Saturday 5 December 2015

Gove : TR Omnishambles Next?

From the Independent:-

Tax on justice: Victory in our campaign to repeal the atrocious criminal courts charge

If there is one phrase that David Cameron does not like to see in the headlines, it is “government U-turn”. The Prime Minister believes it is a sign of weakness, of not sticking to your guns. Yet we have seen two significant about-turns by cabinet ministers in the past nine days.

First, George Osborne wisely ditched his £4.4bn of cuts to tax credits that would have hurt Britain’s low-paid “strivers”. Now, Michael Gove, the Justice Secretary, has dumped the controversial criminal courts charge introduced by his predecessor Chris Grayling – who would have been better described as the “Injustice Secretary”.

The move followed a sustained campaign by this newspaper against the pernicious “tax on justice”, and complaints from magistrates, judges, lawyers and MPs. They warned that defendants could be encouraged to plead guilty to offences they did not commit in order to avoid a charge of between the flat rate £150 and up to £1,000 if convicted after pleading not guilty. The charge led to the resignation of more than 50 magistrates who felt they could not conscionably impose a counter-productive fine on individuals who had committed minor crimes, often motivated by poverty.

We wholeheartedly welcome Mr Gove’s rethink and take pride in our part in securing it. Mr Gove argued that the intention behind the policy was honourable, while admitting it had “fallen short”. That is an understatement. Mr Grayling must have been well aware of the likely effect of his policy. The lesson is that austerity should never mean balancing the books on the backs of the most vulnerable.

Mr Gove has now announced a review of the financial sanctions and penalties courts can impose, with a view to bringing greater simplicity and clarity. That sounds sensible; the current regime is very complicated. But Mr Gove, under Treasury pressure to cut costs in a department not protected in last week’s Spending Review, should not undo his good work by finding other ways to hit people on low incomes when reducing the taxpayer’s share of running the criminal justice system.

Mr Gove has also wisely ended Mr Grayling’s attempt to ban books for prisoners. He scrapped the Ministry of Justice’s bid for a £5.9m prisons contract in Saudi Arabia, saying it should not help a regime that uses beheadings, stoning and beatings. He is held up by Mr Osborne as a model moderniser for his plans to reform prisons, which will see inner-city sites sold off for housing and could result in a net gain for the public purse. He is looking at radical ideas to tackle underlying causes of criminality following the example of initiatives which have cut the prison population in parts of America. There might just be the seeds here of a revolution that would finally address our high reoffending rates and stop our jails being “universities of crime”.

The Justice Secretary’s new broom is welcome. He should go further by looking again at another aspect of Mr Grayling’s legacy: the contracting out of much of the probation service to private firms, which now monitor low- and medium-risk ex-offenders. This has led to hundreds of jobs being lost, an exodus of 1,800 experienced probation staff and complaints of extra bureaucracy. No doubt the Treasury would be nervous about rewriting contracts with private providers, which could be expensive. One key test of Mr Gove’s credentials will be whether he can mitigate the crisis in the probation service.
e is likely to happen until there is a major catastrophe - which may have already happened but been unreported yet.

--oo00oo--

Many close to probation predicted disaster from the moment the announcement to split probation locally was announced over two years ago and at a stroke, create a more dangerous structure throughout England and Wales.

Parliament failed to act rejecting amendments to the Offender Rehabilitation Bill (now Act) 2014 - which would have put Parliament in charge of the reform process.

Folk simply do not care and probation folk are worn out with protesting - mine is the first comment to this article - 22 hours after it was published - meanwhile I am sure the blogs are alive with talk about stuff that is beyond the influence of the UK Parliament that are of little direct consequence to us - despite their interest.

I see the Napo (probation union) general secretary has to day blogged about 40% staff cuts by one probation employer - I shall be amazed if it is reported by any news outlet apart from maybe The Morning Star!

