I was on a training event the other day with probation. Staff, my god I have never met such a bunch of miserable, unsympathetic, condemning individuals in all my life, my god I know you are overworked and paid rubbish but lots of your colleagues are dreadful.
*****
I’ve read this several times, I want to say what nonsense but I think people have changed and I think the lack of agency we now have over our own work, the constant stress and unremitting pressure has led to this. It is nasty in our workplace and it feels like we are at the coal face chipping away and shovelling as hard as we can but everything just gets worse. I honestly think the only humanity and kindness I encounter is from PoPs ( “call them that / no don’t call them that, write it in full don’t abbreviate it’s disrespectful, we’ve changed our minds on this one”). I really wish the treatment of us by senior managers was exposed but we are not one, we are divided without any sense of collective identity and as soon as anyone speaks up, a colleague will say the opposite, even about someone’s direct experience. It is just nasty. PO 170% caseload, unable to sleep and trying to plan my forthcoming day.
*****
They've extended the People's Survey. They did this last year and let's be clear - there is only one reason to do this and it's because they're worried about numbers. All they care about is the numbers. They do not care about your carefully worded complaints; they will not even read them. All they care about is numbers because numbers can be spun as engagement. They're not stupid, they've seen the research about poorly engaged work forces, about stress, about over work and burn out. But if they get numbers in the survey they can convince themselves everything is all right.
We've completed the People's Survey (some of us, ex-CRC joined later) since 2014 and everything has got worse. We're paid less and made to do more work. We're required to absorb more change and more chaos. The people we work with get treated worse and worse by the system. Completing the survey has never mitigated any of these issues - they've all got worse.
So, the only way to fully express our contempt and distress is to not complete the survey. It is the only message they understand. Don't do it. Lie to your manager when they ask - they will never know so just lie. They will be asked to account for the poor levels of completion and engagement. It is our best weapon - use it.
*****
I’ve read this several times, I want to say what nonsense but I think people have changed and I think the lack of agency we now have over our own work, the constant stress and unremitting pressure has led to this. It is nasty in our workplace and it feels like we are at the coal face chipping away and shovelling as hard as we can but everything just gets worse. I honestly think the only humanity and kindness I encounter is from PoPs ( “call them that / no don’t call them that, write it in full don’t abbreviate it’s disrespectful, we’ve changed our minds on this one”). I really wish the treatment of us by senior managers was exposed but we are not one, we are divided without any sense of collective identity and as soon as anyone speaks up, a colleague will say the opposite, even about someone’s direct experience. It is just nasty. PO 170% caseload, unable to sleep and trying to plan my forthcoming day.
*****
They've extended the People's Survey. They did this last year and let's be clear - there is only one reason to do this and it's because they're worried about numbers. All they care about is the numbers. They do not care about your carefully worded complaints; they will not even read them. All they care about is numbers because numbers can be spun as engagement. They're not stupid, they've seen the research about poorly engaged work forces, about stress, about over work and burn out. But if they get numbers in the survey they can convince themselves everything is all right.
We've completed the People's Survey (some of us, ex-CRC joined later) since 2014 and everything has got worse. We're paid less and made to do more work. We're required to absorb more change and more chaos. The people we work with get treated worse and worse by the system. Completing the survey has never mitigated any of these issues - they've all got worse.
So, the only way to fully express our contempt and distress is to not complete the survey. It is the only message they understand. Don't do it. Lie to your manager when they ask - they will never know so just lie. They will be asked to account for the poor levels of completion and engagement. It is our best weapon - use it.
The world has turned nasty - politicians tell blatant lies for pecuniary & other advantages, they sanction/excuse breaches of international law, people are fed utter bullshit & many seem to like the taste... where & when will it all stop?
ReplyDelete2024 - can you imagine what's next? Trump in power, tories back in, Gaza wiped off the face of the planet, Ukraine & Russia still slugging it out, millions more slaughtered in local wars in Africa, in Azerbaijan/Nagorno-Karabakh, in Syria, in Yemen... and not a single UN sanction or rebuke is heeded by anyone.
Probation was annexed & destroyed by the government, regardless of the voices saying it was dangerous, it was wrong - morally & practically.
We seem to live in an era where state-sponsored destruction & disruption & disinformation is welcomed. A time when humanity, compassion & truth are of no consequence to those in power - and a large swathe of our population, i.e. the majority, are either in full agreement or simply can't be arsed to voice dissent.
The world is far too comfortable for some.
