Yesterday the Times published an old-fashioned scoop that confirms what we all know, namely that Chris Grayling's Transforming Rehabilitation has been a complete disaster. The contracts are to be terminated early, probably by agreement, because we also know that despite being 'bunged' more cash, the CRC's aren't making any money no matter how many staff they continue to shed.
Although coyly described as a leak by the MoJ, it's a big story because it's really the first sign that the government know it's all been a disaster and I suspect are wanting to test the water with the brilliant idea of just making the contracts bigger, thus attracting the likes of Serco and G4S, Serious Fraud Office investigations not withstanding.
Coming at the same time as Dame Glenys Stacey confirms her days as HM Chief Inspector are numbered, it would surely be reasonable to expect Napo would be on the front foot with an incisive Press Release in response? But no, just the usual bland soundbites:-
"Big story in Times adds to speculation about fate of CRC Contracts. This is one option being looked at as part of the ongoing Probation System Review. Critical period for Probation, thats why we need a GS who understands the issues." Ian Lawrence on TwitterProbation firms’ contracts will be ripped up
Ministers are looking to terminate the contracts in 2020, two years early, after concluding that they are unlikely to work. The decision was made after it was disclosed that some offenders were monitored with one brief telephone call every six weeks.
Chris Grayling launched the scheme as justice secretary in 2015 to encourage innovation and to reduce re-offending. The state-run probation service was split into 21 community rehabilitation companies (CRCs) that were given seven-year contracts worth £3.7 billion to monitor low to medium-risk offenders.
The 21 services run by CRCs will be reduced to about 14 and new tenders will be issued to run the bigger probation areas, The Times understands.
The Ministry of Justice said: “All options remain on the table.”
It comes as Dame Glenys Stacey, the chief inspector of probation, has decided she will stand down next year at the end of her three year contract. It had been hoped she would seek an extension of her contract.
Dame Glenys, 64, was at the centre of controversy earlier this year when she agreed to take on a review of farm inspection expected to take up to two days a week from March to December this year. Her departure is not linked to the impending shake-up of the probation service.
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Statement from Chief Inspector Dame Glenys Stacey
Dame Glenys Stacey will be stepping down as HM Chief Inspector of Probation at the end of her current term. She is not seeking a re-appointment. Dame Glenys was appointed as Chief Inspector in March 2016 on a three-year fixed term.
Dame Glenys said:
Dame Glenys Stacey will be stepping down as HM Chief Inspector of Probation at the end of her current term. She is not seeking a re-appointment. Dame Glenys was appointed as Chief Inspector in March 2016 on a three-year fixed term.
Dame Glenys said:
“It is so important for those receiving youth offending and probation services and for the wider public, that providers and government are held to account for the quality of those services. HMI Probation plays a pivotal role.
I am delighted that the inspectorate is now able to play its full part in driving improvements where needed to these important services, so that people can have complete faith in community sentencing, probation supervision and the careful work done by youth offending teams.
We have introduced new ways of inspecting, underpinned by new quality standards. Organisations providing youth offending and probation services will now be rated by HMI Probation, just as schools and hospitals are rated by Ofsted and CQC.
In many ways, the job I set out to do is done. HMI Probation has grown into a capable and respected organisation, with a strong senior management team, and people can be assured that the inspectorate will continue to do excellent work.”
More details on the appointment of a successor will follow.
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More details on the appointment of a successor will follow.
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'Dear all'
An article has been published in todays Times which is about the national CRC contractual discussions that are currently ongoing between CRC providers and the MOJ. Cathy James, senior contract manager with the Directorate of Community Intervention at HMPPS has asked Interserve to share the following lines with all probation staff. She is also sharing the same correspondence with all NPS and CRC staff.
1. the article is based on a leak and does not reflect agreed Govt policy
2. The MOJ is in commercial discussions with CRC parent organisations. Those discussions are ongoing and no final decisions have yet been taken on our future plans for probation.
3. Our priority is to ensure operational stability for the probation system so that staff can continue to focus on the important work they do to protect the public, rehabilitate offenders and deliver the sentences of the court.
4. As and when ministers develop proposals about future changes to the probation system, there will of course be proper engagement with staff, trade unions and stakeholders.
If you receive any questions from the media or other sources about the future of CRC contracts and the probation system, you should direct them to Stephen Hallmark, Interserve Comms Manager.
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Editor's note
This blog received 3,000 hits yesterday, confirming it's still the 'go to' place whenever a probation story breaks - cheers.
It is outrageous that it has taken so long for them to admit this failure. This 'project' has ruined lives - service users and former trust employees. Some of my former colleagues will never recover.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jim for bringing together this information and publishing on this site.
Love the bit at the end;
ReplyDeleteIf you receive any questions from the media or other sources please direct them to Stephen Hallmark, Interserve Comms Manager'.
Yep done that, Piers Morgan looks forward to interviewing you Stephen on Good Morning Britain. Coco pops to the ready if that interview could be arranged.
