Sunday 23 October 2016

Yet Another Million

The timing is not ideal as I'm still on holiday and trying not to spend too long on the laptop, but the counter indicates that this blog will quite shortly pass another significant milestone with a further million hits recorded. 

I seem to recall that on previous occasions it has been known for the odd celebratory glass or two to be consumed, but to be honest that's not likely given the continued daily cataloguing of the steady decline of a once proud profession. So many great, dedicated and skilled people forced out of a vital job, undertaken in the public service, but still sadly little understood.  

The blog started as a modest attempt at improving public understanding of a largely hidden and secretive agency of the state, but it's ended up cataloguing its demise instead. We've still not reached the end game and the omnishambles will undoubtedly continue to worsen.

If you've stuck with me thus far, I thank you warmly for your company, erudition and largely good humour. The blog has always felt like an extended family and of course that's what many of us fondly remember from probation days gone. If you can, please keep sharing information, because all the key probation stakeholders absolutely hate us doing that, but I guess that's precisely why so many readers keep coming back. 

Here's to the next chapter then and maybe another million.        

18 comments:

  1. You are an absolute gem, if it hits it's next million when I log in, I want a bottle too; of course, I will share! Enjoy your holiday!

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  2. Well done Jim great work

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  3. Congratulations Jim on your impending milestone .....through thick and thin you have been stalwart for the profession

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  4. Dear Sir, You may decline, but there is a Knighthood that more deservedly would be yours. For services to ... expression and protest against the destruction of our Probation Service, for light shone into the dark recesses of opaque grottos, take your place amongst those we hold true to a cause, unwavering, with good humour and passion. Arise. In short congratulations!

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  5. 4 million candles burning - for the help that never came

    A lullaby for suffering and a paradox to blame

    If thine is the glory – then mine must be the shame

    You want it darker – we killed the flame

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0nmHymgM7Y

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  6. Congratulations Jim. Hats off to you. xxx

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  7. Happy 2 Millionth Jim. Gonna hit and re-hit in the hope its me Thanks for sticking in there with us

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  8. Thank you for the blog Jim.

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  9. No idea where you are but enjoy a glass or two of the local tipple, be it champagne, cava, prosecco, vino verde, ouzzo or even vodka if you happen to be in Russia! Thanks for flying the flag for probation and the values many of us still try to uphold. We will keep reading and posting on the blog and if the privateers hate it then so much the better! Salute/ no pasaran!

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  10. 4M336 as I log on. Good Job, JB.

    Take issue with "secretive", but wholly concur with "hidden". In over 25 years of probation-based intervention the best work done was "invisible but effective". Now 12 months free from being involved with shysters, bullies & arseholes (CRC & NPS) but still working with those who need guidance & assistance from a non-judgemental source.

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  11. An interesting story for your millionth viewing. Both prison and probation are employing anybody nowadays due to cuts, lack of training, hoards of agency staff. No wonder it's going down the pan!

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3865078/Prison-guard-inmate-said-pretty-smuggled-phones-jail-send-sex-texts-murderer-infatuated-him.html

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  12. Listening to Radio 4 this morning, (Monday) discussing the need for rehabilitation, skilled workers, and an overhaul of the prisons. Jeez: merrygoround

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    1. Yes thanks to Jim for keeping this avenue of reporting open, it has lasted longer than some others but then in probation we are used to new brooms who seem to be hidden after they have been out of the cupboard a couple of times.

      Of course that report about rehabilitation is from a very old broom, one that predates probation legislation by about a hundred and fifty years.

      I had not realised that The Royal Society of Arts and Manufactures had what might be termed a 'Think Tank' function but I was wrong they have studies going on all the time about all manner of social issues and now also rehabilitation of convicts.

      https://medium.com/rsa-reports/a-matter-of-conviction-a-blueprint-for-community-based-rehabilitative-prisons-e56676c96083#.sf68oy1ix

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    2. "The report, A Matter of Conviction: A Blueprint for Community-Based Prisons, sets out a new way of running the prison and probation system, and outlines how inconsistent political leadership has created a system which puts community safety at risk and does not reduce reoffending. It estimates that the cost to the taxpayer of reoffending in England and Wales could be as high as £10.7 billion.

      The report calls for the government’s forthcoming White Paper to prioritise a National Rehabilitation Strategy, running to 2020, which should contain:

      - Legislation to establish a new rehabilitation duty, requiring prisons and probation to track individual and institutional progress towards rehabilitation
      - Urgent investment to return frontline staffing numbers to 2010 levels to reduce security and safety risks and to protect prisoners and frontline workers. This would address the 28% fall in officer-grade staff between 2010 and 2016.
      - A new 2020 Rehabilitative Workforce Plan to retrain prison officers focussing on rehabilitation skills. This would create an empowered workforce with more transferable skills and deeper knowledge about behaviour change and the needs of the prison population.
      - The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) should become a smaller, more independent arms-length function focused on resilience issues such as population management and the high-security estate
      - The creation of Local Prison Boards, comprised of community members such as health, housing and education services, local authorities, employers and service users, should take over funding responsibilities from NOMS and oversee strategy for each prison.
      By 2020, the remit of Police and Crime Commissioners should be expanded to include commissioning prisons and probation services to meet the needs of their region"

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  13. Comments speak volumes and many have drawn great strength/resilience from your steadfastness and resolute resolve to continue to shine a light into the dark recesses of TR. As OUR Long Haul continues Yet another Publication Reveals more of the crisis that both Prisons/Probation are in. Your fortitude has been an inspiration too many and a sanctuary in which others have felt able to share the hearts, minds and voices about our ever changing and much Loved Probation World.
    I too wish you all the very best JB I hope you enjoy your RR and thank you Jim Brown iangould5 PS I do hope that those that can will write and or meet there MP and ask them to sign EDM531 16 Take Care everyone iangould5

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  14. Keep on going Jim.

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  15. In our NHS team meeting in a office 'up north' we were asked to look for cases to pass to new OS OS who arrived 2 weeks ago, they have no experience and have had no training. They all look like they have come straight from school. If only the public knew this is how seriously their safety is being taken. The whole shitty mess is an absolute joke. But so so worrying. Where will it all end? Tragedy no doubt somebody do something before it's too late.



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    1. NPS that should read, sorry

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