A lot of complaining and right now I'm comfortable. Before this comfort I was fighting the management supporting colleagues attending the union meetings . What I learnt was too many new faces only take what they needed. At the split they all came and when in Nps they all went elitist. Dumping our CRC friends as second rate. No I think probation has gotten what it deserves just deserts don't you lot call it. Enjoy you asked for it. For those of you who don't LEAVE.
Deletehttps://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2023/10/13/error-of-judgment-in-probation-supervision-of-damien-bendall-inquest-hears/
DeleteOne of the problems when there's a recruitment problem and churn such as HMPPS have is that the focus is inevitably on getting bums on seats.
ReplyDeleteJust recruit people and fill the void. Who's being recruited becomes a secondary consideration.
I found the the background to the recent HMPPS recruitment drive advertisement pretty telling, and really designed to sell snake oil to the masses.
https://www.lbbonline.com/news/ordinary-people-take-on-extraordinary-jobs-in-hm-prison-and-probation-service-recruitment-spots
'Getafix
Well then. It was a fine inspirational thing, Probation. Its got wounded and worse. Exponentially worse. It will get better or reinvented over time I hope, but I'm older and exhausted and I can't keep on going in to work each day just to be made angry and full of grief. The irony is that one leg of the spider that is MoJ/HMPPS would promote and nurture all my skills and experience. Nonetheless the other seven legs (bureaucratic targets, shit outsourced interventions, shit outsourced HR, risk aversion, crap office facilities, political expediency) , have me in a a grip that only one action can help. Notice handed in.
ReplyDeleteI have also handed in my notice as that is the only option. I hope things change but I won’t be part of that change.
DeleteRotten to
ReplyDeleteCore
Sick of constant daily people survey emails and now they have removed the free text boxes to make general comments. Even more scared to hear people's true feelings I think.
ReplyDeleteFFS, as if not bad enough we will now have to supervise 1000's more people leaving prison early under new guidance that will be published on Monday plus those who will not go to prison if their sentence is less than 6 months. HMPPS need to get some corporate bums off their seats and put them on the coal face to help us out. There is so much beauracracy it's making the job impossible yet we are chastised for failing to do referrals etc. Give us proper admin help. We need PA'S to help us organise the caseload and someone to help with things like AP referrals, breaches or IOM referrals, these could be completed by someone with guidance from the probation officer. We are burnt out and continuing to beat us all with sticks won't help. I really fear there will be an exodus soon.
ReplyDeleteI will not be going to work on Monday. I am tired. I go to work as I have done for 17 years, a once proud probation officer totally demoralised by the shit show probation has become and the disgusting treatment of staff. I go home tired and then watch politicians from both major parties condoning Israeli actions in Gaza. The actions of Hamas should have been seen for what it was-murder terrorism- but the actions of a so called democratic state which flouts international law has only exasperated the horrors. Am I depressed? Probably. Am I angry, fuck yes. I am probably fortunate that I don’t use drugs, including alcohol, to mask my thoughts. I hope the younger generation can create a better, more just world.
ReplyDeleteAnon 19:36 Please take care and look after yourself. I do wish more people could be encouraged to write about their experiences for publication anonymously. I know this blog is widely read by senior management and others in positions of influence. Confidential contact can be made via jimbrown51@virginmedia.com
Delete19.36 I feel the same, both about my job and the situation in the middle East. I'm exhausted, demoralised, feel very low at times. The day before Hammas attacked I had an awful nightmare that I was sheltering under some stairs and people were screaming all around, then i woke up and saw the news and felt very disoriented. Today I had a vague thought I should maybe have a drink or take a tranquilliser prescribed for my relative. I realise this isn't good and i didn't do either of course. I feel edgy all the time.I have had therapy for PTSD caused by the job. It helps a bit but only scratches the surface. Do take care and see your GP, try to get support and don't think you are to blame because you are not. This is such an incredibly difficult job and we get scant support or recognition. We have to look after ourselves because the service won't. So don't go in Monday and do what feels right for you.
DeleteAnon 17:02 Thanks for sharing and hope you are taking care. You are most definitely not alone - see Guest Blog tomorrow.
DeleteTheres too many people in prison. That's why prisons are full.
ReplyDeleteTheres too many people subject to probation. That's why probation cant cope.
The situation is nonsensical. Every person leaving custody is funneled into probation causing more chaos, and those on probation are being breached and sent back to prison increasing the chaos on already over crowded prisons.
