Remembering Sue Hall OBE

I was sad to hear of the death of Sue Hall, former CPO of West Yorkshire Probation Service at the weekend. It was always quite obvious to me that Sue represented the very best of the probation ethos and did all she could to keep its spirit alive following TR. A self-confessed probation 'lifer', I was fortunate to meet her some years ago in the early days of this blog and was in the audience when she delivered the 17th annual Bill McWilliams Memorial Lecture in 2014. These were my reflections at the time:-

A Ray of Light

With impeccable timing and perfect choice of speaker, the 17th annual Bill McWilliams Memorial Lecture was delivered yesterday by Sue Hall, the outgoing CEO of West Yorkshire Probation Trust. Readers may recall that Professor Paul Senior spoke passionately last year at this increasingly important event hosted by the Cambridge Institute of Criminology and that continues to help keep alive the true spirit of probation.

Although Sue's speaking style is somewhat less flamboyant than some, she nevertheless effectively confirmed what many already know, namely that she is a probation 'lifer' having nothing but quiet disdain for TR and all it represents. Just two weeks in to the omnishambles, she described the whole effect on staff as being 'raw' and the mood currently 'flat', thus pretty much echoing things on here.

It's quite obvious that for anyone such as Sue who feels passionately about the profession, the last year or so has been dreadful, especially seen from her position as Chair of the Probation Chiefs Association and Vice Chair of the Confederation of European Probation. But her message is essentially one of hope in reminding us that governments come and go, as do people and policies.

As transitional director of the newly launched Probation Institute, she makes a strong case for saying it should be regarded as a 'ray of light' in what is otherwise a pretty gloomy landscape. Now enshrined in TOM and embedded in the specification that any purchaser of a CRC will have to take account of, Sue feels that the Institute will be absolutely fundamental in ensuring that whatever eventually transpires under TR2, probation ethics and practice will remain centre stage for any and all providers of probation services in the future.

The idea for an independent Institute has been around for some time, but Sue made plain that before TR the MoJ had no desire to 'buy in' to the concept. It could be that many of us will have to rethink our attitude to the newcomer, especially as it's quite clear that despite initial cynicism regarding the timing and support from the MoJ, the Institute is most definitely in safe probation hands at the moment. There are plans to adopt a Code of Ethics, establish a registration process for practitioners and provide courses for professional development, all good ideas in themselves.

To sum up, I'm left feeling that the fight against TR can continue. We carry on highlighting the utter dangerous and unworkable folly of the whole thing, but maybe also quietly give thanks that for insurance purposes the Probation Institute gains strength and continues to develop as the long-term custodian of our shared professional beliefs and values. Probation is important and must continue; it's governments, people and policies that come and go.

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Why Probation Matters

Abstract

Probation matters because of its role in creating a humane justice system. At probation's core is a value base which unites the profession and has been sustained through political change. The politically driven restructuring of probation through ‘Transforming Rehabilitation’ did not build on probation's achievements, nor was it evidence led. International examples show the negative impact of privatisation if values are secondary to profit. The fragmentation of service provision and removal of the requirement of a unifying probation qualification framework also pose major threats to the profession. The new Probation Institute will be important in maintaining professional identity and standards.

A transcript of that lecture can be found here.

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'In Memoriam: Sue Hall, former Vice President of CEP' 

It is with great sadness that we have to inform you of the passing away, last Friday evening 26th June, of CEP former Vice President Sue Hall.

Sue Hall was one of the most outstanding Probation figures of her generation. A linguist, she graduated in Russian and German from the University of Cambridge, Girton College in 1974, but chose to make her career in the Probation Service, gaining a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work at University College Cardiff in 1979. Her initial career was with the Humberside Probation Service, rising to Assistant Chief Probation Officer there in 1993. Her abilities, drive and commitment saw several further promotions. She became Deputy Chief Probation Officer in West Yorkshire in 2000 and whilst in that role she also achieved an MBA in 2002. In 2004, Sue was appointed Chief Probation Officer of the South Wales Service. She returned to West Yorkshire Probation as its Chief Executive Officer in 2005, in which role she remained until her retirement from that post in 2014. Under Sue’s leadership the West Yorkshire Trust gained a reputation for excellence. Sue was awarded an OBE in 2010 in recognition of her service to Probation.

In addition to her duties as CEO in Yorkshire, Sue was a national figure in England and Wales as Chair of the Probation Chiefs Association (PCA) from 2009 until its dissolution in 2014, a period of great turbulence in Probation, requiring astute leadership. She subsequently became a Non-Executive Director of the Probation Institute and a Trustee of the charity Prisoners Abroad from 2014 to 2017.

Such was Sue’s energy and drive that in addition to her other roles she was also simultaneously active at European level, acting as Vice President of the Confederation of European Probation (CEP) between 2010 and 2016. Amongst many other achievements she chaired the CEP Planning Group for the first and highly successful World Congress of Probation held in London in 2012. In 2014 Sue was honoured to present the annual Bill McWilliams lecture at the University of Cambridge Institute of Criminology.

All the above bear testament to Sue’s total commitment to the Probation Service and its values at local, national and international level. Highly intelligent, hard working and purposeful Sue was well respected by all who worked with her for her ability; her clarity of thought; her first class organisational skills; her integrity and her humanity.

Following her retirement from the West Yorkshire Probation Trust, characteristically Sue remained very active both professionally and in pursuing her other broad ranging interests: the arts, choral singing, travel, gardening, friendships and improving her language skills. Even in the face of her courageous final struggle with an aggressive brain tumour, Sue remained positive and determined to make the most of her life and each and every day to the very end. She was sustained by her intellectual curiosity and optimism, always looking for the positive in life, but most of all by her love and passion for her family, her grandchildren bringing her a particular joy.

Sue’s was a life well lived, sadly prematurely shortened by a cruel illness.

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Napo has been deeply saddened at the news of the passing of Sue Hall. Sue was a stalwart of probation.

Sue was the former Chief Officer for West Yorkshire Probation Trusts, the Chair of Probation Chiefs Association and later went on to work with the Probation Institute.

Katie Lomas Napo National Chair said “I am so sad to hear this news about my former Chief at West Yorkshire Probation, Sue Hall. The relationship between Chief and Union rep (who is also your subordinate) isn’t always easy to navigate but Sue did it well and I learned so much from her, about being a good Probation Officer and a good Napo rep”.

Ian Lawrence General Secretary added, “Sue was a champion for excellence in Probation. She fought with Napo to challenge Transforming Rehabilitation. I am sure she would have been pleased with the Government change in Policy. She will be greatly missed”. Napo would like to extend our condolences to her family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.