Can't agree with that Andrew. The model is a mess, but the approach of these privateers makes it much worse. They are only interested in the money at the expense of the service and the rights of the workers employed to deliver it. I have never known bullying and coercion like it!
ReplyDeleteYou missed one JB!
DeleteWell said, say NO to creating 14 larger mistakes. Put the service back together. It’s wasn’t broken, so why did they try to fix it?
DeleteMaybe its now time to engage in discussions with legal team (Mishcon de Reya, perhaps?) about suing Grayling &/or govt for damages caused by his/their wilful negligence, incompetence & failure in duty of care viz-probation staff losing careers, loss of earnings, loss of EVR, consequences for mental & physical health, etc. Grayling held Golden Shares in all CRCs so should have exercised duty of care towards staff.
ReplyDeleteIt would make an interesting case, no?
Re: Interserve email to staff.
ReplyDeleteOne of the more insidious elements to the privatisation of which I was aware fairly early on was the need for the pending employers to ensure that the staff that are in situ continue to do the job so that the operation rolls on whilst the new employers plan their moves. What this means, in simple terms, is that the existing employees remain at their stations whilst decisions are made about their futures. If the workforce panics and starts leaving in droves, the employer cannot function.
So, when Interserve says' don't panic', you need to ask yourself 'in whose interests is it for Interserve employees to remain at their desks'? I would respectfully suggest that it is in Interserve's interest for staff to continue to deliver services whilst they move the deckchairs. It is not necessarily in the interests of staff.
Interserve are in trouble full stop. Share prices are tumbling and being questioned this week by the PAC Debbie White CEO admitted that Interserve have now been given a red rating by government.
Delete"The government has given Interserve a red rating as a strategic supplier, meaning it has “significant material concerns” about the company."
'Getafix
The point I was making at 9.51 was that the companies are not beyond providing disingenuous and manipulative information to staff in an effort to 'keep them sweet' e.g. no-one mentioned the extent of redundancies as the CRCs were created even though the tenders clearly identified the extent of the job losses long before they happened.
DeleteI worked for Interserve, having worked in Probation for 14 years before that. I have never in all my life been treated with such disrespect by Senior Managers who by all accounts have moved up the Ranks without really having a clue how yo run a business, they are practitioners. My advice is don't hang around waiting, if another job comes your way it's not worth hanging on for the Pension because let's face it you're not going to see it anyway, you'll be six foot under due to stress related death. Trust No-one at Interserve my friends!!
Deletehttps://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tory-mp-who-top-boss-12710770
ReplyDeleteWithout wishing to give demagoguery a shot in the arm, you can understand why there is such widespread disillusionment with elites. On the day we read about the revolution which could not be piloted because in 'Yes Minister' speak revolutions are not piloted, we see what happens when you tear down trusted structures and replace them with the crooked timbers of political ideology. And to think the MoJ team won awards for their vandalism. We also read that universal credit, where it is rolled out, results in a 30% increase of foodbanks. Way behind schedule – only 10% of claimants in receipt– and costing almost £700 to administer each claim against an original target of £170. Two failed revolutions which would not have happened if those with actual knowledge of how to run services had been listened to.
ReplyDeleteWe now face another reorganisation within the probation marketplace. Probation has been gutted of experienced workers and had its ethos battered. We could have told the privateers that crime does not pay. What it does is ruin lives: it licences predators and creates victims. Meanwhile, Mr Big has diversified into railways.
It's been common knowledge for a while that some companies that run CRCs want out. Also that others intend to bid again and are currently in talks with Moj about the shape of the new contracts. The proposed reduction to 14 CRCs from 21 is likley to reflect this. I wouldn't be suprised to see those companies looking to bid again to have their 'areas' expanded.
ReplyDeleteOne thing's for sure though, we're more likely to see the NPS privatised than the CRCs going back into public ownership.
If you haven't already, treat yourself and read Craig Brown's parody of Chris Grayling's diary in this week's Private Eye. It is a piss take of a man who has no sense of self awareness or responsibility. It is alluding to his present stewardship of the railways but could easily have probation inserted instead. It ends with him being chased by a crowd and falling into a manhole: The crowd chasing me rushes past, having failed to notice me. I take the brave and bold decision to remain down here for the foreseeable future, or until lessons are learned.
ReplyDeleteIt would be funnier, if it wasn't actually accurate.
Interserve or G4S - Hell just got a damn sight hotter , I currently work for CGM Interserve and in all my 18years have never felt so demoralised and cooperate bullied and yes 1737 I couldn't agree more - I'm so sick of hearing management going on about the bloody Model that so obviously isn't working and why staff are going off sick with stress, leaving in droves and vacancies unfilled because everyone ( apart from the powers that be ) know how awful it is.
ReplyDeleteIf the story is true it potentially represents a rerun of getting all the deals done before the next general election. Signed, sealed and delivered for another 7 - 10 years. It represents an intent to persevere with the privatisation of public services. We need to start lobbying again. Surely not every Tory MP is a dogmatic supporter of privatising and outsourcing important public services.