Its criminal justice tennis, and nobody seems to understand that the balls sometime have to be cleared from the court to allow the game to continue.
There is no need for nearly a quarter a million people to be subject to probation, and theres no need, or purpose to funnel every person leaving custody into probation.
The current broken model means that if prisons have a capacity problem, so too has probation.
Just what is achieved by subjecting everyone who receives a prison sentence to at least a year on probation post release?
Chaos, SFOs and great leaders maybe?
'Getafix
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-67105690
ReplyDelete"Killamarsh murders: Probation errors justified, inquest told"
A probation officer was overseeing 350 cases when she handed the supervision of a man who went on to kill to a junior colleague, a coroner has heard.
Damien Bendall murdered his partner, her two children and another child at a home in Derbyshire in 2021.
DeleteSenior probation officer Tracey Hume told Chesterfield Coroners' Court errors made in managing Bendall were "very justified" given her workload.
Bendall is serving a whole-life sentence for the murders.
Police attended a property in Killamarsh on 19 September 2021 where they found the bodies of Terri Harris, 35, her son John Bennett, 13, daughter Lacey Bennett, 11, and Lacey's 11-year-old friend Connie Gent.
They had all been killed with a claw hammer.
Weeks before the killings, Bendall had been given a suspended sentence for an unrelated arson offence, after being incorrectly categorised as posing a low risk to partners and children and a medium risk to the public.
Ms Hume said Bendall's case was one of 350 she had to oversee when she allocated it to a probation officer with just six months of experience.
The junior officer could only deal with low-risk offenders, the court heard.
Ms Hume told the court that allocating Bendall's supervision to her junior colleague was not a poor decision based on what she knew at the time.
However, she said the decision not to reallocate it when clear evidence later emerged that Bendall posed a high risk was an "error of judgment".
"I can say it was an error of judgment under the circumstances I was working under," she said.
"I was trying to juggle everything.
"While I'm not trying to be defensive and say it was not egregious, what I'm trying to say is I cannot manage or micromanage 350 cases.
"So while yes, I appreciate there were errors, I'm just saying there were very, very justified reasons as to why I did not see all of these at the time."
The court had previously heard from probation staff dealing with Bendall's case who said their workload was "overwhelming".
A subsequent report into Bendall's case by the Inspectorate of Probation singled out Ms Hume's allocation decision as "another example of poor allocation practice to add to the other serious issues".
DeleteBut Ms Hume told the inspectorate that staff were put under "impossible pressure" and told the inquests that high workloads prevented her from fulfilling the oversight requirements of her role.
"In the circumstances that we were under, in the type of absolute pressure on everybody, I did every single thing that I could for this case and every single one of my cases," she said.
"It was not possible to do absolutely everything on the list of things we needed to do."
The inquests continue.
Guardian Yesterday:-
ReplyDeletePrisoners in England and Wales could be moved into portable buildings or released early as part of a huge extension of the electronic tagging scheme, as the justice secretary considers creative measures to solve the overcrowding crisis.
Alex Chalk KC is expected to reveal a package of measures on Monday that could add 2,600 prison places across the estate, the Guardian understands.
The lord chancellor has been under mounting pressure after revealing at the Conservative party conference that the government would seek to rent prison cells in foreign countries to help alleviate the burden.
Last week the prison population rose to 88,016, an increase of more than 6,500 in a year and almost 10,000 up on two years ago. This week judges were told to delay the sentencing of convicted criminals currently on bail – including rapists and burglars – because prisons were full.
Chalk could reveal next week that as many as 1,000 rapid deployment cells are to be installed in open prisons before the end of the year to boost spaces, and that officials will force more inmates to double up in cells.
The home detention curfew tag programme was expanded earlier this year, allowing offenders to get off their sentences in prison six months early instead of four.
Additional house blocks have been introduced at prisons, with the first 350 prefabricated “rapid deployment cells” installed already at five sites.
With nonurgent maintenance work to be delayed so fewer spaces are out of use at one given time, and low risk-assessed prisoners being moved out of the closed estate into an open prison, officials estimate that as many as 2,600 spaces could be added before the end of the year.
The government has built three new prisons and three are stuck in planning permission rows.
On Tuesday the president of the Prison Governors Association blamed a lurch to the right by ministers for the overcrowding in jails, citing a stream of announcements about crimes that would now attract custodial sentences or longer sentences.
