bad" now what else about NPS reminds me of Orwell? Hmmm, suggestions on a post please???
When the MoJ threw everything at the creation of the CRCs and the impossible deadlines imposed on setting them up ( un-met in every true sense of the word), they did so at the expense of the NPS. The senior management of the NPS are still clearing up the mess made by the TR process and will continue to do so for some time yet. Leadership here was Grayling's brief and he failed miserably.
ReplyDeleteSenior managers are the ones holding it together. Not front line staff. Front line are simply carrying out instructions by those leading. It's simples. I not a senior manager but why shouldnt senior managers get EVR and big bonuses. You work hard to get to the top do why should you get least on the way down!!!
ReplyDeleteto Anon 14:01 thank you for giving me such a good laugh.....it is practitioners that deliver probation services it is senior management who when asked to jump by MOJ/NOMS respond by asking "how high sirs".
ReplyDeleteThey have sold us down the river placing their own careers above any sense of serving our communities, delivering public service and care for service users.
It is a very simplistic assumption that only the best get to be senior managers...the very best never apply because they chose not to be part of that dishonourable club!
'It is a very simplistic assumption that only the best get to be senior managers...the very best never apply because they chose not to be part of that dishonourable club!'
DeleteWe laugh when we see who is promoted. The 'who you know' club
Why is there so much resentment on here towards senior managers? Is it just jealousy?
DeleteCriticising a senior manager for implementing the TR programme would be like criticising an 'advise, assist and befriend' PO for breaching an offender because they failed to attend. Both are simply carrying out the job they are paid, not necessarily because they agree with it 100%.
"I think therefore I am" Descartes!
DeletePlease don't just follow orders, a dog can do that, often with more aplomb than people!
Sadly, implementing shit policy, is still shit policy!
Someone put it so well a while back, the moj have "put feathers on a turd and expected it to fly" ineffectual, 'yes' people of all grades are standing by urging the turd to take off! It won't!
A Descartes reference! Takes me back to running an accredited programme which aspired to use French philosophy to divert sex workers from custody. It didn't work - you should never put Descartes before the whores.
Deletenice one, had a good chuckle.....Bobbyjoe
DeleteThe 3E's are the managerialist's mantra, economy effectiveness efficiency have underpinned the demise of the probation service over the last 25 years. It's always more for less, its always about measuring inputs and outputs. It's bollocks and sophistry and its about time all those working in probation understood this. If your manager talks about the 3E tell them to F off.
ReplyDeleteWe need to stop measuring and again look for quality in all our relationships. The end game is to replace us with the cheapest workers possible because this will be the most efficient and effective given the way they measure their statistics.And finally we will be replaced by a machine, this is the logic of the 3E's. This is managerialist ideology and its bloody evil and stupid when we are working with human beings.
papa
Here here
Deletelooking at this from the outside it would seem to me that no matter what happens to the Service, the staff will continue to do the work. I hear 'i do it for my clients' 'i will continue to provide a valuable service to those that need it' etc.
ReplyDeleteThis is great news, because looking at it from above, they know you will continue to do it even after the powers that be split your and your colleagues in two. More so, the powers that be know you will also continue to do it when your placed on the next pay grade down.
This is a race and its to the bottom!!!
in other news, there is a strike on Monday. I guess time will be spent mocking those that have the gumption ay. Sad times :(
ReplyDeleteIt has all gone very quiet re the severance/redundancy situation in the Sodexo CRC's. What is going on?
ReplyDeleteThere was enough uptake of VS in Northumbria for no CR to be made to PO's, PSO's and admin staff.
DeleteIn CLCRC as well no compulsory redundancy for ACE s, SPO s, POs or PSOs. Risk to some admin grades and others in unpaid work, but opportunities for staff to apply for other roles to protect as many as possible. Voluntary Departures already started.
DeleteNot sure where your information has come from re no CR in Northumbria? 9 senior admin and they only want 3. Interviews to be held.
DeleteTo quote Nicks email "...we have received sufficient volunteers to avoid the need for any selection process for the following groups of staff:
DeleteCase administrators/receptionists
Probation Service Officers (PSOs)
Probation Officers..."
Senior admin must come under a different group. Sorry
SYCRC email just stated that there was enough uptake for VS but not all were in the right pools of staff. Other opportunities would be explored to try and keep everyone that wants to stay in a job. Apart from that no other news regarding jobs, estates etc. etc.
DeleteMeanwhile Working Links are working on a new CRC 'service design plan', and EVR for some staff. NAPO very quiet. Staff have no idea what's going on. Meanwhile one LDU head is part of a working group looking at machine installation.
ReplyDeletePurple Futures et al. ?
ReplyDelete