ReplyDelete@19:33 & 17:37 I also work for Interserve Hampshire and yes you're correct the corporate bullying has got out of hand. HR are the worst, they lie and definitely don't have the employees best interests at heart.
ReplyDeleteAll these Interchange managers and Directors whom were once Probation Officers,that sat at a desk beside us, so far up their own arses they can barely bring themselves to say Hello in the hallways. We all say it, the problem isn't the Service Users, the problem is Managers and Directors. Us Senior Case Managers and Case Managers, Administration and Program facilitator's are keeping you in a job Mr and Mrs Director! Without us you would be f***ed! More so than you already are.
Ian Mulholland has an awful lot to answer for in my opinion, he is ruthless. Just biding my time until another job comes my way. Sad Times.
If you receive any questions from the media or other sources about the future of CRC contracts and the probation system, you should direct them to Stephen Hallmark, Interserve Comms Manager.
ReplyDeleteHell Media, if you want a scoop contact any CRC Interserve staff we'll give you the lowdown for free. It's not like we're frightened of losing our jobs because lets face it we work for the most unstable firm in the Country at the minute.
Corporate bullying? Yes Ma'Lord and you ain't heard anything yet. The storm is brewing, the tables are turning, and we're ready to fight back! Watch this space.........
Yes Hello Media
DeleteHow about an intersevre/CRC driving service users around in unroadworthy vans for community service, putting them and others at potentially serious risk. Leave your details, there's a good story there if you want it
@19:47
DeleteWhy on earth would you report it to a Newspaper? If you think there is a Risk report it to your Manager and so forth.
And if you're the supervisor driving the van then you're the one at fault for driving a potentially dangerous vehicle.
It's not Rocket Science!
I totally agree. NPS are struggling with meeting targets with back loads of work and In the midst of all this a changeover of IT systems with a couple of hours training. Issuing improvement notices is an insult just because you trigger a date never mind the stress to staff the only exceptions appear to be maternity related matters, industrial workplace injuries and terminal illnesses. Just adding insult to injury. A medical sick note is issued for a genuine reason irrelevant of business needs installing fear into the workforce just puts them under stress.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Grayling should have a duty of care to staff. How are NPS suppose to support CRC when they themselves are struggling to keep up with volumes of work
DeleteThe bullying, coercion and promotions of incompetent individuals to senior management in SEETEC run KSS CRC mirrors everything people have posted above. Expert and experienced staff leaving in droves as promotions are handed out to YES people who lack expertise and knowledge but are vociferous in their commitment to holding up the delusion of what a great job they're all doing in trying to legitimise poor practice, lining the pockets of vultures and sending integrity out to sea in a leaking dinghy.Those of us left behind trying to do the best for the people we work with just can't keep up with the flood of mediocrity and lies that's threatening to drown us.
ReplyDeleteIt's slash and burn time again for the DLNR CRC. INGEOUS are moving the customer service centre again from Nottingham back to Birmingham what a flaming sham they are just consolidating we feel for the next contract bids and dropping Dlnr CRC area .
ReplyDeleteC/P Cso 's being made redundant in Nottingham as this doesn't fit I in with the company plan bullshit they were told when pressed by senior management it was all about money no thing else told it was to enline them the everyone else within the company ,shame the other areas are failing compared to Nottingham in CP
In Nottingham CP it's run and controlled by Cso's and proudly they don't send service users home as it is well managed by this small the band of Cso's .in Derby and Leicestershire and SWM service users are regularly sent home due to lack of staff, projects as in these areas there are no Cso's running the day to day operation and in these two areas supervisors are left with no direct support as they use Cpo's who have to try and balance a large case loads and try and run the Cp teams, this doesn't give the CP supervisors the real support they need . This won't be addressed I'm afraid until a CP supervisor is attracked ,hurt or even worse!!!! as the company thinks it's ok for them to call the police for urgent support !! We all know the police are stretched and any time delay getting onsite could mean the difference between being attacked or being supported quickly by Cso!'s .On lots of occasions emergency calls to the police there has been a long delay in getting to the work site !
Cso!s offer an instant response to onsite threats giving supervisors direct support this in ingeous's mind isn't required ! god forgive that one our our CP supervisors aren't killed or maimed whilst trying to control a service user who has lost the plot !unless you have run a workgroup on your own often miles from anywhere you wouldn't understand how isolated you feel when someone is kicking off and all you have for protection is a mobile phone !think about ti !!!
Cso's will be gone in November in Nottingham,they are very underestimated in this role in what they offer to the fine line of running a CP unit safely .
Nottingham CP is the only area in DLNR and dare I say it SWM that actually run properly and hit their targets and don't let service users down but are this area costs more than Others. So they are being put in line with the failing areas purely down to cost !!!!!!!!saving money over safety .
I feel so sad for what these staff members have to deal with daily basis and the stress on all the CP Staff units are being put under, and it's all done for the benefit of the CRC's to save money not enhancing the service but as we've all seen destroy a service we all love .
Pure fact is staff don't matter to them !!!!
Shame on them.