The Ministry of Justice blamed the coronavirus pandemic and last year’s barristers’ strike for the backlog in courts, which it said was contributing to the high number of remand prisoners.
Jim I hope this isn't inappropriate, but in our pub we have an old long retired prison officer. In his 80s now he loves conversation about the criminal justice system.
DeleteEarlier this week he described the current situation with HMPPS as like 'watching Hillsborough in slow motion'. The system is trying to channel to many people through the gate into an already packed stadium, he said. Its killing people. It's destroying careers, creating victims and blame is being apportioned to the people who have no real say in the decisions being made.
Capacity is determined for a reason.
If the ground is full, then trying to squeeze more in will ultimately end in disaster.
He makes sense to me.
'Getafix
He's right of course 'Getafix!
DeleteFrom Twitter:-
ReplyDelete"My local Probation office was absolute bedlam when I stopped in last week. Quite disturbed people in the waiting room, some waiting recall, and staff appeared overwhelmed and burned out. Chalk's 'solution' will lead to greater calamity."
From Twitter:-
ReplyDelete"Remember that if two brand new #hmpps #prisons appeared in Britain tomorrow, with a thousand bunks each, there'd be no one to work in them. Nobody wants the job. It's low paid, dangerous, smelly, and doesn't make the world a better place. Building more prisons won't solve this."
Why is tagging always the solution? EMS are a shambles - they can’t keep on top of all the requests for different tags. Add into that the daily comms to OMs of breaches, who then make repeated requests for checks-which take weeks. This just adds to the admin and brings nothing to the public protection argument. One of my cases AAML-4 weeks to fit it, and 6 weeks to rectify failure to communicate. Imagine the daily contacts I am having to update and justify?
ReplyDeleteSolution is simple, don’t send people to prison who don’t need it, review PSS, use community disposals / probation for those that need it and deal with the rest by alternative sentencing / restorative interventions.
PSO got a case - no RAR interventions required but given 20 days- 1st offence. Conditional discharge or UPW would have been appropriate.
As I hear every day - back to basics in probation- let’s looking at sentencing the same way. Sick of the political parties using CJ as policy soundbite that they think the public want to hear, but won’t commit the resources too.
We are drowning, 2 staff in my team have handed their notice in this week, 3 more off long term sick. Average WLMT 130% with cases going through duty for those off short term……
As for the survey……..pointless and I will not be filling it in. Nothing changes and no one is listening.
From Twitter:-
ReplyDelete"I now have an impending sense of dread about what no doubt will be a shit show next week. The announcements from MOJ will move the prison crisis to adding to the current probation crisis. And won’t actually solve the problem. No words.,"
From Twitter:-
ReplyDelete"No words! They have no clue how to deal with it. There’s a significant lack of joined up thinking. Braverman telling police, investigate every crime, will lead to more convictions adding to the massive court backlogs, over crowded prisons and under resourced probation."
Probations problems all of you really reading and complaining about braverman or whoever of the last half dozen ministers have been. It does not matter so much that they are all extreme or so much they budget cut effective probation practice. Our collective problem is the senior management who deliver the agenda. Just following orders. It's way to dark to try and understand why these stooges do as they are told other than to assume they are just taking the higher pay and will say anything to get it. That is what's wrong.
Delete"Our collective problem is the senior management who deliver the agenda."
DeleteWrong !
The collective problem is not a case of JFDI it's a case for those who ARE Just Fucking Doing It.
Accept it, you might aswell have voted for it.
The workforce are just as or even more responsible for the state of affairs today.
“The workforce” very telling use of phrase….only ever used by senior management ……or perhaps those equally excellent HR partners……
DeleteI really would like to know precisely who advocates for Probation in this CJS crisis since community sentences are 1. More effective and 2. Less expensive than custody but not once in any media recently ( national tv news, radio, print or social have I heard the concept of probation and community sentences mentioned. Where is the media work please? MoJ employs lots of press officers but who is responsible for proactive comms? Surely HMPPS so called leaders ( yes even if prison in origin) can shout up/ educate/ advocate the positive good Probation can deliver? Or, is Probation so denuded and barely managing now that our excellent leaders really don’t want a light shining there? If a light was shone there, might some journalist find links back to the once Gold Medal Probation Service which should have been able to deliver much at this difficult time and every single decision taken about it at strategic and policy level being so poor that not one of the excellent leaders deserved their salaries? National disgrace. Again, where are the union comms, not to mention the so called Probation Institute? Open goal……
ReplyDeleteI shouldn't, but I'm tempted to say only this blog works weekends. Yes I know that's very naughty, but like you Anon 14:12, I'm getting just a tad pissed off by it all.
