Here's To a Better Year

It will not have gone entirely unnoticed that there has been 'radio silence' of late and I guess the reason is probably connected with feelings of fatigue, confusion and general malaise brought on by the very strange times we've all been trying to grapple with over the last 10 months. 

For the most part, this publishing venture continues to give purpose, satisfaction and some pleasure, but I'm not at all sure where it's going, who's coming with me and if it will still have much of a purpose in 2021. 

Despite the demise of TR and our part in that saga, it's quite obvious to me that probation's essential distinctiveness and modus operandi cannot survive the dead hand of civil service control and to be honest I don't see even a half-hearted campaign to make a compelling case for a return to independence. As has been the situation almost from inception, this small corner of the internet remains a relatively safe haven for the idealistic, disillusioned but ever-diminishing band of recusants who steadfastly refuse to confirm that the NPS emperor is fully clothed, but is it still viable and useful?

There's going to be much angst during the CRC wind-up and NPS transition. We all know the centralised HR and payroll will barely cope and there will be tears shed over yet another sifting and shafting exercise. Many colleagues will be searching for support and guidance over the transition period, however I'm not at all confident that this can be achieved within a civil service mindset and especially one so focused on secrecy. Having at least one Union that still seems to have trouble coming to terms with effective communication in a digital age doesn't help either. 

In all this doom and gloom is there any cause for hope? The answer is yes and it comes from Wales. There is the very real opportunity of that part of the United Kingdom being able to wrest control of the probation function from the MoJ, HMPPS and NPS and re-cast the service into something akin to that still remaining in places such as Northern Ireland, Scotland the Channel Islands, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Crown Dependencies such as St Helena. You see it was only England that couldn't understand what probation was all about and allow Grayling, the Tories and Liberal Democrats to smash it. I have high hopes of Wales being able to lead the way back in 2021.  

In my view, if Wales cannot deliver an alternative, independent vision for probation, it's game over for the profession being able to do something useful for society. Probation Officers cannot be civil servants - period! Why is this not understood? Oh hang on - it's because most people never understood what the job was about anyway and why I thought a blog might help. 

--oo00oo--

I want to end this by putting on record my pride and admiration for living in a country with a National Health Service, the ethos that lies behind its formation and continuation and one of the very few institutions that has close to universal support from its citizens. Get vaccinated in 2021, continue to behave responsibly and help protect the NHS for our mutual benefit. 

Happy New Year!