Andrew S Hatton

--oo00oo--


Latest blog from Napo General Secretary:-

WORKING LINKS SPECIAL

JOB LOSSES LOOM AS HUGE OPERATING CUTS ARE ANNOUNCED

If further proof were needed of the total shambles that Transforming Rehabilitation has caused, than look no further than the news revealed over the last day that the Community Rehabilitation Companies owned by Working Links are about to put forward plans for swingeing cuts in the region of 40%.

This has rightly caused anger amongst members in the three CRC’s concerned covering Wales, Avon, Bristol and Devon, Dorset, and Cornwall who having gone through the trauma of the TR assignment process now find themselves in a potential redundancy situation.

Urgent talks are being convened between the national probation unions, local reps, senior CRC management and their owners about the extent of the intended cuts and their impact on staff numbers, but it is not hard to see how disastrous these will be to people’s future employment prospects in areas already blighted by the austerity agenda.

As always Napo will issue more detailed news once it is available but during my visit to South Western Branch members in Exeter recently I made it clear that Napo stands ready to assist them in negotiations with management, local campaigns against cuts of this order that can only pose a serious risk to public safety and ultimately industrial action if members decide that this is what they want.

Heads should roll but it shouldn’t be our members

Whilst Working Links will no doubt join the ever increasing whinge queue and pray in aid the Weighted Annual Volumes (WAV) figures and the absence of reliable information that was available to them from the infamously dodgy MoJ Data Room (see my ‘Salting the Mine’ Blog from a while ago). Key question doing the rounds is that someone ought to be accountable for predicating a bid that several months on could see one third of the combined workforce over the three CRC’s disappear.

We were told by Ministers before TR that the workforce in the then proposed CRC’s would ‘evolve’. Try telling that to staff who have given their all whilst being treated like chattels in the shambolic and discredited procurement process, and people who, even if they secure the Early Voluntary Redundancy terms that of course we will be insisting upon so as to avoid compulsory redundancies, face little likelihood of similar employment.

Ministers will offer a sympathetic message or two and again praise the hard work of probation staff etc. etc. but the reality is that their platitudes will be seen by our members as not worth a fig. More news on this development next week, along with the other stuff that I have had to park for now.


--oo00oo--

Mcr. CRC Chief at recent staff meeting stated job losses imminent - whilst going on to announce her own promotion!

26 comments:

  1. Probation Officer5 December 2015 at 08:04

    Well done Mr Gove. Fingers-crossed he next focuses his attention on the shambles of TR that decimated the Probation Service, and the nonsense of E3 that is about to ravage the newly formed National Probation Service. He should scrap the lot and could even go as far as revoking the contracts handed to Sodexo et al and clawing back those huge redundancy and retirement packages the former probation Chiefs and directors ripped off the taxpayer around the time of TR.

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    1. Unfortunately not going to happen as Grayling put a poison pill in the contract

      Just yet another dick move by the man himself.

      http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/11/poison-pill-probation-contracts-moj-serco-g4s

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  2. I saw this comment on Facebook today which sums up what happening across Eng and Wales.

    "In Bench [BeNCH Community Rehabilitation Company] it seems pretty much a done deal. A number of POs [Probation Officers] in xxxxxx have signed for the severance package (sadly for a lot less than they should have got) but this has meant no compulsory losses at the PO grade. I was informed I was 'at risk' back in xxxxxx and this only officially ended yesterday. Now just need to know what the job description is for a PO in a CRC. I'm sorry if this news directly affects you. But I guess once Sodexo got away with it the other companies were rubbing their hands together"

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  3. It never ceases to amaze me how hard some people work in order to support TR and in so doing hasten their own demise. Don't work hard to paper the cracks or prop up crap - let it fall into a huge pile of steaming wotnot. Do the minimum necessary to get by by working smart (forget SMART) Bog the system down with petty complaints and grievances about the lack of handwash in the toilets or seating in the tea making area. If a system you are required to use doesn't work properly refuse to use it. Work only your contracted hours.
    There are a million small ways individuals can resist TR and bring the system to its knees in a mire of inefficiency and failures. No one would encourage you to break the law such as sobataging office equipment, abusing sick pay etc How many people now being supplied a laptop and phone aren't going to have a few days not working when these things are dropped, lost, or stolen? If your equipment is bust don't use it and if you are sick have some time off and refuse to do work if there are not enough staff. Above all don't work so bloody hard to put your colleagues out of a job and instead slow down and be critical of those who really want to make everything work and start resisting TR.