DeleteI have to apologise for not being able to link this to a colleagues previous entry. I am also very tired after 22 years and so very frustrated by the current bullying culture of management. I also empathise totally with the concept of going into a toxic work environment when there is no room to discuss world events. What the fuck have we become?
DeleteI still feel they are trying to force Probation Officers out of the profession and theor objective is to shrink Probation right down and have a Professionals register. They could stop the current crisis in Probation if they wanted to. It's obvious what needs to be done but they let it carry on....
ReplyDeleteHopefully John McDonnell and a few other braver Labour & Welsh MPs along with Caroline Lucas will be in the House of Commons when Mr Chalk makes his announcements - those who are PrIvy Councillors should get a chance to comment and they will tell the truth about probation and just some of the media such as Byline Times and Private Eye will notice - the issue is to get beyond the normal bland gibberish the tame media publish - the other day I was reading a Daily Telegraph article about the Damien Bendal Inquest - the below the line comments were expected and predictable revealing public condemnation of probation workers - it would be good if some of them can also feature in the question about Mr Chalk's announcement.
ReplyDeleteWe have been in emergency measures due to prison overcrowding ,before several times, and before tagging was possible - but now the prison service does not have long experienced staff withe jailcraft skills and neither do other agencies have experienced staff that can be spared so just maybe this is at long last a time when the realities reach the public conscience - I hope so but remain mostly pessimistic.
I hope those with frontline experience of the current situation bombard their MPs with information by any means possible as soon as possible.
Utimately the mess is parliament's responsibility because Parliament is the authority that SHOULD oversee the government. That is where authorisation for change has to come from, however ineffective it has been in the past.
I am just about to complete my training as a PQiP. 50 year old woman with lots of experience, motivation and compassion for those in crisis. Absolutely love the exchanges and change I strive for with the offenders. To be honest, I receive more respect, honesty and civility from the offenders than I do from management. Been belittled, set up to fail, bullied, demoralised and intimidated by management. I am extremely good and conscientious in my job. Counts for nothing. Probation full of people desperate to climb the grading ladder. Any complaints and they all close ranks. The most incredibly corrupt and failing service I have ever worked for. Tasks and admin jobs impossible to complete without working way beyond hours. Pushed me to the brink. Personal issues and eventually pushed to an emotional breakdown. Cue to manager dishing out an unacceptable absence improvement plan, which I wasn’t even made aware of until 3 months after I returned to work as she only decided to give it to me then because I challenged her unethical and bullying stance with me. Now gone to appeal and guess what, due to qualify in 6 weeks and I’m being forced to leave my office and travel. My ex manager copied into that email informing me even though I am in appeal and grievance with her and she is no longer my manager. A quiet message from one manager to another that they are disposing of me. Impeccable work record from me but it counts for nothing. I stood up to bullying and illogical and impossible management requests and now I am out. Pushed me to the edge and now can barely manage a day without breaking down emotionally. Breaks my heart as I love the job, as in I strive to make a difference for those on probation and the wider public in general. But that’s not what probation service want. They want scapegoats, yes people, subservient robots who will pander and pant to their every whim while those in management just keep standing on their backs to line their pockets and polish their egos! It stinks.
ReplyDeleteAnon 07:32 This is truly shocking and very worrying. You must seek support and look after your health. Publishing here is unlikely to gain the attention it deserves and I would like to re-publish and highlight, but I'm loathe to do this without your specific permission. I can be contacted confidentially via email jimbrown51@virginmedia.com Take care
DeleteRe 07:32 I am really sorry - maybe - even now it is possible to convert your qualification to the current social work one and get a job with a Local Authority - dealing either with Mental illness crime or youth crime - I am not up to date with all the terms having been away from practice for twenty years this year having started my CQSW in 1973.
ReplyDeleteEventually an enlightened society needs a social work agency dealing with criminals - is my firm belief as was realised from the starts made by Rainer in the UK with his support that led to Police Court Missionaries.
ALL workers - especially those employed by a public authority need to be in a trade union - it is only collectively we can resist the politics of the paymasters and mistresses.
Ultimately it was my Napo membership that saved my life - but maybe now it is better to be in Unison unless one is in a management grade and then it is the GMB.
Thanks to 07.32 for posting - it is by sharing our experiences others realise they are not alone.