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  4. Hello Jim,

    Just thought I would pass on this weeks developments in our wonderful world of NPS probation. Our CRC colleagues have finally left us this week so we have no receptionists! Our admin have been made to cover until 1 replacement can be recruited, rumour has it that no applications have been received for this downgraded band 1 job! We had 4 in our office previously! Needless to say we've had tears and meltdown.

    Monday staff took abuse due to CRC systems including phones not being operative. Today 179 phone calls went unanswered goodness knows what important info we may have missed or crisis we may have been able to intervene in!! Our longstanding admin colleagues are applying for other jobs now.

    But all this pales into insignificance when we are hearing the problems our CRC colleagues are having and those of our clients who are compelled to adapt to the changes with what seems like no preparation! But on the upside we are getting an additional DM and SPO in our office so we will be ok!!

    Hope this info is of interest to you and if I can find the time I will try and write a blog piece about the impact TR is having now on the front line.

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  5. As many CRC offices start to open the futility of the desparate push to save money is already being seen with offenders not being breached, figures being fiddled staff provided with inadequate recording systems , staff safety being ignored or concerns dismissed by ex Probation managers who have taken the Kings shilling provided by Sodexo) and two years ago would have not sanctioned such behaviour......offices with open plan booths, offenders having to in some cases catch three or four buses to get to one of the much heralded hubs.....reception staff being made increasingly vulnerable....no NPS interface arrangements in place.....no one knows how to manage the estate properly........yes Chris, things are going swimmingly.......

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  6. Hi Jim thought you might be interested in this for your bits and pieces.
    Heard today that CRC management in my area overlooked the Courts sending clients to their new location on Monday morning!! I understand there was nothing in place to receive them, staff running around trying to locate paperwork etc! What a shambles!
    Thanks

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  7. Staff in our working links CRC are on their knees already, and 40 percent staff cuts will finish it off. But hey, they are soon to be customer advisers anyway not probation workers., with everyone required to train to deliver programmes cos 'that's where the money is.' Hell in a hand cart. 'Customers' already just not turning up for appointments cos they've cottoned on they won't be breached.

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  8. There is no evidence for any of the claims above. From the offices I have been too, everything was sufficient, interface was good, staff feedback was positive. I really don't think there is any evidence for what is being claimed.

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    1. No doubt then your a manager for Working Links then, what else can you say! Everyone can't be wrong, the evidence is over months on this blog not just today I'm afraid. The problem is there's nowhere to whistle blow when complaints are taken to people like you. The amount of SFOs is evidence enough. This whole transmission is a public disgrace designed to create shareholders profiting from crime and it's victims.

      Delete
    2. I'm sorry but I don't agree. You're incorrect. As for SFOs, I'm sorry but you're wrong again. On your point on whistle blowing. How can you whistle blow when there is nothing to whistle blow about? Have a good weekend.

      Delete
    3. "There is no evidence for any of the claims above. From the offices I have been too, everything was sufficient, interface was good, staff feedback was positive. I really don't think there is any evidence for what is being claimed."

      All the evidence refutes your statement. I have no idea who you are, what experience you have or what your motive is, but unless you come up with something rather more convincing, your deliberately provocative contributions will be deleted.

      Delete
    4. Do you have any evidence? Anyone can write anything here there or anywhere. There has to be proof and all the visits conducted so far including inspections have highlighted nothing of major concern. I read this blog and consider there to be a handful of disgruntled colleagues. For all we know all these comments could be by a handful of commentators?

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    5. And you could be part of the MoJ misinformation Department. Grow up.

      Delete
    6. Look Jim. Leave this geezer alone. He makes some majestic points

      Delete
    7. Anon 11:14, 11:30 and 11:35: "Anyone can write anything here there or anywhere."

      That's the only thing you've got right. The rest of your statements are bland to the point of vacuity. If you want us to have any faith in what you say, tell us how many offices you've been to and why - quite frankly if you are CRC senior management you have no idea what is going on at the ground level because the red carpet is always rolled out and cracks papered over.

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    8. The HMI inspector sat in front of us and told us/ me that the problems we listed were nationwide. He even said in places it was far worse. Now then, mr/ms theres-no-problems-anywhere, refute that.

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    9. I am one of the above contributors and can assure any doubters that there is plenty of evidence and managers are fully aware of this as we present it to them including to the director of Probation at Noms unfortunately it's just glossed over

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    10. re 1114, 1130 and 1135. I am a retired PO but keep in close touch with friends and colleagues in different regions and companies - PO's, PSO's, SPO's, admin and cleaners in a variety of offices in CRC and NPS, and have read a detailed information leaflet from a CRC chief, all of which adds up to pretty much what has been put on this blog today. People are despairing, and common sense should be telling those bloggers who are saying everything is fine that this cannot be - staff gone, systems not working, change for the sake of change, info not being passed on, no one to answer phones, CRC and NPS sharing same office and phone number and refusing to pass the call onto the relevant dept, files lost or destroyed along with essential historic info, and morale rock bottom with staff tearful and fearful - this cannot be denied - it is fact and you know it, 11 14 etc. TR is boiling up an inevitable serious crash on all fronts. How dare you say it is all lies!

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  9. Man in the pub tells me grayling has been savvy. If Gove was to terminate the CRC contracts if would cost the tax payer 3.1 billion in costs. Man in the pub with big ears also tells me the Tories are not even going to entertain the thought of reversing TR because of this.

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    1. The only way it will happen is if (when?) break clauses in the contracts are activated because of the CRC failures to meet their targets. With 40% cuts in some areas, that may be sooner than we think. However, this government believes private is always better than public, so a failing CRC will more likely find itself taken over by another company than the public sector.

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  10. Lawrence and Singh are all over this no doubt. Things will be okay. There on it. There will be no cuts. Fingers crossed!

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  11. Just like they were all over Sodexo and TR and the annual pay claim and the PI and everything else? No amount of bluff & bluster or backroom attempts to negotiate will make a bit of difference especially when the memberships remain supine. Many said during the campaign that this would happen and lo and behold it is coming to pass. Given Gove's inability to do anything about it due to the expense of the poison pill the only hope now is that the owners will simply hand the contracts back as they realise they can't make money. It's happened before. Watch out for the enormous fuck up on the horizon due at the end of the financial year when the difference between what the CRC think they've sold and the NPS think they've bought becomes apparent. The NPS won't have the money to pay them and not even the ghost army of accountants will be able to sort it out. What a fucking mess where the plight of victims of crime, help to change for offenders and the careers of dedicated professionals are all at stake but often forgotten

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    1. Think this is real possibility. Demonstrates Graylings total incompetence. We told you !

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  12. Friend of Man in the pub5 December 2015 at 15:17

    There will always be conspiracy theorists however the conspiracy theorists are those like 11 14 who say the've seen no evidence of any of the concerns raised elsewhere.....the practitioners know what's really going on and the managers are paid to not only to look the other way but to actively promote the phantom values of big business which is say one thing and do another.....still we must encourage the SOS to apportion blame correctly and at the moment he has the power to distance himself from the omnishambles created by Grayling.........now the man in the pub tells me that NOMS may have a plan to lay all the blame at his feet and be planning a significant announcement about the way business is done a soon as one of the new CRCs fails, which, he intimates is a lot closer than we think.......

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    1. Thanks for that. Tell "man down the pub" to keep us posted!

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